Comments on: Brandon Jennings and the NBA’s age-limit rule

By: John Paulsen

John Paulsen — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 15:24:58 +0000

That’s a good point, fern. After much contemplation, I think the NBA should do away with the age limit rule. Players should be able to enter the draft out of high school, and if they’re not drafted they can enroll in college (or a junior college). Once they enroll in college, they have to play for a minimum of two years before making themselves eligible again. I think this would work for both the NBA and the NCAA.

By: fern

fern — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 04:13:53 +0000

The hypocrisy is thatthe NBA still allows 18 year olds from Europe to be drafted at 18 years old- like Ricky Rubio. When you are allowing foreigners to have a faster advantage in getting a job in this country it is unpatriotic, irresponsible in this economic climate, and completely unfair.

By: Jared Branham

Jared Branham — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 16:19:26 +0000

With the NBA age rule the NBA teams are able to scout on their future draft picks. It helps the international game because of players like brandon jennings or josh childress. And the college game is much more popular with these impact freshman.

By: John Paulsen

John Paulsen — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 00:09:35 +0000

Stern feels that the age limit helps the league by making it more mature, and given how straight-from-high-school players have fared in their first year, it’s hard to argue with him. I don’t think that the NBA is at a disadvantage when compared to the European leagues – players that go overseas are still going to come back in a year and enter the NBA.

By: Hector

Hector — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 18:57:52 +0000

Of course the NBA has the ‘right’ to make any age-limits it likes, but the NBA would benefit from not having the age-limit restrictions. In Europe, football players can start playing as early as fifteen, provided they have the talent. The age-limit is unnecessary and putting the NBA at a disadvantage versus the European leagues.
This has nothing to do with ‘fair’ or ‘hypocritical’. It has to do with kids and their parents are going to do what’s best for them, and if the NBA won’t help them, they will go to Europe and make the money they need and want.
What Jennings is doing is great. He is going to learn a lot living in another culture, and learn to play a tough physical basketball game with grown men, great preparation for the NBA. I would guess that next year, a few more kids will head to Europe. Especially because, let’s face it… not everyone is cut out to be a student-athlete. Some people are just athletes and that is fine. If you know you aren’t very good at math or some other required college subject, and all you want to do is dedicate yourself to basketball, then going to Europe to prepare for the NBA is a logical choice.

By: Brick

Brick — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 04:10:58 +0000

Finally, a well reasoned opinion on this issue. The NBA has every right to set an age limit due to the travel schedule, the physical demands and the temptations that the job affords. Many jobs in this country have age limits and 19 is not an unreasonable minimum age for the NBA.