Congressman Questions NBA’s Age-Minimum Rule

[duncan228]

Congressman questions NBA’s age-minimum rule (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=dw-agerule060309&prov=yhoo&type=lgns)
By Dan Wetzel

LOS ANGELES – A United States Congressman is demanding that NBA commissioner David Stern and NBA Players Association executive director Billy Hunter explain to Congress the reasoning behind the league’s 19-year-old age minimum for U.S. players to enter the draft.

U.S. Rep Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.) wrote both men a letter Wednesday to express his “deep concern” over a rule that “bar(s) athletes from playing in the league on the basis of age” and asked that the “policy be repealed” in the next collective bargaining agreement.

The four-year-old rule sends most U.S. players to the collegiate ranks for at least one season.

“This system does far more to serve the financial interests of the universities at which the students play than the educational interests of the student themselves,” Cohen wrote in a letter obtained by Yahoo! Sports. “I am convinced the (age rule) contributed to the recent spate of scandals involving college athletes.”

Cohen has asked that Stern and Hunter voluntarily open a dialogue with him concerning the rule and discuss “why this rule exists,” according to press secretary Steven Broderick.

If they do not respond, the congressman is “prepared to pursue other avenues to get the answers,” according to Broderick.

Broderick would not speculate on those avenues, but they would presumably include the calling of a hearing that would require under-oath testimony from Stern and Hunter.

Neither the NBA nor the NBPA had immediate responses when contacted by Yahoo! Sports on Wednesday.

The league and its players association jointly put the age limit into their collective bargaining agreement back in 2005. Stern has spoken about possibly extending the age minimum to 20 years old or two years out of high school for U.S. players. European players need only be 18.

“I ask that this policy be repealed when the NBA completes its new collective bargaining agreement (with) the NBA Players Association,” wrote Cohen, who is a member of the powerful committee of the judiciary and the chair of the subcommittee on commercial and administrative law.

Cohen represents Tennessee’s ninth district, which includes the city of Memphis and the University of Memphis, currently involved in an NCAA infractions case involving former Tigers guard Derrick Rose.

Rose is a classic “one-and-done” player who spent time in college basketball only because of the NBA rule. He’s accused by the NCAA of academic fraud for irregularities on his SAT.

Rose denied the claim, according to NCAA documents. The university has responded by saying the NCAA does not have enough evidence to conclude that Rose used a stand-in on his SAT. University officials will appear before the committee on infractions Saturday in Indianapolis.

[mavs>spurs2]

I always thought this rule was a violation of rights. Props to congress

[ginobili's bald spot]

Yea. Adults should have the right to work if someone wants to hire them.

[Bender]

I don't wanna see a bunch of 18 year olds play basketball.

[baseline bum]

You can go and die for oil at 18 but can't shoot a damn basketball in Madison Square Garden... go figure.

[rogcl1]

I always thought this rule was a violation of rights. Props to congress

I guess now maybe the government will want to own the NBA as they do GovernmentMotors. What about the NFL? This politician doesn't have anything else better to do at this time then worry about 18 year olds waiting until 19 to get thrown to the wolves and collect millions. Oh, I guess then the government can support the kids when they weren't ready .
Let the NBA run their business. This clown must have his pockets greased by someone to be spewing such baloney at this time.

[Bender]

I was going to say something about that in my post above...

gov't is basically trying to control everything these days.

[rogcl1]

You can go and die for oil at 18 but can't shoot a damn basketball in Madison Square Garden... go figure.

Good point that is hard to argue on the surface, but in reality I don't think its that simple.The point is most 18 year olds aren't ready to shoot baskets in Madison Square Garden and the rare ,rare , few that can will still be able to at 19.

[baseline bum]

Good point that is hard to argue on the surface, but in reality I don't think its that simple.The point is most 18 year olds aren't ready to shoot baskets in Madison Square Garden and the rare ,rare , few that can will still be able to at 19.

And yet 18 year-olds are ready to shoot people?

Back to the MSG point, the players will essentially be doing the same thing for no pay if they go to North Carolina, Duke, UCLA, Kansas, etc. All the age rule does is cut off $1-$5 million of career income for a player while exposing them to injuries without any fallback.

[2Cleva]

A list of prep-to-pro players.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_prep-to-pro_players

Looking at the list since 1995, of the 38 players drafted, only 5 had no business being in the NBA (Korleone Young, Leon Smith, Ousmane Cisse, Ndudi Ebi, & James Lang). Of those 5, 3 of them were drafted in the 2nd round so teams knew they were a risk and the other 2 were drafted at 26 and 29 - a crap shoot regardless.

