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May 13, 2008
NBA rule is well-intended but flawed
I don't know if O.J. Mayo did take tens of thousands in gifts from the representative of an agent. I do know this: The accusations ESPN made about the former Southern Cal freshman are plausible. They'd be plausible for any high school player identified as a soon-to-be lottery pick. And that's why this NBA rule, pushing kids to play at least one season of college basketball, is well-intended but ultimately flawed. The NBA would like players to mature - physically, emotionally and in their understanding of basketball - in the de facto farm system that is college basketball. The NCAA wants the Greg Odens and Kevin Durants to at least make a cameo appearance in its tournament before hearing their names called in the NBA draft. But it's too late to undo how Kobe Bryant, Kevin Garnett and LeBron James changed the sport. They were all ready to play out of high school. In fact, Bryant and Garnett were chosen too low, not too high, in their respect drafts. (What's sillier upon reflection? That reigning MVP Bryant went 13th or that the then-Charlotte Hornets immediately traded him to the Lakers?) Every year there will be three or four high school seniors so NBA-ready (at least compared to the other options in a given draft) that they're foregone conclusions to be one-and-done in college ball. You think it's a coincidence three of the first four picks last June were college freshmen? There's little structure in place to keep the "runners" - the guys who funnel money from agents to prospects - away from these elite players. Unfortunately, a number of these players will pick an agent for those early inducements, and not for who might best represent him later. The problem is enforcing amateurism, or in this case shamateurism. If a kid is a tennis prodigy at 16, the sneaker makers and racquet makers help finance the cost of developing that kid's talents. There's nothing dishonest or evil about that; it's an investment in future marketing. Men's college basketball is different, because Mr. Future Lottery Pick is supposed to be treated just like the 12th man at Davidson or Winthrop. It's realistically unenforceable to keep the runners away from the next O.J. Mayo. So as long as the NBA (worn down by years of lobbying by college basketball coaches) continue directing the prodigies to a year of college ball, the shamateurism will run rampant.
Posted by rbonnell on May 13, 2008 at 05:13 PM | Permalink
Comments
Who cares about NBA rules and what are the Bobcats?
Gooooooo PANTHERS!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Rufus | May 14, 2008 4:19:43 AM
The rule has its flaws but I like it because yes, players like Bryant, Garnett, and James have become superstars coming right out of high school but there are a good precentage of other "high school to NBA" draft picks that have turned out to be complete busts. Many of these kids jump straight to the pro level because they want to support their family or they have too many people telling them they are the next Kobe. Playing a year of college allows them to get a feel for how good they really are; if they can't dominate against college players they certainly aren't ready for the NBA.
That being said I understand there is a problem with all these athletes like Mayo who are getting money from endorsers. The NCAA and NBA needs to do something to prevent it or we will continue to hear stories like Mayo's. I don't see it as "unenforceable".
Posted by: ND | May 14, 2008 4:46:29 AM
Rufus, you purposely seek out a Bobcats/NBA blog and comment "who cares about the NBA." PLEASE, I beg you, GET A LIFE, for all of our sakes.
Posted by: Bobcat Matt | May 14, 2008 5:23:16 AM
I agree with Bonnell that the NCAA is the farm system for the NBA, which is why these guys should be paid at that level. It would improve both leagues.
Posted by: apauldds | May 14, 2008 5:42:49 AM
The one year rule should be abolished. Going to college and playing pro basketball have very little in common. College basketball fans and college coaches want these players for that one year in hopes of some type of glory. If some 18 year old wants to play professionally and a team is willing to pay them, then fine, go ahead. If they turn out to be a bust, it is no different in someone hiring a person and later firing them for poor job performance.
Posted by: Enforcer | May 14, 2008 5:49:50 AM
Going 13th was sillier. Had the trade not been agreed to before hand, Charlotte would not have taken him. At the time, Kobe said that he would only play in LA or New York. Why take an 18 year old kid who doesn't want to play for you? That is one of the reasons that he slipped so low. I am often amazed at the lack of historical knowledge of sports writers. It's like you guys live in the present and selectively use information from the past to put in your articles.
Posted by: Darrell | May 14, 2008 5:52:57 AM
Thank you Darrell! I was about to write a similar post but you beat me to it. Kobe stated numerous times that he would not play for a small market team such as Charlotte. It is amazing that Bonnell would not know this or would choose not to include it in his post.
Posted by: Mason | May 14, 2008 6:09:22 AM
The crazy thing about this Mayo situation is that he only played one year and his team lost in the first round. If USC loses scholarships, I don't think Floyd will view recruiting Mayo as a good thing. The one year rule should be dome away with.
Posted by: Token | May 14, 2008 7:43:25 AM
Before the new rule regarding eligibility for the NBA draft was instituted, most 18 years old players - American as well as international - coming into the league were clearly not ready to play in the NBA. Yet, they kept on being drafted, year after year, based on "potential". For many of these players the result was that they missed the chance to actually continue developing their potential, by being mostly on the bench - rather than getting starter minutes in college, or in a European league.
If you look at the brightest examples, even they would've been benefited - in terms of maturing and improving as players - by playing at least one year in college (as Carmelo and Kevin Durant did!). Kobe Bryant was not a starter in his first two seasons, and he averaged 7.6 PPG in his first season. Kevin Garnett started in about half of his first season games, to average 10.4 PPG and 6.3 RPG. And what about Jermaine O'Neal, who didn't start in his first four seasons, when he was averaging about 4 PPG ? The quickest to be up to speed in the NBA was Lebron, but he became good only in the second half of his first season; I remember the first half of that season, he was shooting about 25-30% from the field in most games! The eligibility rule is meant to make sure that most young players get somewhat closer to the level required to contribute in this league before they are drafted, and it can't hurt even the most talented (for the reason mentioned above).
If some players, like O.J.Mayo, can't abide by the NCAA strict rules, well, they should've thought about it in advance. The NBA eligibility rule doesn't require at all playing in college; it requires being at least one year out of high school. Players can meet this requirement, and make some money too, by playing a year in the D-League or in Europe. The fact is that almost all high schoolers choose to go that year to college -
and that comes with the obligation of following the NCAA rules.
Posted by: Sandy | May 14, 2008 7:58:13 AM
The trade was that Charlotte Hornets would draft Kobe and trade him for Divac the center the hornets needed. It was agreed to before the pick was made.
Bonnell was around then, he should remember that.
GO HORNETS
BOB JOHNSON SUCKS
Posted by: hornet4ever | May 14, 2008 6:17:13 PM
If I was an OJ Mayo type I would skip college and go pro in Europe. Get paid, play better comp., "mature" by living in a different culture, etc. Screw the NCAA and its 8 million rules. They basically pimp these kids out anyway.
Ps, I still hate Kobe for that very reason. Play for the team that drafted you, douche. Nice selective memory Bonnell.
Posted by: BroD | May 14, 2008 9:11:02 PM
You guys can all thank me for running the Hornets out of town. I refused to help provide them with a new arena then willingly handed over the deed to the city and built Bob cat Johnson and idiot management friends a new one and gave them whatever they wanted, no problem.
Look how well that worked out, I suck. Bob cat makes George Shinn look like a saint.
GO HORNETS, i mean bobcats.
Posted by: Mayor Pat McCroy | May 15, 2008 4:00:18 AM
Rick, I agree wholeheartedly.
Posted by: jperry | May 21, 2008 11:01:56 PM
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