NBAPA Lawyer: Double standard exists regarding age limit for black basketball players and white athletes in other sports

[Dunham32]

For the people saying that the age limit is wrong, why are you advocating to lower it to 18? Why not eliminate it all together? If the Lakers want to sign lebron james jr right now as a 10 year old let them, right?

The age limit is there because the nba owners and players felt that 19 year olds would be physically ready and not 18 year olds. That is their choice. Dont like it, play in china. You have other options than just college. The rule is there to keep kids from getting in way over their heads which in turn helps them

[ChosunX]

Are upper class blacks discriminated against? It's not like we have a black president.

Am I really supposed to believe that global warming exist? It's not like it wasn't snowing today.

And world hunger can't be a thing, considering I just ate.

In what waz are upper class black people discriminated against?

[mefromthefuture]

For the people saying that the age limit is wrong, why are you advocating to lower it to 18? Why not eliminate it all together? If the Lakers want to sign lebron james jr right now as a 10 year old let them, right?

The age limit is there because the nba owners and players felt that 19 year olds would be physically ready and not 18 year olds. That is their choice. Dont like it, play in china. You have other options than just college. The rule is there to vkeep kids from getting in way over their heads which in turn helps them

Then why was exum allowed to join the league at 18? And Americans don't get those same rules applied to them?

[MartinToVaught]

Blatant race-baiting like this is a disgrace to real civil rights activists, like the ones who marched in Selma 50 years ago. Pathetic.

[jokeboy86]

For the people saying that the age limit is wrong, why are you advocating to lower it to 18? Why not eliminate it all together? If the Lakers want to sign lebron james jr right now as a 10 year old let them, right?

The age limit is there because the nba owners and players felt that 19 year olds would be physically ready and not 18 year olds. That is their choice. Dont like it, play in china. You have other options than just college. The rule is there to vkeep kids from getting in way over their heads which in turn helps them

Then why was exum allowed to join the league at 18? And Americans don't get those same rules applied to them?

Where's this myth that Exum was allowed into the league at 18? Just cause he wasnt 19 when he was drafted? Isnt he born the same year as Wiggins? He turned 19 before the season started right. His situation is no different than many other kids when they first are enrolled in kindergarten, I think it has something to do with the cutoff dates that schools set as far as class(someone who's a parent would probably understand it better).

[NOODLESTYLE]

For the people saying that the age limit is wrong, why are you advocating to lower it to 18? Why not eliminate it all together? If the Lakers want to sign lebron james jr right now as a 10 year old let them, right?

The age limit is there because the nba owners and players felt that 19 year olds would be physically ready and not 18 year olds. That is their choice. Dont like it, play in china. You have other options than just college. The rule is there to vkeep kids from getting in way over their heads which in turn helps them

Then why was exum allowed to join the league at 18? And Americans don't get those same rules applied to them?

Where's this myth that Exum was allowed into the league at 18? Just cause he wasnt 19 when he was drafted? Isnt he born the same year as Wiggins? He turned 19 before the season started right. His situation is no different than many other kids when they first are enrolled in kindergarten, I think it has something to do with the cutoff dates that schools set as far as class(someone who's a parent would probably understand it better).

He was eligible because he turned 19 during the calendar year, which was in July. That's the key difference there. Although he was technically 18 when drafted, he turned 19 in July. And yes, high school was over for him in October.

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketb%20...%20e-december

Exum will graduate from high school in Australia in October, thus fueling speculation that he could play for a college program in December.

"Schools have been saying I can start in early December and play this season," Exum told ESPN. "But if college is the option, I'll stay in Australia, do workouts with the national team and then go to college next August. Playing this season in college is not an option."

Exum, who turns 19 on July 13, told ESPN that he remains 50-50 on whether to bypass college and go to the NBA.

When players were eligible to be drafted at 18 years old of the calendar year, Kobe Bryant and Andrew Bynum were actually 17 when they were drafted.

Another Australian, Thon Maker, is re-classifying for college since he's 18 and should be eligible for the 2016 NBA draft at 19, if he declares.

[jamesnamida]

Nothing about race.
All about money from college ball.
Same thing with football.
I bet you if there was a fortune to be made in college golf, the would put an age limit.
Same with hockey.

[mefromthefuture]

Then why was exum allowed to join the league at 18? And Americans don't get those same rules applied to them?

Where's this myth that Exum was allowed into the league at 18? Just cause he wasnt 19 when he was drafted? Isnt he born the same year as Wiggins? He turned 19 before the season started right. His situation is no different than many other kids when they first are enrolled in kindergarten, I think it has something to do with the cutoff dates that schools set as far as class(someone who's a parent would probably understand it better).

He was eligible because he turned 19 during the calendar year, which was in July. That's the key difference there. Although he was technically 18 when drafted, he turned 19 in July. And yes, high school was over for him in October.

