The next NBA CBA reportedly could make a major change to the age limit for prospects hoping to make their professional dreams come true right after high school.
Almost 20 years ago, under former commissioner David Stern, the league made a bold decision when forging the NBA CBA in 2005. After years of elite 18-year-old prospects being allowed to enter the league immediately after high school, the league and NBAPA agreed to install what is now known as the “one-and-done” rule.
Where teenage prospects would need to attend college or take their talents overseas for at least a year before entering the league. The goal was to try and cut down on young men that had underdeveloped skills as players and adults from entering the professional level before they were truly ready.
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Some complained that the addition to the NBA CBA blocked a future Lebron James, Tracy McGrady, or Kobe Bryant from joining the NBA earlier like the greats that preceded them. However, many other basketball fans saw the benefits of the added time for maturity and boosting the talent pool of college basketball even for just one season. Instead of losing out on top amateurs lured to the NBA by millions of dollars.
Well, it seems that rule could soon be abolished. On Monday The Athletic’s NBA insider Shams Charania reported that the league and NBAPA are close to agreeing on terms for lowering the age limit back for amateurs back to 18 years old. However, the players association is pushing for an element to be added that makes it different than previous years when high school graduates could enter the league.
“The union is pushing for conditions that would facilitate veteran players providing tutelage and orientation to the high schoolers entering the league. The players union wants to maintain the presence of veteran players and not allow newcomers to replace them, especially in the cases of teams with high school prospects who enter the NBA.”
– Shams Charania
This change to the next NBA CBA would certainly have a major effect on college basketball, which has benefited greatly by having future NBA stars for at least one season.
Although it could be argued it may not have the same effect it would have had many years ago, since a lot of teenage stars have chosen to play in Europe or the G-League in recent years so that they can make money for their families now instead of playing without guaranteed income in collegiate athletics.