The age limit is collectively bargained.  It will never be struck down for that very reason.

I, for one, think that, if players accept scholarships, they should either go the full four years or pay back whatever tuition they don't use for school. Hopefully Courtney Paris acts on her words.

 I'm on the fence with this simply because I understand why Stern wants the limitations.  The NCAA has it's restrictions as well and amateur sports (basketball) is taking a huge hit.  On the other side, those that have game will always shine and should be welcomed into the league, if and when they fail then they could use the money and go back to school.  Their dream of at least getting the call to the league was had.  Let em play 

"recent spate of scandals involving college athletes"

this loses all credibility right here.  has Cohen been paying attention to college athletics for the last, I dunno, 7o frickin' years?  if it isn't point shaving in the 50's, or illiterate student-athletes in the 70's, it's booster payments in the, um, every decade.  college sports and rules violations go hand in hand, the age limit has nothing to do with it.

Congressman....NCAA Lobbyist

Putting an age limit on players in the NBA just gives colleges even more incentive to cheat. 

The your prodigy is a good example in the article.  Another good example is the player who is really good but too stupid to go to college.  Colleges are perfectly willing to forgo the educational requirement only because he can do a slam dunk.  Which is just plain wrong.  The NCAA should not be a minor league for the NBA or NFL.  MLB does their draft right.  Kids can be drafted out of high school.  If they are too stupid to go to college, they are not denied the chance to make the majors.  Hockey does it right too.  Forming your own minor league is the best thing for the sport, and for the colleges.

 It's a quandry...Not everyone can make the jump from High School to the Pros, but when they do succeed the NBA gets a Kobe, K.G., King James, D-Howard, Rashard Lewis, Josh Smith, J.R Smith, etc... What has been happening with OJ Mayo and Derrick Rose proves that the recent age-limit rules for the NBA have only made NCAA programs more scandalous.  Most of us agree though that a college education (at least some) can help with the maturity of young NBA talent...The age-limit rule has even influenced a young basketball player here in San Diego to skip his entire Senior Year of High School to begin playing professional basketball in Europe. I wonder where Brandon Jennings from Dominguez High School in Compton will fall in the upcoming NBA Draft? The dude has already made $3-4 Million playing professionally in Europe. I really do not know the best answer to this debate, but I do know both the NCAA and NBA are scouting players as young as in the sixth grade. We can only blame ourselves the fans...

Hahaha, you're kidding, right? Screw collective bargaining. Doesn't matter. It's unconstitutional. If someone gets a good enough lawyer, actually challenges this thing, then collective bargaining means nothing. Just because Stern and the players union agree to something doesn't make it some law set in stone. It'll be gone within the next decade, either by force, or by the stream of kids starting to flow over to Europe and saying screw college, pay me now.

Most people have Jennings in the 6-10 range, meaning going abroad did nothing to hurt him, and was probably more beneficial for him in the long run. He made some solid coin, understands what it's like to play on a pro team, and doesn't think the keys will just be handed to him. If anything, the transition to the NBA will likely be easier for him. He was playing against much better competition in Europe anyway.

I totally disagree. Yes there is the occasional Kobe or Moses Malone who can come out of high school and go straight to the NBA. But how many 17-18 year old guys have the maturity to handle the NBA lifestyle? Very few i'd wager.

You're thinking about this in the wrong context. This isn't about every 17-18 year old kid. This is about the elite of the elite.

By the way, Ricky Rubio, who is going to be drafted in the top 5 in the 2009 NBA Draft turned pro when he was 14. He did fine in Europe for 4 years.

And if you're talking about maturity, where do I begin? There are plenty of 30 year old guys in the NBA who don't have the maturity to handle the lifestyle either. Like 50% of them. Ricky Davis, Zack Randolph, Eddy Curry, Tim Thomas, the list is endless.

screw stern he didnt fine prince james nothin for leaving dwight and the media hangin but still shaq and the heat got fined i believe...i respect james even though im a kobe fan he needs to aleast act like he gives a crap but if this is the worst were gonna see from james he'l be fine

the best is the name of la lakers so be aware

As a young lady in high school. I can tell you that the age thing is not what keeps the guys from learning they are just plain lazy And think they all are going to make millions in sports If you want to play make them pass a test on knowledge first Then watch things change

The elite of the elite? How is that determined. As a projection based on where they are at 17 or 18. Hell you have to be Kreskin to know that. Ricky Rubio was not an all star and mvp or even worth mentioning if he did not do it in the NBA.

