Stern wants age limit raise to 20 for NBA

[paynomind]

ESPN - Story

Updated: April 12, 2005, 9:28 AM ET

Stern wants NBA age limit raised to 20

ESPN.com news services

Indiana Pacers forward Jermaine O'Neal said he thinks racism might have something to do with the NBA's desire to put an age limit in the next collective bargaining agreement.

"In the last two or three years, the rookie of the year has been a high school player. There were seven high school players in the All-Star Game, so why we even talking an age limit?" O'Neal said.

The past two rookies of the year were drafted out of high school: The Cavaliers' LeBron James was the 2003-04 rookie of the year, while the Suns' Amare Stoudemire won the award after the 2002-03 season.

Players currently have to be at least 18 to be drafted, but NBA commissioner David Stern would like to see the age raised to 20.

"We are seeking to raise that to 20 or two years out of high school. The NFL's minimum age is 3 years after high school. I'm optimistic the union will agree to some raise in the minimum age in the current collective bargaining," Stern said in a recent ESPN.com chat.

The NBA's seven-year labor agreement expires after the season. The union originally opposed raising the current age limit of 18, but has begun to waver.

O'Neal doesn't agree with Stern's agenda, however.

"As a black guy, you kind of think [race is] the reason why it's coming up.

"You don't hear about it in baseball or hockey. To say you have to be 20, 21 to get in the league, it's unconstitutional. If I can go to the U.S. Army and fight the war at 18 why can't you play basketball for 48 minutes?" O'Neal said.

If the NBA had the age limit Stern is proposing in 1996, O'Neal would have had to postpone the start of his NBA career.

O'Neal went to the NBA straight out of high school in 1996 and was drafted by the Portland Trail Blazers, who made him the 17th overall selection.

O'Neal didn't blossom into the star he is today until he was dealt to the Pacers during the 2000 offseason. He has made the past three Eastern Conference All-Star teams.

[CC97]

Someone should tell Jermaine that there IS an age limit in hockey.

[paynomind]

OK, so here is what I want to know... what does race have to do with it? I really, truely dont understand that at all.

Stern wants players to be more mature, and have a shot at some secondary schooling. I think thats fair. It would make the game much more tollerable. Despite the rare success stories of LeBron and Amare, in general, young kids dont do well in the NBA.

Even O'Neal himself took 4 years of mediocrity to become a star in the league. If he'd have spent those in college, hed have a degree, then went to the NBA to be a superstar.

I dont see the problem with an age limit.

[NJTank]

The age limit is out of concern of players who may be unready to paly in the NBA. By having an age limit you get them at a beter time when they are more mature, or have some college education to fall back on if things dont work out in the NBA.

[BaltimoreFan]

I like the idea, it would make college (which I find more exciting) better. Also it helps the kids if they get a career injury. I also find it Jermaine O'Neal retarded for saying its racist. Its not like black players cant get into college. For example I went to school with Rudy Gay, he was very stupid and took three study halls/lunches his senior year. However he still got into UCONN.

[See Red]

I agree that their should be no age limit -- but I do not agree with Jermaine O'Neal in that it's racist. There's no way you can convince me that there is a concious effort by David Stern to keep down young African Americans. Though I wouldn't have a problem if they were to have an age limit.

I think it would help guys coming from bad family situations who aren't quite ready for the NBA, but feel pressure to take that step to support their families -- but some guys simply don't need it. It wouldn't increase the quality play -- you're not going to teach these guys at 18, 19, and 20 years old to play more fundamental basketball when they've, unfortunately, never been told that their way might not be the correct way their entire lives. You can't tell me LeBron, Sebastian Telfair, Dwight Howard, Carmelo (after just one year of college), etc. who are still early in their NBA careers, and with little or no college experience, are making the game any worse.

Two years in college wouldn't have benefitted LeBron James as a player, or a person. Guys like Kevin Garnett, Kobe, Dwight Howard, T-Mac, etc. have come to the league and been successful -- and while the busts have outweighed the players who have gone straight to the NBA and been successful -- there's going to be busts coming out of college as well.

All in all, it's a personal choice -- if you fall through, I don't think you were mentally tough enough to begin with. Guys like Larry Hughes, who entered prematurely because of a family medical problem and he may of needed the money, would've been kept out.

[Magus]

first of all college is a waste of time, its nothing more than a brainwashing camp right out of the soviet union. if a player is good enough to be in the nba at 18, then he should play. no need in wasting time in a house of brainwashing, drug dealing and porn. i see no reason in upping the age limit, if a player is 18 and wants to play in the nba, then he should and if he isn't ready he can play in the minors until he is ready. if a player is good enough he will prevail if he isn't he'll fail.

i fail to see where there is racism, what is he afraid of if the age limit is raised to 20 that suddenly we are going to see an influx of white players? i seriously doubt it.

[DEAD!]

first of all college is a waste of time, its nothing more than a brainwashing camp right out of the soviet union.  if a player is good enough to be in the nba at 18, then he should play.  no need in wasting time in a house of brainwashing, drug dealing and porn.    i see no reason in upping the age limit, if a player is 18 and wants to play in the nba, then he should and if he isn't ready he can play in the minors until he is ready.  if a player is good enough he will prevail if he isn't he'll fail. 

i fail to see where there is racism, what is he afraid of if the age limit is raised to 20 that suddenly we are going to see an influx of white players?  i seriously doubt it.

