Kareem: NBA should change minimum age to 21

• Little Danny

  

  HOF'er states the minimum age in the NBA should be raised to 21. Players are not polished, college game suffers and the league is diluted. He states even Lebron would have benefitted from a few years in the college game (after this Celtics season maybe he is right).
  
  p.s. he states Showtime Lakers would do well in today's game.
  
  
  http://www.yahoo.com/_ylt=Apwg2UO_w9KsCJHV95jAGj.bvZx4;_ylu=X3oDMTNjYzFhZHJ2BGEDMTAwNTEyIHNwb3J0cyBrYXJlZW0gcnVsZSB0BGNwb3MDMQRnA2lkLTI3MDQ0BGludGwDdXMEcGtndgMyNwRwb3MDMgRzZWMDdGQtZmVhdARzbGsDdGl0bGUEc2xwb3MDRgR0ZXN0AzcwMQ--/SIG=12508lvn0/**http%3A//sports.yahoo.com/nba/news%3Fslug=ap-abdul-jabbar-boystown
• SQ_Crazies

  

  Little Danny wrote: (after this Celtics season maybe he is right).
  

  LMAO!
  
  Yeah...because over the last 7 years he hasn't shown that he was ready...all based on 1 game that happened after he was polished enough to win 2 MVP's...right.
  
  I feel the opposite, knock it back down to 18.
• Mooney44Cards

  

  SQ_Crazies wrote:

  Little Danny wrote: (after this Celtics season maybe he is right).
  

  LMAO!
  
  Yeah...because over the last 7 years he hasn't shown that he was ready...all based on 1 game that happened after he was polished enough to win 2 MVP's...right.
  
  I feel the opposite, knock it back down to 18.

  Ummm, LeBron wasn't exactly amazing his 1st two years. To say he wouldn't have benefitted from college ball is being a little narrow minded.
• SQ_Crazies

  

  Are you kidding me?
  
  He had a legendary rookie year. His "youngest to" list is longer than the Great Wall. He really needed college...
• Mooney44Cards

  

  SQ_Crazies wrote: Are you kidding me?
  
  He had a legendary rookie year. His "youngest to" list is longer than the Great Wall. He really needed college...

  No I'm not "kidding you". Theres a difference between "needing" and "benefitting from".
  
  For instance, you probably don't need a reading comprehension class, but you could definitely benefit from one.
• SQ_Crazies

  

  He wouldn't have benefited from it either. What would have been the point? To go to college and hold yourself back for a few years? He had one of the best rookie seasons of all time. I understand what you're saying but you aren't really benefiting when you're missing out on money for no good reason.
• Little Danny

  

  I think you are stating the very thing that Jabbar is saying: It is all about the money to players nowdays. What about getting an education, honing your craft and becoming a better rounded individual? You state LBJ had one of the best rookie seasons, three years in the college game could have possibly netted himm the best rookie season ever. There's more to life than just making money.
  
  Also, LBJ is the exception to the rule. How about all of the other kids who have flamed out after skipping college ball and/or being one and done? For every LBJ you have about 20 other guys who are flipping burgers at McDonald's right ow.
• SQ_Crazies

  

  Well. There is more to life than making money. But there is no point in going to college and missing out on money when you don't need to be there. LeBron is an exception, but he wouldn't have helped himself by dominating lesser foes for 2-3 years. He had NBA game as a senior in high school and when he moved on he proved it--and he was able to hone his game MUCH better against the pros.
  
  But my stance is, you're 18--you're an adult. Non athletes don't have to go to college, they can join the work force if they're ready. Why can't a basketball player? Because it's risky for a franchise. That's it, period. Franchises don't want to throw money at a guy that doesn't live up to the hype--well guess what, don't draft the high schooler then. Let's not pretend like LeBron is a huge exception either. Some of the best players in the history of the game came straight from high school--sure there were some that didn't make it. But not every guy that goes to college for a few years makes it either. If the kid can play, let him go try--if you don't want the risk, don't draft him then or else it's a risk you have to assume. The reward has proven to be great for many teams in the past.
  
  Kareem is talking about shit he doesn't know about--it's all different than it was when he played. He's just pimpin' the college game, that's all. But IMO, if you let them enter at 18 it makes college basketball better too. Without forcing players to stay or leave--it shouldn't be the league's choice. Just like the franchise takes a risk, the player takes a risk trying to go early.
• mallymal614

  As a fan I would like this. Because I'm a huge fan of both the college game and NBA. But taking my blinders off, I have to be honest and say this isn't right. A 18-year old should have the right to earn a living. Other sports does it, so why should the NBA be any different?
• SQ_Crazies

  

  mallymal614 wrote: As a fan I would like this. Because I'm a huge fan of both the college game and NBA. But taking my blinders off, I have to be honest and say this isn't right. A 18-year old should have the right to earn a living. Other sports does it, so why should the NBA be any different?

  Agreed.
  