[jag]

I'm getting tired of seeing congressmen who feel they need to get involved with various professional sports leagues. All these guys want is recognition...they want to see their name in all the papers and all over ESPN.

"If they do not respond, the congressman is 'prepared to pursue other avenues to get the answers, according to Broderick."


No one owes this guy anything, who the eff is he? The NBA does what's best for the NBA...this has absolutely nothing to do with the U.S. government.

[Spurminator]

Good point that is hard to argue on the surface, but in reality I don't think its that simple.The point is most 18 year olds aren't ready to shoot baskets in Madison Square Garden and the rare ,rare , few that can will still be able to at 19.

Let the teams decide which ones are ready.

[baseline bum]

There's racism in the age-minimum rule; lots of people act as if black men need college more than say, white women who can go pro playing tennis in their mid teens.

[IronMexican]

They are fighting for me to play basketball at 18. I can die for my country but not drink a beer.

[jag]

Let the teams decide which ones are ready.

The NBA instituted the age requirement to help clean up their image. They feel it's in the better interest of the company...it's their prerogative.


There's racism in the age-minimum rule; lots of people act as if black men need college more than say, white women who can go pro playing tennis in their mid teens.

There's "racism" in everything. :rolleyes

Are you ignoring the Euro players (white) that have to wait?

[jacobdrj]

Yeah, the NBA should totally change the rule:
Minimum NBA Requirement: 2-year Associates degree.

Then it isn't racist, ageist, or politically incorrect. It is just a minimum education requirement that just happens to usually coincide with being at least 19 years old-ish.

[/sarcasm]

[rogcl1]

And yet 18 year-olds are ready to shoot people?

Back to the MSG point, the players will essentially be doing the same thing for no pay if they go to North Carolina, Duke, UCLA, Kansas, etc. All the age rule does is cut off $1-$5 million of career income for a player while exposing them to injuries without any fallback.

I am not arguing your point on principle. You could say the same about old enough to shoot but not old enough to buy a beer. Certainly 18 year old kids are not ready to kill in war, but neither are almost all of the 18 year olds ready to step in and play in the NBA .Being a private run business the NBA should have the right to run their business. If the NBA wants to let 18 year olds play , its their money and their call.
We will probably just disagree on this and thats OK. i must go back to work in my yard. I just took a break to see if there was anything worth reading here.

[jacobdrj]

The NBA instituted the age requirement to help clean up their image. They feel it's in the better interest of the company...it's their prerogative.

People want employment. Employers want those potential employees. A 3rd party, other than the government, is telling them they can't. It smells of corruption.

[rogcl1]

There's racism in the age-minimum rule; lots of people act as if black men need college more than say, white women who can go pro playing tennis in their mid teens.

Racism ,a whole new tact. Whatever it is ,it is not racism. What will it be called when these kids who aren't emotionally, physically , or basketball ready fail. That could be considered exploitation and if you count colors which you must be doing a form of your word. So either way the NBA loses.
Once again, the NBA is a private run business, spends millions of dollars on these players and they can make their own rules. They are not going to purposely harm their product. But honestly , I don't see it as racism.

[adidas11]

The NBA instituted the age requirement to help clean up their image. They feel it's in the better interest of the company...it's their prerogative.

Wrong. The NBA instituted the rule, because the players association wanted it. They were tired of veterans in their 30s being pushed out by the newest high school phenom coming in. It had nothing to do with league image or whatnot.

And I also don't buy the "they are not ready" crap that a lot of people spew. Just because a player isn't the finished article right off the bat, doesn't mean drafting them and teaching them the pro game for your team isn't the right move.

Most players in general aren't ready for the pro game, whether they are coming right out of high school, or right after finishing 4 years at an ACC school. Its perfectly Ok for a player to come off the bench early, or not be a star early.

Look at Kobe Bryant, as an example.

[rogcl1]

There's racism in the age-minimum rule; lots of people act as if black men need college more than say, white women who can go pro playing tennis in their mid teens.

How did the Williams sisters break the white girl circle in tennis?

[adidas11]

The racism aspect of this debate comes from the proponents of the age limit rule (outside of the NBA that instituted the rule). A lot of the same people who say that 18 yr old basketball players shouldn't be allowed to turn pro don't seem to have the same opinion about tennis players or baseball players (who are mostly non-black).

[rogcl1]

Wrong. The NBA instituted the rule, because the players association wanted it. They were tired of veterans in their 30s being pushed out by the newest high school phenom coming in. It had nothing to do with league image or whatnot.

And I also don't buy the "they are not ready" crap that a lot of people spew. Just because a player isn't the finished article right off the bat, doesn't mean drafting them and teaching them the pro game for your team isn't the right move.

