Rule of the NBA States That Draft

¶ … rule of the NBA states that draft prospects must be "19 years old or have completed their freshman year of college" (Zeger, 2012, "What is a 'one and done'?). This rule was passed because of concerns that players were not emotionally and physically mature enough to cope with the pressures of professional sports. A year in college was intended to provide young players with the additional support of college basketball coaches and at least some semblance of time to make up their minds before making a commitment to life as a professional athlete. Through college, an athlete allegedly gains knowledge about other professions and subjects outside of sports, however briefly. This way, if a career in the NBA does not work out, he has more to 'fall back on' than had he gone straight from high school to the NBA. Not all basketball players can expect careers as illustrious as LeBron James. "The Association was concerned about the growing emphasis on preps-to-pros, citing a number of flame-outs and players who didn't reach their potential for years after being drafted, and two years ago, imposed an age restriction on entry to the NBA draft" (Zeger, 2012, "NBA age limit").

However, critics of the 'one and done' rule state that it was put into being mainly to serve the needs of powerful NCAA men's basketball schools. Athletes are frustrated that lose a year's income when they could be conceivably playing in the NBA. Instead, they must while away a year in school, although they have no interest in obtaining a degree. Even many fans of college basketball are lobbying to do away with the rule, given the high turnover rate it fosters on teams. The University of Kentucky may have won the NCAA tournament this year, but after the squad is depleted of likely 'one and dones,' it may struggle in the following years.

However, given that the NBA has the right to set the rules of how the game may be played, getting around the 'one and done' rule is challenging. The 2005 collective bargaining agreement clearly states: "(i) The player (A) is or will be at least 19 years of age during the calendar year in which the Draft is held, and (B) ... At least one (1) NBA Season has elapsed since the player's graduation from high school" (Zeger, 2012, "NBA age limit").One option, for a player uninterested in college basketball, would be to play elsewhere, until he attained the age of 19, after which a player may be drafted, regardless of status. That was the option taken by Brandon Jennings, who chose to play in Europe rather than to play for a college team (Zeger, 2012, "NBA age limit").