Further, when you are 17-18 you are underage and society still has an obligation to assist in your development, no drinking , restrictive driving, curfew. Grown men do what they want and face the consequences on their own. No such thing as being tried as an adult when you are thirty.

On the other side let us look at those who are law abiding citizens of the world and NBA players who you never hear any negatives on, Joe Dumars, Tim Duncan, Pau Gasol. Trevor Ariza, Dwight Howard, Shaquille ONeal, Dwayne Wade, Chris Bosch, Grant Hill,  Derrick Fisher,  the list is endless.

Did you see the interviews with this kid. Those men in Europe kicked his butt. He said he is glad he did it but had no idea what he was doing. He was not too willing to recommend it to future ballers either. He said he was a kid playing with grown, stronger, wiser, more physical men. He got his butt handed to him. It is not for everyone.

Stop paying those big dollars to players coming out of college or high school and get drafted high.  They have done NOTHING to earn their money.  Let them prove themselves and then they will be rewarded  properly.  This will solve a lot of the problems we have now, and keep some in school longer where they may mature and learn how to handle adversity.  It may have helped LeBron who disappointed many, including me with his immature performance last week.

I've always supported the athletes going to college first before the pros, but now after reading that article, I wonder why I did.  I guess I just haven't thought about it in that light before.  Maturity can vary from person to person, regardless of age.  If a person does not value an education, forcing them to go to college is not the solution. 
All that I ask is for a class (even as little as 8 hours) that teaches these kids (from all sports, not just NBA) how to save some of that money instead of blowing it all on coke and strippers and $1M cars, so I don't have to support their broke a$$es when it all crashes down.

I wish I WISH that EVERY high school bball player ------I dont care if its male or female-----stay in college 4 years under a good head coach( Coach K for example). That's my opinion.

The legal age for gainful employment is 15 in most states, therefore by putting an age limit in the NBA not only discriminating but violating certain policies that are in place across the country. I do understand The NBA's point of view of wanting players to go to school to get better educated (even though some still make dumb mistakes) but if a 15 year old can get a job in most parts of the country then IF HE'S QUALIFIED should be able to play NBA basketball. Of course that's just a pipe dream in most cases.

Last time I looked, at age 18, you could vote, join the Army, and get killed for your country in Afghanistan. But you can't play in the NBA. Is it too dangerous? Possibly get HIV from some groupie?

Last I checked you couldn't immediately make millions of dollars going any of those things.  While you make valid points, do you really think the NFL would be better off if kids straight out of high school were allowed to play?  It is a privilege, not a right to participate in the world of professional sports, and if nothing other than the quality of the product and the maturity of the individual, I am all for these certain age limits.

An age limit is ridiculous

Even the players who are too stupid to be in college?  (You KNOW there are a lot of them)

The ones who get a free ride ONLY because they can slam dunk, thereby taking a scholarship away from a lesser talent but has the educational background to be in college legitimately?

Its not unconstitutional. For one the NBA is a private organization. The colectively bargained this age limit. Just like when Clarett sued the NFL for early entry. He lost. Is it unfair, probably. No judge is going to overturn something that was collectively bargained. It surprises me that a Democrat would come out against this when a union agreed on this. Now if the NBAPA had any juice they would make this an issue when the CBA expires. But I am tired of politicians coming out and complaining about pro leagues. Lets get the country back on track then they can waste time complaining about the NBA, NFL, and whatever else they want to

does not mater

The NFL's age limit was held up for that very reason.  Once there is a legal precedent, it is very hard to overturn (and according to judicial protocol it never should).

I'm sure this Tennessee senator isn't choosing this battle to pander to his constituents after the scandal to Memphis University. Nope, not at all. He clearly cared about this way before.

it shud not increase wat so over

y force a man to go to college for 4 years and risk getting hurt? Higher education establishments are not going anywhere and if they so choose NBA stars can return whenever they want.

to impart more knowledge about it

Further, (and this is an echo of what I said earlier) why force a guy into college who shouldn't be there to begin with?  Since when is a college degree a requirement to play in the NBA?  Stupid people should not be forced to go to college if they have the skills to play basketball.

they should go for at least one year if not more.

just jockey

All sports are different.

NFL. You can't have a kid come out of High School & go straight to the NFL. Those kids are not physically ready to play in the NFL. If you look at some of those kids they usually put on the weight during their college years. Regardless if its natural or thru the school secret cocktail provided by the school.