Most players in general aren't ready for the pro game, whether they are coming right out of high school, or right after finishing 4 years at an ACC school. Its perfectly Ok for a player to come off the bench early, or not be a star early.

Look at Kobe Bryant, as an example.

Now having said what I have I will say this. Baseline Bum , I agree with you in principle, but I also think that in the end the NBA should run their business.
I do also agree that he player union also wanted it for the reason above. But then again, that's the NBA taking care of its own business.
What I believe could solve any "they aren't ready " issue is if more of the teams would own their D league teams and run them as MLB runs its farm system. This would in my view make it a situation more easily managed.
But no, maybe I am naive , but I do not think it is part of some racist plot.
All have a good day.Must go back to work.
How many kobe or Lebron's are there? If 18 year olds are allowed there has to be an established team controlled minor league system to give the non KObe's of the world a chance to develop. I belive what the Spurs and a few others have done with owning their D league teams is could help remove this argument.

[adidas11]

What I believe could solve any "they aren't ready " issue is if more of the teams would own their D league teams and run tem as MLB runs its farm system. This would in my view make it a situation more easily managed.

Which in effect would make them minor league teams.

The NBA has no need to do that, because college basketball suffices that need. Why pay all of that money to run minor league teams, when a system already exists that nurtures talent for them for free?

[Destro]

The age rule isn't to protect players, it is there to protect owners from drafting high-schoolers who haven't proved themselves. Its less of a gamble for the owners to see a kid play a season in college than to draft sight unseen. The age rule is in the owners interest.

The payers union, mostly controlled by vets, doesn't want their salaries impacted by unproved high-school players either. Both have self interest in keeping the young ones out of the league for a year two

[2Cleva]

Actually, the rule wasn't generated based solely on race or NBA vets.

It was for the NBA to market the picks. Hard to get a city hyped about a HS kid not named LeBron James but if he got to play for a NCAA team for a year and get the college-story stereotype its easier to market him to the public when he's growing just as much (if not more) as a player with the NBA on the bench making millions.

That's where the race comes in. Americans as a whole can't stand to see young black athletes immediately guaranteed millions in a perceived "thug" sport, despite how its worse in other American mainstream sports.

It's also why the league has gotten so T happy - Stern trying to prevent another brawl, even though NFL and MLB fight all the time without the stigma the NBA has.

[DUNCANownsKOBE2]

I'm glad Greg Oden had that one year of college. It helped him SOOOOOOOOOOOO much.

[rogcl1]

Which in effect would make them minor league teams.

The NBA has no need to do that, because college basketball suffices that need. Why pay all of that money to run minor league teams, when a system already exists that nurtures talent for them for free?

Of course , I was going to make mention of the NCAA farm system . I was just trying to point out that the argument for allowing 18 year olds in regards to being ready, developed ect. would be greatly enhanced by a team run minor league sytem. I know the Spurs own the Toros and I thought the lakers owned theirs too.

[adidas11]

Destro and 2Cleva, can you cite sources of info to back up your claims?

I remember specifically back in 2005, where the players union pushed for this rule to take place.

http://nationalbasketblog.com/2009/04/30/the-nba-age-limit-debate/


First off, let’s not allow David Stern to shoulder all the blame for the age limit rule. This was voted on and put into place by the NBPA which is the union comprised of active, veteran NBA players.

[rogcl1]

Just to let all know that I came in to sit in the AC and take a break from my outdoor labors. I enjoyed the range of views and the very good information that was brought out here. I think I would be more comfortable with some of the posters here bringing their views , logic, debating skills to our government and replace the clowns that pose as our leaders. To all a good day.

[ducks]

Yea. Adults should have the right to work if someone wants to hire them.

so should someone under the age of 21 be able to work on a strip bar joint and be a bartender

[ducks]

congress neeed to worry about our debt not the nba

[adidas11]

so should someone under the age of 21 be able to work on a strip bar joint and be a bartender

As long as its a venue that doesn't serve alcohol.

[rasho8]

Although the original poster was being sarcastic aboutt his idea... the requirement of an associates degree is good. I actually like that idea. Make them prove they can actually pass freshman comp 1 and 2, and then college algebra.

As it is I think they should institute a 21 and up rule on the NBA. Then people who get out of high-school and finish a 2 year degree can then go and play in the d-league, sign an exclusive rights deal start making money at 18-19, and develop their skills and be ready to go into NBA Draft.

EDIT: Oh and congress needs to shut the fuck up and pay attention to the multiple trillions of dollars we owe china, the shitty economy, the shitty education system, the soon to be shitty government run health care system, and stay the hell out of sports.

Sports never has and never will need the government to 'help' them. So shut up and sit down idiot congress people.

