Azura Stevens Leaving

[willtalk]

Players in the USA do not have a professional league other than the WNBA to play in. Those leagues are the equivalent of college experience here. I seriously doubt that any high school player could make the talent grade to play in the WNBA right out of school. There are multiple lesser leagues in Europe and the rest of the World where elite younger players can compete. It is sort of akin to when each Major league baseball team had about 5 levels of farm teams that was spread out in almost every city in the USA . The USA has trouble enough supporting the WNBA and could certainly not support any women's minor league team. College is basically the only available option for certain sports after high school.

 

[UConnNick]

But the point is that the NBA controls that decision. The league moved the age limit to 19 to eliminate eligibility for HS kids. They could move it to 22 to eliminate one and dones, while insuring a lot more MBB players earn a college degree.

I'm afraid the NBA's least important goal is to assure that student-athletes earn their degrees. That's at the bottom of their list of priorities.

They are, however, revisiting the one-and-done rule. They're leaning toward establishing some kind of orientation program for HS seniors, and going back to taking players right out of HS that don't have any interest in going to college.

 

[Waquoit]

But the point is that the NBA controls that decision. The league moved the age limit to 19 to eliminate eligibility for HS kids. They could move it to 22 to eliminate one and dones, while insuring a lot more MBB players earn a college degree.

The age not a simple decree by the NBA. It's a result of collective bargaining the league and the union.

 

[oldude]

The age not a simple decree by the NBA. It's a result of collective bargaining the league and the union.

Correct, but I can’t imagine that the Player’s Union wouldn’t support an increase in the eligibility age, as it would serve to protect the jobs of veteran players already in the Union.