HoopsHype.com Columns

Age should be no limit
by Tim O'Sullivan / March 15, 2003

There have been so many rumors about a "handshake" agreement on an age limit between the league and the player's union that those in charge have felt it necessary to make a public defense.

"There have been no deals struck between David (Stern) and myself, and there has been no discussion of an age limit between David and myself,'' union director Billy Hunter told the Associated Press earlier this week.

While Stern has pushed for an age limit for the last two years, the reason the topic is once again hot is 17-year-old superstars Darko Milicic and Sofoklis Schortsanitis. In early December the league ruled that both foreign phenoms were ineligible for the draft, claiming their by-laws clearly stated you must turn 18 before the draft declaration deadline, which is May 22 this year. Milicic, a 7-foot forward who can shoot, handle the ball and has a mean streak, turns 18 on June 20. Schortsanitis, a rugged low post offensive threat, will be 18 June 22.

When Hunter and Stern reached an agreement during All-Star Weekend that any foreign player who turns 18 before draft night is eligible, it fueled speculation that a "wink-wink" age-limit agreement had been reached, causing Hunter to make public denial for fear that every 17 and 18-year old prospect would declare himself eligible for fear of having that opportunity taken away in the near future.

On a fundamental, philosophical level, this is really about opportunity, the ideal that America was founded upon. If there was an oboe prodigy who was ready to play with the New York Symphony Orchestra by age 12, no one would deny him or her that right. In fact, those who could afford it would flock to the show. If that oboe prodigy decided not to go to school but to concentrate on his art, his gift, his commitment would be praised. If there
were an 18-year old physics prodigy who could solve the world's energy crisis, the U.S. government would pay him handsomely and use his brain to further the economy. He or she would be hailed as a hero.

So why, when a teenager shows the promise of greatness on a basketball court, should anyone deny him the right to develop his craft at the highest level? No adult should not be denied right to earn a living. Since the NBA
is a private business, they have the right to restrict their employee base, but, as Chris Rock said, "Just because you can drive a car with your feet doesn't mean it's a good idea!"

On a practical level, an age limit doesn't make sense either. Forcing basketball whiz kids to go to college is a mistake. First, the NCAA makes millions of dollars of these players, so their sanctified status as "amateurs" is preposterous. There is no denying college ballers are playing for money, it's just not their own. College is not for everyone. Albert Einstein was bored in school, he was too advanced for his peers. Don't you think Kobe Bryant would have been bored playing college basketball?

Most NBA players will tell you if there is an opportunity for a high school player to come into the league, get some playing time and practice with pros every day, than they ought to jump at the opportunity because it will better prepare them for life as a star, or at least starter, in the league.

"It sounds silly to say the college game isn't good for guys, but there may be some truth to it," Golden State's Mike Dunleavy told Ric Bucher from ESPN The Magazine. "If you're good enough to play 10 to 15 minutes a night and practice every day, you'll get dramatically better being in the NBA compared to staying in school."

Dunleavy would know. He stayed at Duke for three years to better prepare himself for the NBA, but found he had to change his game completely once he arrived. Amare Stoudemire is better off having spent this year dunking on every other power forward in the NBA than he would be if he spent this year dunking twice on every power forward in college. Just watch high school phenom LeBron James for 10 minutes, either on the court or in his Hummer, and it's obvious he belongs in the league and not in college.

Certainly, there is a down side to the absence of an age limit. There will always be cases of kids who refuse to listen to the opinions offered by NBA scouts and who would rather believe doting family members and hustling
street agents who are just looking for a buck. So, is there an alternative?

Yes there is.

Merge the CBA and the NBDL to create a legitimate minor league basketball system where the teams have direct ties to the NBA. Make the draft five or six rounds long, make it ten rounds if necessary. And for all those basketball players that would have slept or cheated their way through college, let them play in the minor leagues. Let them get a taste of the real world. Let them experience the responsibilities of a job and the pressures of
deadlines without a coach or administrator fixing all of their mistakes.

Then those teenagers who aren't ready for the league can get themselves ready by playing, and those who are will not be denied the opportunity. After all, isn't this the land of opportunity?

Tim O'Sullivan is a staff writer at the Concord (NH) Monitor and a regular contributor to HoopsHype.com

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