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketb%20...%20e-december

Exum will graduate from high school in Australia in October, thus fueling speculation that he could play for a college program in December.

"Schools have been saying I can start in early December and play this season," Exum told ESPN. "But if college is the option, I'll stay in Australia, do workouts with the national team and then go to college next August. Playing this season in college is not an option."

Exum, who turns 19 on July 13, told ESPN that he remains 50-50 on whether to bypass college and go to the NBA.

When players were eligible to be drafted at 18 years old of the calendar year, Kobe Bryant and Andrew Bynum were actually 17 when they were drafted.

Another Australian, Thon Maker, is re-classifying for college since he's 18 and should be eligible for the 2016 NBA draft at 19, if he declares.

So Justin Jackson(UNC) birthday was march 28, 1995 is older than Exum but was still required to do a year at college?

So Chris McCullough birthday 02/05/1995 older than Exum but was still required to do a year at college? (By way blew out his acl now will return for a second)

So Devin Robinson 03/07/1995 older than you get it but was still required to do a year at college? Why because we have differnent class schedule than foreign countries.


If Dwayne Bacon and Carlton Bragg were born anywhere but the US, they'd have been eligible for the 2014 Draft. Now, not eligible till 2016. Jonathan Givony just said on twitter dont know to embed

[NOODLESTYLE]

That's basically what Jokeboy was saying, different school enrollments/graduation dates between the US and other countries. Exum had already graduated high school in October in Australia, and still technically 19 of the calendar year. It's a loophole for international players.

http://www.nbpa.org/sites/default/files/ARTICLE%20X.pdf

(b)(b) A player shall be eligible for selection in the first NBA Draft with respect to
which he has satisfied all applicable requirements of Section 1(b)(i) below and one of the
requirements of Section 1(b)(ii) below:

(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) with respect to a player who is not
an international player (defined below), at least one (1) NBA Season has
elapsed since the player’s graduation from high school (or, if the player
did not graduate from high school, since the graduation of the class with
which the player would have graduated had he graduated from high
school)

(c) For purposes of this Article X, an “international player” is a player: (i) who has
maintained a permanent residence outside of the United States for at least the three (3) years
prior to the Draft, while participating in the game of basketball as an amateur or as a professional
outside of the United States; (ii) who has never previously enrolled in a college or university in
the United States; and (iii) who did not complete high school in the United States.

[Parataxis]

For the people saying that the age limit is wrong, why are you advocating to lower it to 18? Why not eliminate it all together? If the Lakers want to sign lebron james jr right now as a 10 year old let them, right?

Absolutely, yes. If Lebron James Jr wants to enter the draft, and if somebody wants to give him a guaranteed contract, and lose control of him by the time he's 17, that should be their perogative.

[Brandon-Clyde]

Every pro sport has age limits. Yes even tennis which requires players to be at least 14(but even then restricts the number of matches to 4 in a calendar year). Pro golf has a minimum age of 18(as great as he was at 17 Tiger Woods still could not play pro golf).

Also remember a player forgoes their eligibility if they declare for the draft so an age limit helps protect the players as well from opting for the draft when they really are not talented enough to be drafted(thus giving up a chance for a free education)

[NOODLESTYLE]

Every pro sport has age limits. Yes even tennis which requires players to be at least 14(but even then restricts the number of matches to 4 in a calendar year). Pro golf has a minimum age of 18(as great as he was at 17 Tiger Woods still could not play pro golf).

Also remember a player forgoes their eligibility if they declare for the draft so an age limit helps protect the players as well from opting for the draft when they really are not talented enough to be drafted(thus giving up a chance for a free education)

Good points, but there's also a loop-hole for players who declare but don't sign agents. Randolph Morris declared for the 2005 NBA draft, went undrafted and returned to play for Kentucky. He was them deemed a free agent after college and signed with the Knicks. Perhaps the NBA could expand on that to protect future players that try to declare early but go undrafted, and still remain eligible for the NCAA.

[Yoshun]

For the people saying that the age limit is wrong, why are you advocating to lower it to 18? Why not eliminate it all together? If the Lakers want to sign lebron james jr right now as a 10 year old let them, right?

The age limit is there because the nba owners and players felt that 19 year olds would be physically ready and not 18 year olds. That is their choice. Dont like it, play in china. You have other options than just college. The rule is there to keep kids from getting in way over their heads which in turn helps them

This is just an illogical argument, of the slippery slope kind. Im not even really sure it's worth the time to address. Starting with the fact that a 10 year old isn't even old enough to legally sign a contract or that a vast majority haven't hit puberty yet.

In addition im sick of people saying "Well just go to China/Europe." As if it's easy, or even financially possible for anyone, let alone an 18 year old, to just pick up and move to another country where they don't know anyone and probably don't speak the language. It's not that easy to pick up and move to the other side of the world, and that's assuming a European team would even want them.

[BBgun]

This is just like how the media tried to make CP3's comments about the rookie ref about sexism, simply because she was a female. This isn't a race issue at all.