  The only one that makes sense is football because lets face it--it's pretty much MAYBE once in a generation when an 18 year old is NFL ready from a physicality standpoint. MAYBE once in a generation, I'm not sure I can think of a single player I could say that about.
• bases_loaded

  

  College education is a scam. Unless you are going to be a doctor, lawyer, or teacher you are better off learning in the field.
• Pick6

  

  obviously if lebron played in college his game would have been more polished when he went into the nba instead of straight out of high school. Thats not saying he needed it though.
• cbus4life

  bases_loaded wrote: College education is a scam. Unless you are going to be a doctor, lawyer, or teacher you are better off learning in the field.

  Lol.
  
  For some, learning in the field is a great option, and for others, college is a great option.
  
  No right or wrong way to do it.
  
  I would prefer that the engineer building the bridge i drive across every day have quite the education, and would like the scientists we rely on to have also went to college.
• SQ_Crazies

  

  He's right. Certain things you need to be educated for--some things are probably more effectively learned on the fly, but the world doesn't work that way anymore.
• Hulk Smash

  LeBron going to college would have resulted in someone else being denied a scholarship.
  Someone who may have needed it because college or not the NBA was not going to be in his future.
  
  We don't know that LeBron would have benefited from playing college ball either.
  He could have suffered a career ending injury in college or an injury that becomes a recurring problem for his entire career and never allowed him to become the player he is today.
  Holding onto that NBA lottery ticket and playing more seasons of college ball is a risk.
• 2quik4u

  

  Hulk Smash wrote: LeBron going to college would have resulted in someone else being denied a scholarship.
  Someone who may have needed it because college or not the NBA was not going to be in his future.
  
  We don't know that LeBron would have benefited from playing college ball either.
  He could have suffered a career ending injury in college or an injury that becomes a recurring problem for his entire career and never allowed him to become the player he is today.
  Holding onto that NBA lottery ticket and playing more seasons of college ball is a risk.

  or when a guy was a lottery pick he could trip and fall down the stairs and break his neck . stupid ass argument
• thavoice

  I think on the whole it would make the league better. Ther are a few exceptions but I think if the players were to have to go to college and play for a few years you would see MORE players be better prepared for the NBA. You will still have flameouts, no doubt about it, but at least you dont have kids learning the ropes in the NBA.
  
  I thinkn college would make more players more well rounded and ready for the NBA>
  
  Personally Id like to see more of a minor league system set up like the NHL and MLB. Where each NBA club has two direct minor league affiliates. I understand college isnt for anyone and those who go just to play basketball is kind of a joke and takes away opps for kids who really do want an education.
  
  A two team ML system for each team..a high and low league, could allow more kids to get drafted and developed.
  
  Hell..look in MLB and NFL..how many people get drafted late, or not at all, and end up making it to the starting lineups and all star teams?
  
  Under that format Id say you can go from HS to pros. IF you arent quite ready you can play minor league ball with DIRECT affiliates and interest of the NBA teams. If you go to college you have a certain commitment time...maybe two years.
  
  I kow there is a NBADev league..im not real certain how that all works out. Id lke to see the NBA get expanded to more rounds..so teams can draft players and develope them IN THE MINORS and get em ready.
• Hulk Smash

  2quik4u
  
  You are a dumbshit.
  It is completely impossible to avoid the risks of everyday life.
  
  How many seasons a lottery pick spends playing college ball is up to him and any extra seasons are a risk to his NBA future.
• Sage

  

  why? so the NCAA can rake cash off these guys for 3 years?
  
  there should be no requirement. If you're good enough to go, or want to risk it, then you should go.
  
  age requirements are simply ways to create a minor league system without having to pay for it.
  
  everybody wins except the athlete. that's unfair.
• KnightXC1

  

  Lebron didn't exactly tear things up his rookie season. Barely shot 40% from the field, under 30% on 3's, and averaged 5 boards. If he plays 3 years in college, bump all those numbers up to about his 3rd year in the league where he shot 48% from the floor, 33% on 3's, and averaged 7 rebounds. He would have been much more polished and would have been even better than he was. And that goes for any of the guys who came out HS early (Garnett and Kobe being the 2 biggest examples).
• 77Legend

  

  Mally......NFL does have an age restriction.
• ts1227

  

  77Legend wrote: Mally......NFL does have an age restriction.

  Well, it's not a set numerical age like the NBA (19)... you just have to be three years removed from HS, so the age itself may vary (most are 18, so they essentially have a de facto age limit of 21).
  

  Sage wrote: age requirements are simply ways to create a minor league system without having to pay for it.

  Does anyone actually forgo college and go straight to the NBDL? Seems like they just go overseas instead.
• Ironman92

  

  Didn't this thought come from a guy who is either the greatest high school basketball player ever or #2 and the next year he wasn't allowed to play on the varsity college team?......but his freshman team often beat the varsity squad of UCLA?
  
  Kareem could have been an NBA stud at 18 or 19 just like LeBron.....they are the overwhelming exceptions....with Magic Johnson close behind.
  
  There are great exceptions both ways.....this is just Kareem's opinion......Kareem's opinion is basically just the same as ours......without the 6 MVP's and 38,000 points.