David Stern wants to raise the NBA age minimum by 1 year.
- Thread starter thejumper5
- Start date
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OatesStache
Guest
What's stopping them now? How do you get on the map? Do you sit on the bench in Ankara, or do you get on TV twice a week while Dickie V shouts your name.
Exposure, branding, hype, building a fan base...these are all things you get in college (for free), while playing in Europe takes you off the radar. You can still get into the NBA, but no one is buying your jersey or buying your sneakers.
HawkeyeMike23
Banned
Yep, if players didn't care about any of the above and just wanted to be the best possible basketball player, you would see a lot more going overseas. Practicing twice a day against grown men makes it a lot easier to improve than playing college ball.
hawkdrummer1
Well-Known Member
Jesse Jackson (or a similar "spokesperson") will call this RACIST...in 3...2...1.....
HawkinGoferLand
Well-Known Member
The Bucks Brandon Jennings went overseas out of HS for 1 yr then to NBA; Played in Italian League then to Milwaukee with rookie season averages of 15.5 points, 5.7 assists and 3.4 rebounds started all 82 games.
There have been others, but I don't know that any succeeded as Jennings has.
There have been others, but I don't know that any succeeded as Jennings has.
It's already been done. The players have often had negative experiences. Brandon Jennings (Bucks) is one and he really didn't play well and had a hard time adjusting playing in Italy.
Jeremy Tyler tried the same thing and it totally bombed out for him. He was signed by a team in Israel, quit after 10 games, played in Japan's league the next year, and now you can find him in Sioux Falls playing in the NBADL. In 2009 he was considered the #1 overall prospect, the best big man since Oden, and a surefire great pick. I have to wonder, had to finished high school and played for Pitino at Louisville, would he have completely fallen off the face of the planet? I'd guess not.
Jeremy Tyler tried the same thing and it totally bombed out for him. He was signed by a team in Israel, quit after 10 games, played in Japan's league the next year, and now you can find him in Sioux Falls playing in the NBADL. In 2009 he was considered the #1 overall prospect, the best big man since Oden, and a surefire great pick. I have to wonder, had to finished high school and played for Pitino at Louisville, would he have completely fallen off the face of the planet? I'd guess not.
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OatesStache
Guest
I don't necessarily agree with this. NCAA has better coaches because they pay better.
1977Hawkeye
Well-Known Member
I'd go along with this. It would be nice to see all players stay in college for 3 years. It would be like it was back in the 1980's, or earlier in the 90's.. Higher quality play at the college level, which I think in the end would also benefit the NBA.
WhiteThunder
Well-Known Member
FWIW He has been starting for the Warriors the past few games. It's also likely tied to their tanking efforts in order to keep them draft pick. That's another discussion for another day.
I think the age minimum is stupid. If players want to "build their brand" and go to college then they should be able to. If they want to get paid to sit on the bench and focus solely on basketball they should be able to do that too.
HawkeyeMike23
Banned
Got a link to the payscale for EuroLeague coaches? Outside of the top few (Calipari, Boheim, Pitino, etc) the top level Euro coaches make more than college coaches. And a huge part of what you're paying a coach for is just recruiting, not gameplanning and his ability to improve his players once he gets them on campus. Not to mention the NCAA limits the direct contact a coach can have with his players while there are obviously no such limits on overseas players and coaches.
HawkeyeMike23
Banned
They already can do that. There's a lot of beaches in Spain and Greece.
HawkeyeMike23
Banned
They've had negative experiences because they are used to being catered to and spoiled by coaches their whole life and they go into an environment where they are not being spoiled at all, and may actually be rode harder than the other players.
Jennings has had a lot of positive things to say about the experience, he credits it for a lot of his improvement as a player.
TritonHawkeye
Well-Known Member
I agree with this because the NBA is missing one thing and that is the connection of casual fans to players.
I used to watch the NBA but haven't in a long time, the reason outside of free time is that I have no real connection of who is playing.
Back when guys like Mullin and Olajuwon played I connected to them from their days in college.
The NBA would be better served to start building their fan base from players while in college than hoping a casual fan will connect to the player based on their time in the pro's.
hawkdrummer1
Well-Known Member
The unfortunate side effect of keeping guys in college 3 years...or even 2... would be more widespread academic fraud.
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OatesStache
Guest
Link?
BSpringsteen
Well-Known Member
And he'd be right.
Name another profession with a minimum age requirement?
Baseball and hockey players can sign out of high school.
Tennis players and golfers can go on tour if they want.
But the two sports that are dominated by black players, suddenly have age requirements?
Here is the thing. Neither league should have the requirement. The NCAA should mandate that if you sign a scholarship, you are signing a minimum three year commitment.
You are either good enough to go right away or you are not. If you're not, you are being given an opportunity to play competitively in what amounts to the minor leagues of the sport, and get a free education. There is nothing wrong with the NCAA, conferences or institutions doing this.
There is a lot wrong with the professional leagues themselves doing it.
