I'm OK with HS graduates making bad choices

My story about U.S. Rep Steve Cohen's attempt to eliminate the NBA's 19-year-old age minimum for U.S. players to enter the draft has received a lot of feedback, as expected. The complaints are mostly typical, and not really worth debating here. But there is one point I'd like to stress, a point that always comes up, but one I never understand.

Obviously, people no longer try to pretend that high school players can't succeed.

That would be silly given LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Dwight Howard and many others.

So now the argument I hear most regularly is that though LeBron and Kobe are great, what about Korleone Young, Lenny Cooke and all the other prep stars who tried to turn pro out of high school but failed miserably? My point is always that those guys made mistakes because they weren't projected first-round picks, meaning they should've never been in the draft in the first place. They simply made bad decisions. And then the guy I'm arguing with usually claims an age limit is needed to prevent more high school graduates from making mistakes, and that's where I get lost and fail to recognize the rationale.

My question: Why do we care if high school graduates make bad decisions about their careers?

God knows how many high school graduates skip college to try to pursue careers in acting or singing or poker (or you name it), and many of them (if not most of them) are making bad decisions when they do it. For every Conor Oberst , there are thousands of young songwriters living out of their cars, totally broke. But who cares? They are adults free to make decisions about their paths in life. And if we don't care about those high school graduates who might make mistakes, why do we care about these high school graduates who might make mistakes?

Beyond that, is it right to keep a Conor Oberst or Jeff Tweedy from doing what they should be doing (i.e., making music for money, ASAP) because somebody trying to follow their paths might not be good enough to do it? Of course not. So why keep a John Wall or Renardo Sidney from doing what they should be doing (i.e., playing basketball for money, ASAP) because somebody trying to follow their paths might not be good enough to do it?

And beyond that, why do we care about the 18 year-olds who might make bad decisions but not the 19 year-olds?

Seriously, what's the difference?

Do you have any idea how many college freshmen, college sophomores and college juniors make bad decisions about the NBA Draft each year? Why don't we think it's important to keep them from making bad decisions? Why is it that we feel obligated to keep a Korleone Young or a Lenny Cooke from a bad choice, but not a Darius Washington (left Memphis after his sophomore year and went undrafted) or a Harvey Thomas (left Baylor after his junior year and went undrafted)?

Again, I don't get it.

And the reason I don't get it is simple: Because it makes no sense.

That would be aboslutely awful for both the NBA and college as it would encourage more HS players to try the NBA before they are close to ready because they would not want to be locked out for 3 years. HS players would flood the developmental league and overseas leagues.

And let's not be naive - these HS students are not really the ones making the choices, it's parents, close "family friends" and street agents who are advising them and highly influencing the decisions. However, should that be the NBA's problem? No.

On the flip side, when I was graduating from HS, if someone offered me a job opportunity paying a market salary rate for doing what what I wanted to do, why would I go to college?

Finally, you can't combat against someone's inflated opinion of themself, whether it's a HS kid who's been hearing how great he is for years, or some NBA owner or front office idiot who drafts the kid and pays him way too much in the hope of finding the next KG or Kobe or Dwight Howard (LeBron wasn't a risk - he was probably better than most NBA bench warmers when he was a HS sophomore.