I would agree with you on if a kid is good enough to play, then he should go to the NBA.

But I'm totally sick of you calling college/university some liberal brainwash camp from the Soviet Union. That's completely bullplop! You will find just as many conservative/ religious universities out there anyways. College may not be necessary for everyone, like NBA hopefulls, but to say it's a total waste of time for everyone cannot not justified.

Here's something that will shock and horrify you:

I'M LIBERAL AND PROUD OF IT!

[See Red]

I think Jermaine's word choice was poor -- I think his point was that a lot of NBA Players are African American -- and really, a lot of the players have come from poor situations. An age limit gets rid of their ability to support their families right away like a lot of them may want to do. Obviously, though, it's not only african americans that come from poor situations -- so racism isn't the word. It's not at all about race -- but I think it's more of a societal issue.

I've heard a lot, since the Final Four when people talk about Sean May possibly going pro, that he doesn't need to, his family has money and that will probably play a role in their decision -- other people don't have the luxury of not having money play into their decision of whether or not they want to enter the draft or not -- some people just want the money to support their family now, without having to worry about an injury in college, keeping them from ever getting that money.

[WJMorris3]

What the rule needs to be is to allow high school players into the NBA, but require a college player to be 3 years removed from high school to be drafted.

[See Red]

What the rule needs to be is to allow high school players into the NBA, but require a college player to be 3 years removed from high school to be drafted.

I don't think that's fair -- Carmelo Anthony wouldn't even be in the NBA, this year, if that was the case. And I think he's doing alright for himself. What would he have had to gain from 2 more years of college? His jumpshots the only aspect of his game he could've improved, and that's really starting to progress as it is.

He's learning more, on and off the court, now under George Karl than he possibly could've at 'Cuse.

[oz615]

I think Jermaine's word choice was poor -- I think his point was that a lot of NBA Players are African American -- and really, a lot of the players have come from poor situations. An age limit gets rid of their ability to support their families right away like a lot of them may want to do. Obviously, though, it's not only african americans that come from poor situations -- so racism isn't the word. It's not at all about race -- but I think it's more of a societal issue.

i agree and it also a political IMO,

"To say you have to be 20, 21 to get in the league, it's unconstitutional. If I can go to the U.S. Army and fight the war at 18 why can't you play basketball for 48 minutes?" O'Neal said.

He's absolutley right on the money on that one,i mean if your old enough to enlist in the military andpossibly die for your contry then g** damnit you should old enough play in the NBA,the NFL,gamble and drink,that's what i think.

[The_Admiral]

I don't think an age limit would be very beneficial.

[Joshawaggie]

the age thing wouldnt be a problem if every Tom, Dick and Harry who thought he had a couple skills on the court makes himself eligible for the draft, only to average .8 points a game in 11 games played for he next 3 years.

[Phil]

I think the age limit is a very good thing.

Hopefully it'll make a couple players realize that there's a benefit to going to college.

Yes, a lot of players have successfully made the jump. However, I'd feel more comfortable seeing 20-year olds with at least 2 years of some sort of college education handling millions of dollars than a fresh-out-of-high-school 18-year old.

Besides, what's so bad about college? Didn't those guys watch March Madness? Sure the NBA is good to its players, but why wouldn't you want to experience the frenzy that is college basketball at least for a couple years?

[GeneralW91]

I don't care whether or not they have an age limit. However, maybe to discourage players entering right out of high school, they should have to play a year or two in the NBDL.

[random]

1. so, baltimorefan you are a Spalding guy, eh? I am a DeMatha man my self and we have had our share of bball success :-) we should hang out sometime

2. Calling this racist is ludacris, football also has a large number of black athletes, no sane person would call their age limit racist, Jermaine O'Neal is the only person injecting race into it, if the NBA was racist it would be banning black players. Calling a league where a good 90% of thier players are black racist, is absolutly idiotic.

3. the whole plan about allowing HS players to go but making college players stay 3 years doesnt make much sense. All that means is that no player capable of being drafted would go to college.

4. This ISNT about politics, its about the level of talent in the league.

5. I wonder what law school Jermaine O'Neal went to. Either way, he DOESNT have a point about being allowed to fight in a war but not play basketball. There is a contridiction about the drinking age and gambling age because those are government regulations. This is a private league which has every constitutional right to set an age limit. dumb people piss me off.

6. Going to college isnt pointless, i'm a conservative and trust me, that douche doesnt speak for me, sure most professors are liberal, but i've encountered few that try to indoctrinate or intimidate other opinions. Those professors shouldnt be teaching, but the majority of professors are good people who i just disagree with.

thats it for now....

[EagleFan344]

hopefully the NBA gets an age limit. And O'Neals comment is retarded.

[Mings]

first of all college is a waste of time, its nothing more than a brainwashing camp right out of the soviet union.

im sorry, but you are a damn moron. college is a waste of time? let me guess, this is coming from a person who either never went to college or flunked out. college isnt a waste of time and everyone knows thats. its only a waste of time if you make it a waste of time yourself, by not going or putting in no effort.

[MonkeyWrench32]

Personally, I'd rather have the "three years out of high school" rule that the NFL has, but I'd be very happy with the age limit of 20.

Going a bit off tangent: Can the use of "retarded" and "gay" be toned down?