NBA has officially made a move to reduce the draft eligibility age to 18.
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Before the 2018-19 season began, the rumblings had begun that the one and done rule may be coming to an end. The one and done rule implies to a high school player spending one year in college before enrolling into the NBA draft due to the age rule agreed in the collective bargaining agreement that lasts till the 2022-23 season.
Today news came out that the NBA has already submitted a formal proposal to the NBA Players Association that will bring the eligible draft age down to 18 from 19.
Adam Silver had discussed the possibility of scrapping the one and done rule as it was neither working for the NBA, nor was it working for the college basketball system.
Under NCAA players aren’t paid anything for playing college basketball but they risk their future NBA careers every single time they play.
There have been some players who have chosen to play outside America in order to make money, in the one year after high school they have had to wait as per the 19 year old age requirement rule, but playing college basketball has been the way to go for most of the potential stars coming out of high school.
The debate has stirred up again after the Zion Williamson injury while playing for Duke. Zion is as near a lock-in to be the No.1 pick as can be. Playing for Duke risks his future capacity to play and make money in the NBA.
After his injury while playing for Duke, there have been more and more calls to remove the 19 year age requirement which is detrimental to all parties. The timing of the proposal is merely coincidental to the Zion injury and not based off it.
The path for high school players to be drafted into the NBA is not the easiest, however. Agents for high school players are often not willing to share health records and physicals with NBA teams for whom drafting a high school player untested at higher levels becomes a big risk.
The NBA has to find a solution to better integrate a system that actually enables High School prospects to find a home in the NBA.
While the current CBA doesn’t end till 2022-23 season, if the NBA and the NBPA both agree to this, amendment can be made before then. The rule if brought about, will not take place immediately.
The 2022 draft might be where it gets its first introduction as Commissioner silver has spoken about giving the teams time to adjust to the new rule and figure out a system that works for all parties involved.