[Leslie Forman]

For the people saying that the age limit is wrong, why are you advocating to lower it to 18? Why not eliminate it all together? If the Lakers want to sign lebron james jr right now as a 10 year old let them, right?

Well, signing a 10-year-old would obviously be a really stupid use of a roster spot, but yes, if there was somehow a 10-year-old who was actually good enough to play pro basketball, and there is a team who wants to play him, he should be able to.

Ricky Rubio played pro ball at 15 and Europe's basketball system seems to have not collapsed into complete chaos.

[brownsmith89]

the problem here is that both sides are right. it's pretty weird to have an argument when posters with different perspectives are giving good reasons.

yes, i agree college can be a good experience for some people. they can find love and go on to marry a college classmate. they can learn a lot from a world-renown professor that teaches them about art or science.

but i think an 18-year-old should have the freedom to take risks in life. it's hard to call a 21-year-old that has made $3 million a "failure" just because he chose a different path than college. i think that the money and the contacts made would enable a fresh start in life, and he can go back and get an education anytime he wants.

the nba should expand the d-league and summer leagues. some sort of compromise can be made where an extra roster spot can be added in for developing players so that veterans don't feel left out. adjustments can be made to the rookie scale to give more time and less money to 18-year-olds.

[NOODLESTYLE]

the problem here is that both sides are right. it's pretty weird to have an argument when posters with different perspectives are giving good reasons.

yes, i agree college can be a good experience for some people. they can find love and go on to marry a college classmate. they can learn a lot from a world-renown professor that teaches them about art or science.

but i think an 18-year-old should have the freedom to take risks in life. it's hard to call a 21-year-old that has made $3 million a "failure" just because he chose a different path than college. i think that the money and the contacts made would enable a fresh start in life, and he can go back and get an education anytime he wants.

the nba should expand the d-league and summer leagues. some sort of compromise can be made where an extra roster spot can be added in for developing players so that veterans don't feel left out. adjustments can be made to the rookie scale to give more time and less money to 18-year-olds.

I think the 20 year old policy is pushing it, maybe a middle ground can be found.

The biggest obstacle seems to be if a player signs with an agent, he loses his amateur eligibility, but perhaps the NBA could expand the stipulations. Allow players who declare early for the draft and play in the summer league, and pre-season. If he gets waived, then he's eligible to go back and play in the NCAA but then has to stay for at least 2 years. Maybe one more additional 10-day contract early in the season to evaluate the rookie before the NCAA season starts.

If the NBA were to introduce a "red-shirt" roster spot, perhaps that player can still practice, get paid, play in the D-League, and also in the NBA but limited to X amount of minutes. Maybe allowing them to loan certain players to play in Europe/China, which gives them another opportunity to gain sponsor-ships, while still being able to return to their NBA team. The veterans still get their roster spot, but the younger player gets an opportunity to be developed by an NBA team.

[xBulletproof]

Tennis players reach their peak at like 24 years old. Its different. Hockey and baseball have minor league systems. You're not stepping in at the highest level immediately very often, unless you're really ready for it.

This is just trying too hard to find a race issue.

THere's nothing stopping the NBA from developing a minor league system. It seems a bit perverse to not set one up, and then claim that you need to restrict entry to your league because you don't have a minor league system.

To what end? As someone who played in the minor league baseball system I can tell you many of those guys make 10K a year from baseball. Might as well be homeless.

In the other sports you're offered partial scholarships to college for the most part. So its not as nice of a deal as basketball/football players get. So you can go pro and make crap money, or go to college and go in debt unless your parents can pay for it. College is a better deal for basketball than baseball players get. In fact, I think college is a better deal than minor league baseball players get.

Then if that was the case (making 10K a year as a 'pro') in basketball, it would probably be called racist anyway. Might as well stay in college. Much better value.

[Bill Bradley]

Of course you will get the standard ignorant white guy response that it has nothing to do with race. When you're white, it's a lot easier to not see race. But this is clearly a racist policy- one that disproportionately affects black athletes and lines the NCAA's pockets.

It's a racist policy that's not based on race...ok.

It's a racist policy because it systematically disenfranchises black athletes and exploits them, period. One could similarly argue that human slavery was about money but not about racism. It doesn't make it not racist.

[mtron929]

Of course you will get the standard ignorant white guy response that it has nothing to do with race. When you're white, it's a lot easier to not see race. But this is clearly a racist policy- one that disproportionately affects black athletes and lines the NCAA's pockets.

It's a racist policy that's not based on race...ok.

It's a racist policy because it systematically disenfranchises black athletes and exploits them, period. One could similarly argue that human slavery was about money but not about racism. It doesn't make it not racist.

There's a clear difference between exploiting a group of people because they are black vs exploiting a group of people who happen to be black. One can make an argument that both aren't noble actions, but one is racism and the other isn't.