“They’ve been hearing since 8 [years old] that ‘You’re the best I’ve ever seen’” (Emmert 13). Mark Emmert, the President of the National Collegiate Athletic Association, states that the current rule in place for one-and-done basketball players is ineffective and insufficient to the business efforts of both the NCAA and the NBA. “They’re not stupid kids. But they’re deluded about what their future holds in basketball” (Emmert 14). The current rule created by the NBA and NBA Players’ Association in the collective bargaining agreement that became effective in the 2006 NBA Draft stated that all players entering the draft are required to be either 19 years old or be one year removed from high school (graduating class). Mark Emmert, among …show more content…
A player has the opportunity to earn more money at least a full year earlier than if they stayed in college for two years. “It's bad enough that some of these players have to watch their families struggle financially for a year while they serve time at a college program they'd rather have skipped in the first place” (Hughes 13). It’s also recognized that statistically, players who are one-and-done are more successful than not, even if only for several seasons: “[...] But on average, a majority of them managed to play significant roles in the league for at least a few years” (Johnson 16). There are several standout one-and-done players of the last several years, like Anthony Davis, Kyrie Irving, and Derrick Rose. Apart from the few superstars of the youngest generation of the NBA, there have been several key players and many role players from the one-and-done tree. So, is it fair to say that one-and-done failures are few and far between the average career or even the occasional superstar? In this situation, it’s not just about the player’s ego, but their welfare and the university’s …show more content…
What’s important to realize is that the statistics are the statistics, and nothing can debate that. “Since 2006, only 68 players have made the leap after finishing their freshman year [...]” (Greenberg 2). This statistic was updated on April 8, 2015. During the 2015 NBA Draft in June, more players became one-and-dones. Most notably: Jahlil Okafor, Karl Anthony-Towns, D’Angelo Russell, Justise Winslow, and Stanley Johnson. So, the number is 70+ and counting every year. The achievements and progressions these players make are not indicative one way or another, but don’t show a true negative side effect. “What seems obvious, though, is that only a small fraction of the one-and-done players in this sample completely flamed out in the NBA. Only a handful turned into stars -- and even a smaller number into true superstars -- but on average, a majority of them managed to play significant roles in the league for at least a few years” (Johnson 16). The ‘flames’ are rare, like Kevin Durant or Derrick Rose. But, so are the ‘flame-outs’. Once the one-and-done punches his ticket to the NBA, statistically, he doesn’t do too badly for himself for the first several years (at a minimum). Sports Illustrated conducted a categorized list of the one-and-done basketball players over the course of 8 years, from the 2006 NBA Draft season through the 2013 NBA Draft season. This statistical evidence that was updated