NBPA to Seek Lower Age Limit: Latest Details, Comments and Reaction
Michele Roberts, executive director of the National Basketball Players Association, has made no secret about her feelings regarding the NBA's age limit on incoming rookies. Now the union's general counsel, Gary Kohlman, is attacking the rule.
According to The Associated Press, via ESPN.com, the players association will push to lower the age limit for incoming rookies:
"National Basketball Players Association general counsel Gary Kohlman said "quite likely the union will be taking a radically different position" than the NBA on the age issue, which will almost certainly be a contentious point between the sides when they sit down.
"If they were white and hockey players, they would be out there playing. If they were white and baseball players, they would be out there playing," Kohlman said. "Because most of them are actually African-American and are in a sport and precluded from doing it, they have to go into this absurd world of playing for one year.
"That's just total complete hypocrisy."
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In an interview with GQ's Chuck Klosterman last year, NBA commissioner Adam Silver said that he would like to see the age limit increase from 19 years old to 20. He believes it would ensure players are more prepared to enter the NBA, thus making the league as a whole stronger:
"Of course it's a restriction, in the same way a draft is a restriction. But our view is that it would make for a better league. You'd have more skilled players, more mature players. The draft would be better. It would be better for basketball in general. Strong college basketball is great for the NBA. And we know those players are eventually going to come to the NBA, whether they are 19 or 20 or 21.
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Critics of the age limit counter that it's unfair to force players into attending college or playing in another league for one year before they can enter the NBA. Kohlman made the point that such age restrictions aren't common in other occupations.
Bleacher Report's Howard Beck, however, questioned whether the players association is correct in throwing all of the blame at the league:
The Cauldron's Andy Glockner also took issue with the NBPA's line of argument:
Under the current agreement between the NBA and NBPA, players must be 19 years old—and one year removed from high school if they're American—to enter the league.
Most high school stars go to college for a year, while a smaller number—most notably Brandon Jennings—got paid to play abroad prior to making the jump. Emmanuel Mudiay is playing in China and projects as one of the top prospects ahead of the 2015 draft.
The last collective bargaining agreement was reached in December 2011 and came with a 10-year shelf life. However, either the league or players union can opt out of the CBA after only six years.
The issue of the age limit will undoubtedly be one of the more contested topics when the NBA and NBPA step up to the negotiating table.
