March is my favorite month of the year—not because of my birthday, but because of college basketball. There is nothing better in the world of sports than March Madness.
However, many critics are arguing that the sport has been watered down by the one and done rule. The NBA requires all players to be of at least 19 years of age in order to be eligible for the draft allowing many players to leave college after their freshman years. This rule limits the NCAA because star players are leaving for the pros as underclassmen.
I am not a fan of this rule. Many are seeking to increase the NBA age limit and keep players in college for at least two seasons, but I think that the age limit be abolished entirely. When a player turns 18 years old, he should be allowed to pursue any career, including becoming a basketball player.
Although it is true that the level of competition is much weaker today compared to the past, I do not think that changing the NBA age requirement will benefit college basketball or its players. Many of today’s stars, including Kevin Durant, Anthony Davis and Kyrie Irving, left college after one season. Arguably two of the two biggest names in all of sports, Kobe Bryant and Lebron James, went to the NBA straight out of high school. Playing an additional few years of basketball will not make drastic improvements to the players’ abilities and better prepare them to play on the professional level.
One benefit that the one and done system has provided is that is has granted more opportunities for young men to pursue an education. More players coming out of high school are able to receive scholarships because there are more roster spots available when players enter the NBA. With many players coming from poor backgrounds, these addition scholarships and opportunities will provide them with an education so that they can be successful, even if they do not become a professional athlete.
The NBA needs to abolish its age restrictions in order to provide players with ample opportunities to succeed. While some players who only played one or no seasons of college basketball turned out to be busts, the current NBA minimum salary is $507,336 and is set to increase to $623,646 in the next five years. High draft picks sign two year contracts with teams worth over $1 million, which is more than many people make in a lifetime. Even if these players only play professionally for a few years, they should still be financially stable for many years after their careers are over.
It is not fair for the NBA to have an age restriction. If an 18 year old can enlist in the military and possibly die for his country, then he should also be allowed to play basketball to make a living. The only factor that should restrict someone from joining the NBA is talent, and if a player has that, then he should be able to play.