unc_50_5 Reputation: 86 Level: All-Star Since: Jan 20, 2008	Posted on: June 4, 2009 11:11 am Score: 76 I'm OK with HS graduates making bad choices I am okay with it too but what I would like to see be done is... Take off the 19 rule then put the rule in if you go to the NBA fine go but If you decide to go to college you have to stay 3 years I think it would be great for both sports. [ Reply to Comment ]
ozark Reputation: 98 Level: Superstar Since: Sep 25, 2006	Posted on: June 4, 2009 11:22 am Score: 115 I'm OK with HS graduates making bad choices I agree that no one needs to stop guys from making bad decisions, but I also would say the NBA has the right to run their league how they see fit. If that means preventing a couple of guys from getting drafted each year, and they still feel that is the most effective way to run their league, then more power to them. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't believe it's anyone's legal right to play professional basketball whenever they want, while I do believe the NBA is within the law for setting their own rules. In the end can anyone out there force the NBA to change the rule? It seems like all people are doing right now is pressuring them. But then again, the NBA is a joke league. The age restriction rule seems kind of arbitrary to me for basketball players, while it makes tons more sense for football players. [ Reply to Comment ]
CRYSTAL LAKE Reputation: 99 Level: Superstar Since: Mar 20, 2009	Posted on: June 4, 2009 11:40 am Score: 111 I'm OK with HS graduates making bad choices I'm OK with it too, however, I think the NBA, with the Players Union, has a right to determine the criteria for individuals to be eligible. The government should stay out of it. All employers set basic criteria for the positions in their company, whether it is a high school diploma or college degree. I think maybe the NCAA could change so that a player who declares for the draft and goes undrafted could enroll in college or return to college in the case of current players. This would give the player the option to try to reach the NBA and also return to college if they were not deemed ready by the NBA teams. Also, the NBA could improve the developmental league to be more of a true minor league, similar to baseball and hockey. Those minor league sports have a good fan base, and I think the NBA could do the same thing. They invest enough money into the WNBA, why not into a developmental league. [ Reply to Comment ]
theriverrock Reputation: 99 Level: Superstar Since: Mar 2, 2007	Posted on: June 4, 2009 11:47 am Score: 114 I'm OK with HS graduates making bad choices The NBA is chock full of scouts, coaches, etc. who are only too willing to be upfront and brutally honest with these kids and their families in regards to their potential NBA Draft status. They will straight up tell these kids and their families "at this point, Bobby, you're projected to go somewhere in the 2nd round," or "in all likelihood, Jimmy, you're not going to be selected." The information is available to these kids and their families. Nothing should be too terribly surprising. The NBA, quite frankly, *does* attempt to protect some of these kids from themselves. They do so by simply being truthful with them. If these kids, their families, their advisors, etc. choose to make a poor decision *despite* this knowledge, that's 100% on them. [ Reply to Comment ]
ku102 Reputation: 91 Level: All-Star Since: May 23, 2008	Posted on: June 4, 2009 11:56 am Score: 136 Here is the reason, Gary I can't say I don't agree with you. But there is one big difference between those HS grads who go off to LA to try to become actors and those who enter the NBA draft, and it is this- if it's not working out for the aspiring actors, they are free to return to college to study acting. If a basketball player enters the NBA draft and does poorly in the league, he cannot decide after 2 years to go to college and play basketball to improve. He can go back to college, yes, but isn't eligible for playing college ball. So the situation is not equivalent. And the age limit in no way stops them from making the bad decision, it only requires delaying it for one year. Lebron James could have contributed in the NBA at 17, so why is one arbitrary limit bad while the old arbitrary limit was ok? Overall, I think post high-school (or 18, our arbitrary adult line) you've got to let these players pursue whatever course they think is best. [ Reply to Comment ]
pdot489 Reputation: 95 Level: Superstar Since: Jan 6, 2009	Posted on: June 4, 2009 12:20 pm Score: 88 College The answer is simple. College is more exciting with these guys. Can you imaging Lebron playing at the college level, even three years ago before he was who he is today? Can you imagine if Melo or Wade did not? It should be up to the kids but it should also be up to the fans. How many first year players out of high school really make an impact in the NBA? A few, ever. How many Freshman make a big impact in College? A few dozen every year probably. We, the fans, pay good money (and emotions) to be a part of the sports world. In the 19-year-old rule, the NBA does not suffer and College benefits significantly. Without the rule, College suffers, NBA is not impacted, and ALL PLAYERS BENEFIT. I say, make it 21 year old limit! [ Reply to Comment ]
CinciBuckeye Reputation: 0 Level: Amateur Since: Oct 17, 2006	Posted on: June 4, 2009 12:47 pm Score: 27 Age discrimination They should get rid of the age limit, but keep the "years removed from high school". If they impose an age limit, that's age discrimination. If they say 1 year removed from high school, that's a job requirement. That's exactly how the NFL does it...there's no mention of age for the NFL. [ Reply to Comment ]
checkit Reputation: 99 Level: Superstar Since: Sep 12, 2008	Posted on: June 4, 2009 1:11 pm Score: 129 I'm OK with HS graduates making bad choices I agree, who cares!!! Let em go, college is about coaching and learning and college is better off without guys that don't want to be coached or learn. I think its funny you are comparing writing music where you actually have to be able to read and write to playing basketball, where so many kids can't get into school because they can't read or write. But, I agree why in the world do I care what a stupid high school senior does? I don't!! Why did I even bother to respond??? I'm bored, but I'm very rarely bored enough to watch the NBA. Look plain and simple who cares???? Let them go. I'd rather them have a job than not. If they make a little bit of money they can always go to school, if they can get in. Maybe the NBA wants them to go to school for a year so that they can make sure that the kids have some kind of education. Hmmm, who knows, but again who cares???? [ Reply to Comment ]
Watney Reputation: 5 Level: Amateur Since: Jun 4, 2009	Posted on: June 4, 2009 1:12 pm Score: -17 I'm OK with HS graduates making bad choices "And if we don't care about those high school graduates who might make mistakes, why do we care about these high school graduates who might make mistakes?" Because these HS graduates are involved in the multi billion basketball dollar industry and the 'owners' & 'operators' don't like kids mucking up their money making machine . . . and as another commenter noted, if they bypass college (i.e., developmental league) they won't have made them any moola by filling some seats, etc. . . . [ Reply to Comment ]
shatner_rocks Reputation: 79 Level: Pro Since: Apr 4, 2007	Posted on: June 4, 2009 1:24 pm Score: 102 I'm OK with HS graduates making bad choices That would be aboslutely awful for both the NBA and college as it would encourage more HS players to try the NBA before they are close to ready because they would not want to be locked out for 3 years. HS players would flood the developmental league and overseas leagues. And let's not be naive - these HS students are not really the ones making the choices, it's parents, close "family friends" and street agents who are advising them and highly influencing the decisions. However, should that be the NBA's problem? No. On the flip side, when I was graduating from HS, if someone offered me a job opportunity paying a market salary rate for doing what what I wanted to do, why would I go to college? Finally, you can't combat against someone's inflated opinion of themself, whether it's a HS kid who's been hearing how great he is for years, or some NBA owner or front office idiot who drafts the kid and pays him way too much in the hope of finding the next KG or Kobe or Dwight Howard (LeBron wasn't a risk - he was probably better than most NBA bench warmers when he was a HS sophomore. [ Reply to Comment ]

Gary Parrish

Parrish: The Thoughts