[rasho8]

so should someone under the age of 21 be able to work on a strip bar joint and be a bartender

In Texas you can be a bartender under the age of 21, just not under the age of 18.

EDIT: And you can be a stripper at 18 too.

EDIT EDIT: And make pornos.

[baseline bum]

Although the original poster was being sarcastic aboutt his idea... the requirement of an associates degree is good. I actually like that idea. Make them prove they can actually pass freshman comp 1 and 2, and then college algebra.

As it is I think they should institute a 21 and up rule on the NBA. Then people who get out of high-school and finish a 2 year degree can then go and play in the d-league, sign an exclusive rights deal start making money at 18-19, and develop their skills and be ready to go into NBA Draft.

EDIT: Oh and congress needs to shut the fuck up and pay attention to the multiple trillions of dollars we owe china, the shitty economy, the shitty education system, the soon to be shitty government run health care system, and stay the hell out of sports.

Sports never has and never will need the government to 'help' them. So shut up and sit down idiot congress people.

How about a 21 & up rule in tennis? In gymnastics? In golf? In working period?

[baseline bum]

Destro and 2Cleva, can you cite sources of info to back up your claims?

I remember specifically back in 2005, where the players union pushed for this rule to take place.

http://nationalbasketblog.com/2009/04/30/the-nba-age-limit-debate/

I also specifically remember 2Cleva's point about Stern wanting to have marketable players' names being built up in college programs.The players' union has made a lot of bad concessions to Stern in the past 10 years, all starting from the flack they caught in the 99 lockout from people and the media who judged all the players as spoiled and greedy and somehow looked past the owners.

[MiamiHeat]

Don't you have to be at least 35 years old to be President of the USA?

Guess he should complain about those too.

Every job has minimum requirements. The NBA has their own.

[adidas11]

Don't you have to be at least 35 years old to be President of the USA?

Guess he should complain about those too.

Every job has minimum requirements. The NBA has their own.

The question is, can a job stipulate job requirements based on age? Just because a job has that requirement, doesn't mean that someone can not challenge it in the court of law.

[duncan228]

Updated.

Congressman urges NBA to drop age minimum (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=ap-congress-nba&prov=ap&type=lgns)
By Frederic J. Frommer

A lawmaker urged the National Basketball Association Wednesday to repeal its requirement that players be at least 19 years old and a year out of high school before entering the league, calling the restriction unfair.

Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tenn., sent identical letters to NBA commissioner David Stern and union leader Billy Hunter, asking that they scrap the requirement in the next collective bargaining agreement.

Cohen, a member of the House Judiciary Committee, called the requirement “an unfair restriction on the rights of these young men to pursue their intended career.”

In an e-mail, NBA spokesman Tim Frank said, “We are looking forward to receiving, reviewing and responding to the congressman’s letter, as we always do.” The players union did not respond to requests for comment.

Stern said last month he wouldn’t mind if the new agreement pushed the minimum age to 20—although he was happy the way the current rule was working. The current agreement runs through 2011.

In a telephone interview, Cohen told The Associated Press that he’d consider both hearings and legislation if the requirement remains.

“I don’t think it makes any sense. It didn’t hurt Al Kaline to go straight to the Detroit Tigers,” he said, referring to the slugger who broke into baseball at age 18. Cohen noted that athletes in other sports, such as baseball, tennis and golf, don’t face such a restriction.

In the letter, Cohen said the requirement “does far more to serve the financial interests of the universities at which the students play than the educational interests of the students themselves.”

He suggested that the policy might have contributed to scandals involving players in his city of Memphis, citing former University of Memphis star Derrick Rose and current Memphis Grizzlies player O.J. Mayo.

Rose, who led the Chicago Bulls to the playoffs and won the Rookie of the Year this season, has come under a cloud cast by an NCAA investigation of major violations at Memphis during the only season he played there.

Mayo played for one season at the University of Southern California and finished runner-up for the Rookie of the Year award this season. Louis Johnson, a former associate of Mayo’s, has told federal and NCAA investigators that Floyd gave $1,000 in cash to a man who helped steer the star player to the Trojans, according to Johnson’s attorney, Anthony V. Salerno.

The letters were first reported by Yahoo! Sports.

[Armando]

Don't we have bigger issues for Congress to fix?

[Destro]

Destro and 2Cleva, can you cite sources of info to back up your claims?

I remember specifically back in 2005, where the players union pushed for this rule to take place.

http://nationalbasketblog.com/2009/04/30/the-nba-age-limit-debate/

We are making the same point, the players pushed for the rule too.

[spurscenter]

If all 18 y/o NBA players looked like this guy, maybe Obama would step in.

http://fashionsensei.files.wordpress.com/2008/02/jackie-moon.jpg