One-and-Dumb

  

Andrew Wiggins at Kansas

          Think of the NBA and NCAA basketball. Think of the connections between the two. Eventually, you should come to the one-and-done rule. It basically says that a player must be out of high school for at least one year before entering the NBA draft (or the NBA in general in some form). This usually means the player ends up going to college for a year (or more), and then turning pro. Many current players have gone this route, and it has made almost a mockery of the NCAA basketball process.
          In fact, if you do some research into the matter, there seems to be more opinions opposed to the one-and-done rule than in favor. Adam Silver seems to be not only in favor or the rule, he wants to actually raise the NBA age minimum. I recognize how older players coming in would possibly lead to more mature players, but you are working against a player's earning potential.
          Let's parallel this to some of the other major sports. In baseball, a player can be drafted straight out of high school. Some international talent actually can sign at 16 or 17 years old. In golf, players can turn pro as teenagers. The same goes for tennis. Football is really the case where multiple years are required before going pro. However, I see a major difference between basketball and football: the physicality needed. For basketball, there is certainly a physical demand. It's a contact sport. However, a lot of what goes into it is pure athleticism. Look at Andrew Wiggins up above. Is he going to outmuscle LeBron James? No, no one is really. But can he possibly outmaneuver James? Probably not, but at least there's some semblance of a chance. Put him against any other player in the NBA, and Wiggins would have had a real shot at it because of his athleticism. He did not need a year in college for that. In fact, it only made him a year older and by extension, a year closer to losing that athleticism.
          By putting players one step closer to the end of their professional careers before they can enter the draft, you are seriously hurting earning potential. In addition, what about kids that have major injuries in that year of college ball? Joel Embiid, for example, got hurt near the end of his freshman year at Kansas. Would he have gotten hurt in the NBA? Maybe, but maybe not. If a player seriously gets hurt in that year of forced college ball, they're just plain screwed.
          And don't try saying it's for the sake of an education. Going to school for just one year makes a mockery of that idea. Heck, not even everyone goes to college for the one year. Emmanuel Mudiay ended up playing in China for a year, albeit due to eligibility concerns.
          Many pundits and respected authority figures have come out against the one-and-done rule, and you can count me among them. Before the rule, we got such talent as Kobe Bryant, Kevin Garnett, and LeBron James straight out of high school. They were ready, just as I believe Wiggins was ready when he graduated high school. Just as I believe Ben Simmons has been ready. Let the kids play, because the one-and-done rule is one-and-dumb.

Tip of the hat to my buddy James for suggesting this blog topic. Check out his blog at naiveblogattempt.blogspot.com. Also, please let a comment below with any questions/comments you have about this post. Think it was awful? Let me know! I welcome all opinions, so long as they don't blatantly attack people.