NBA Commissioner Adam Silver speaks about lowering the age rule / myLot

Lake Charles, Louisiana

June 26, 2017 5:40pm CST

National Basketball Association (NBA) Commissioner Adam Silver is considering lowering the age where a basketball player coming out of high school or college can declare to join the league from 20 to 19 years of age. The basketball players union and the owners of the basketball teams will discuss the issue at the next meeting. In my opinion it is a grave error that a basketball player who graduates from high school thinks he is ready to play basketball against players who are old enough to be their fathers. But then with the success that former basketball players Kevin Garnett and Kobe Bryant had adjusting to playing from high school to the pros was just a lucky chance that were not draft busts. In my view the National Basketball Association should have a minor league system for the players that either spent one year in college or come out f high school being billed as the next big thing. But then again I am not Adam Silver and I am happy about that.

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5 responses

Four Walls

@FourWalls (86755)

• United States

27 Jun 17

If it were easy then the league would have nothing but Kevin Garnetts and Kobe Bryants. But it's very difficult to play competitively at the professional level. (Heck, even at the college level!) But you can't tell a 19-year-old anything, so let him have his lunch handed to him. It might be the best thing to happen in this era of millennials thinking that the worlds owes them everything. Personally, I wish they would do something to stop this "one and done" in the University of Kentucky....sorry, the NCAA basketball world. There are kids who need those scholarships and they should be getting them, not the people who are going to jump ship to the NBA in one year who don't care anything about actually receiving a college education.

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George B Vieto

@Deepizzaguy (122209)

• Lake Charles, Louisiana

27 Jun 17

I agree with you on this matter since there are many former sports stars or celebrities who have said they were lucky that they did not suffer an illness or injury that would have ended their careers prematurely. Many of them said get your education first and then play sports later.

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NJ Chicaa

@NJChicaa (127158)

• United States

27 Jun 17

I agree with you. 19 seems a little young to be playing pro.

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George B Vieto

@Deepizzaguy (122209)

• Lake Charles, Louisiana

27 Jun 17

LeBron James, Kevin Garnett and Kobe Bryant were lucky to have successful playing professional basketball in the NBA without suffering a serious injury that could have ended their careers prematurely.

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Teep11

@Teep11 (7673)

• United States

27 Jun 17

19 is young but the one year difference isn't a big deal. At least the players will be allowed to make money at an early age in order to assist with providing for their families and they'll also be allowed to experience a wonder opportunity. Blessings to all.

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George B Vieto

@Deepizzaguy (122209)

• Lake Charles, Louisiana

27 Jun 17

Thank you for your input on this discussion. I know a lot of former sports who lamented that they did not go to college or learn a craft outside of their sport if they had not been successful earning a living playing in the pros.

1 person likes this