NBA

Much to my wife’s chagrin, I have been watching the NBA playoffs every night there is a game on television. I love it. I am a diehard baseball fan, but at heart, I am really just a sports’ fan. I love any and all sports, especially during playoff time because that is when the competitive spirit is at its highest, and I love competition. I love the way it fuels people, pushing them further than they ever thought their bodies could be pushed. As I watch the Lakers and the Celtics play, I begin to mull over how long I have watched Kobe Bryant and been amazed by his talent. I can remember watching him when I was in junior high school, and I was amazed by him. I am too young to really remember Michael Jordan, so to me, Kobe Bryant was the best basketball player I had ever seen. Kobe started playing in the NBA in 1996. He was an effective player right from the start. He even won the Slam Dunk contest during his rookie season. He was a major contributor off the bench for the Lakers, and he became the youngest starter in the NBA the very next season. (http://www.kobe-bryant.org/biography.html) While all of this is impressive, what’s surprising is that he could not do this today. In the early 2000’s, the NBA decided they should place an age requirement on rookies, and they determined that a player under the age of 19 could not be drafted. This means Kobe Bryant would have had to wait two whole years to be drafted, rather than be drafted at the age of 17. He would have missed winning the Slam Dunk contest in his rookie season, and he would have played two less seasons than he has now, which would effect his records and accomplishments. Not only does the NBA require that a player be 19 before he can be drafted, it also requires that the player be one year out of high school. (http://www.collegian.psu.edu/archive/2007/02/02-07-07tdc/02-07-07dsports-column-01.asp) This means that a player who graduates high school at the age of 19 must wait until he’s 20 to enter the draft. While some people view this change as a positive impact on the world of college basketball, I disagree. It is true that more basketball players probably go to college now than they did prior to the NBA passing this rule, but these players have no motivation to make lasting, significant contributions to their college teams. Sure, most players play incredibly well their freshman year in college, but they have no motivation to continue supporting their college program after their freshman year. Once they are eligible for the draft, the same players who would have entered as seniors in high school will enter as freshmen in college. What is the significance of this year? Do the players really gain enough of a college education that it is worth it? If they are not willing to make a long term commitment to their college team, then doesn’t the college and NBA lose? The NBA loses out on a season of the player’s talent, and the college has wasted its time and scholarship money on someone who is not going to build its program. I am not alone in my thoughts. Tennessee’s Senator Steve Cohen thinks the NBA’s rule is unfair and a form of age discrimination. He discusses the economic ramifications the ruling has on the team and the economy in general. (http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2009/jul/20/steve-cohen-wants-meet-nba-officials-about-age-req/) While I don’t believe the government needs to become involved in this private sector, it is nice to see someone in government who is thinking clearly. It would be nice if the NBA allowed talent to determine the outcome of the draft instead of ineffective rules.