An education helps.
Ok, the NBA lockout situation is a COMPLETE disaster. So, let’s just say that, for the sake of argument, the owners are huddled in a room with David Stern and they’re discussing things they want to do to control the player pool in the league. I mean, they’re concerned about overpaying for players, overpaying for players that don’t pan out, and the general immaturity of the players (isn’t that why we instituted the dress code and fine players left and right,) so maybe they should think about going ahead and making another change since they’ve already screwed the pooch.
Maybe it’s time to talk about an age limit in the NBA that is actually going to have some teeth.
Every year, we’ll see a million basketball writers (including myself) talk about ways that we can fix college sports or college basketball. I still think the number one way to fix college basketball is to institute the age limit in the NBA that exists in the NFL. Make these kids stay in school and you will get more mature and impactful players on the back end. Sure, LeBron is great for ratings, but he’s so immature that he can’t win. It’s the truth.
However, D-Wade stayed in school and he’s more mature, a better leader, and has a ring. Elton Brand didn’t stay in school and he’s a flop if we ever saw one. Tim Duncan stayed in school and he’s got more than enough rings to makeup for the fact that he didn’t “have a chance to work” when he was 19.
If the players and owners are going to blow this thing up, we need to meet in the middle and come up with an age limit that produces more intelligent and well-rounded basketball players who had to stay in school and actually learn something.
I’m just sayin’.
photo credit: Viktoria B
