Rebel Rants: NBA age rule a good idea

Last year, the NBA created a new rule in hopes to curb the influx of high school players jumping straight into professional ball.

The rule stated that a player must be 19 years of age, and/or spend a year in college before entering the NBA. The rule was similar to the one for the NFL, which required players entering the draft to be at least three years out of high school.

Even though some of the NBA’s elite such as LeBron James, Kobe Bryant and Tracy McGrady have enjoyed unprecedented success skipping college and going straight into the pros, numerous high school players who jump to the NBA ultimately never make it.

In its first year, the rule was a success as 14 of the first 30 draft choices were for upperclassmen. Even though the first two picks were underclassmen, the draft rule was beneficial for the likes of Jeff Green and Alando Tucker, who had great years and saw their draft stock increase.

But ultimately the new rule works because it allows teams to make a more educated decision on who they are drafting.Kevin Durant proved he can play, despite having the body of a teenager. He proved that he could take over a game, and that he was ready for the next level of development in the game.

Mike Conley, Jr. benefited from having to play at Ohio State for one season. He had a great year and boosted his draft stock to the point of being a top five pick.

Having the high school hotshots play one season at the next level gives scouts 28 more chances for gathering game tape aside from high school videos and workouts. It also allows scouts to see the player in a much more competitive atmosphere instead of a high school level, where the level of talent is comparably different from the college ranks.

If the rule was in place, players like Sebastian Telfair and Andrew Bynum would have played a year at college where weaknesses would have been seen, which in turn would drop their draft stock.

Having players spend a year in college would expose them harsh reality that they’re not ready for the NBA and would want to develop even more as players.

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