Dave Berri has a great piece up at Time about how the "One and Done" rule helps colleges but hurts the players. This makes sense; they are essentially playing for free. NCAA basketball generates a lot of revenue for colleges, who pay college coaches as good as NBA coaches. The NBA gets a free minor-league system, and the draft suppresses player wages. Everybody wins! Well, except the players.
It's not a surprise that the NBA wants to raise the age limit and that top college coaches like John Calipari are on board. There's an easy narrative to sell. Young players need time to mature and develop, right? What's shocking to me about this narrative is the one simple stat that trumps it. Since 2000, almost every NBA Finals has had at least one player that jumped straight from high school. A recap.
High School Rules!
- 2000 - Kobe Bryant
- 2001 - Kobe Bryant
- 2002 - Kobe Bryant
- 2004 - Kobe Bryant
- 2007 - LeBron James
- 2008 - Kevin Garnett, Kobe Bryant
- 2009 - Dwight Howard, Kobe Bryant, Andrew Bynum, Rashard Lewis
- 2010 - Kevin Garnett, Kobe Bryant, Andrew Bynum
- 2011 - Tyson Chandler, LeBron James
- 2012 - LeBron James
- 2013 - LeBron James
The "Off" Years
Let's talk 2003, 2005, and 2006. Of course, the Spurs were going to make an appearance! While the icon of the Spurs is Tim Duncan, both Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker have been key parts of their success. Tony Parker turned pro in 1999 and signed with Paris Basketball Racing at the ripe old age of 17! He was drafted in 2001 as a nineteen-year-old. Manu Ginobili started his career with Andino Sport Club team of La Rioja in 1995 as an eighteen-year-old. Dirk Nowitzki turned pro at 16, playing for DJK Würzburg! The Spurs and Mavericks had modern day Moses Malones on their hands: players that turned pro rather than going to college before joining the NBA and winning titles.
Summing Up
Of course, the NBA finals being ruled by players that never went to college will soon be a thing of the past. But that's the amazing part. The top players from the decade that allowed younger players to be drafted has pretty much defined the NBA title landscape. It's ludicrous to act as if players can't enter the NBA out of high school and succeed. Yes, some players do suffer from maturity issues, but that is not unique to high schoolers. Almost half of retired athletes go broke, and that's been the case for non high-schoolers too. The age limit the NBA wants has little to do with talent, and the last decade and a half have shown that.