MLB how many times do you see a kid that is drafted straight from High School play fresh out of High School. It's rare. They always play in the minors. Even Arod, he played 1 year in the minors before being called up to the Majors.

NHL. Even though its equally as physically bruising if not more than the NFL. They have kids that get drafted & play straight out of High School also. But these kids have problems with adjusting to the schedule & the physicality in the Pros. Takes those kids a while to adjust, not all can adjust equally.

NBA. For every LeBron, Kobe, K.G & D. Howard you'll get a Kwame Brown, Lenny Cooke, Sebastian Telfair & Shaun Livingston. Those last four might have benefitted from playing at the College level. Something no one will ever know. Not every high school kid can make the leap. Even if they are skilled to play in the NBA, they just won't pan out. But if they play in College at least they can strengthen their weaknesses. Playing in College will change their game but one will not know if its for the best or not. As far as Jennings in Europe, he is getting beat over there cause unlike here in the states, they teach everyone FUNDAMENTALS. Something that has been forgotten here in all sports. Childress has done a decent job & that's cause he understands the team concept. You have to remember, just cause you get drafted it doesn't gurantee that you made the team. There have been drafted players that have not made the team they were drafted by. I believe the age limit should be changed into saying, after completing a 2nd year in college can a college kid declare for the draft. That way they can develop at least a little while in college.

But all in all, it's all a gamble. A team will take a gamble on a player in the draft that they will be able to contribute some how as a rookie. A player gambles that they will be drafted as if they hired an agent, they have sealed their fate & can't go to College. But there is also a key-factor of if the player fits the system that the team that drafted has instilled.

Oh the prodigy statement is fair...but how many times do those same prodigy kids get burned out & can't get to that level anymore?

My thing with not going to college or just jumping right into major sports is that if they get injured, which is a harsh reality, they don't have anything to fall back on. Most of these guys are not going to do anything about finishing their education.

I get what you are saying but the problem with the NBA and NFL is that there is nowhere for kids to go and develop as players if they don't go to college.  This leads to all sorts of horrid things.  Like letting in stupid kids who have talent, but shouldn't even be allowed to look at the buildings on a college campus!  But it is equally unfair to deny them the chance to improve and develop their skills.  That very large population of players have very few outlets besides getting cheated through college.

The obvious answer is for the NBA and NFL to create some kind of minor league.  This is a vicious cycle.  Why should they when the colleges to it for them without costing them one cent?

right, but if that certain kid is really that good, which is very unlikely, don't you think that the NBA would want that kid? see i mean sure people need to develop, but what if this guy had a lot of experience? why not let him in?

There should be no age bar, as long as they are as good as their team mates in ability, skill & are physically fit

age shud not be a barrier,as long as the skills are there every team member is entitiled to play on

With the current state of economics, shouldn't Congress have other issues to tackle other than this? The NBA could implement it's own policy that forces the athlelete to finish college and this would be a non-issue. MAYBE THE 1ST THING THEY SHOULD LOOK AT IS THE LIFETIME PENSION THAT CONGRESS GETS FOR A MINIMUM OF 4 YRS OF SEVICE AS OPPOSED TO THE WORKING JOE WHO MUST WORK 25!

Some athletes at 21 are still not mature to handle the big league I really don't think fresh from High School is appropriate. What would happen to these athletes if they acquire injuries in their 1st season that just never allow them to gain a stronghold in the NBA or wherever. It's hard for them to be motivated after so get  some education other than High School and grow-up a little and deal with life,where noone has to be held responsible for you as a result of your age

i agree with forbeslaurel

agree

i agree

I fully supported to implement age limit

bulls are the best

very true statement young lady if you break your leg twist a  ankle  then what  if you can't play no more? what do you have to fall back on!!!!  oh your education but most are just push into classes and people take test &write papers for star players. few know the books

i feel that at 18 is a good age to go pro  in the nba if you have the skills but aso you risk your health at a young age because the nba have grown men fighting for a spot on a team.  its a money thing men are getting paid for the skills boys not  welcome its a job  not high school we dont have kobe's garnett's every year. its all about talent. without talent&smarts you  cant make it. you can have all the skills but be un coachable.

i think you should be 21 so you can enjoy adult team outings .its hard on a player when the team is at an adult fund raiser and you can attend

you are correct in most of what you said but how about the kid comes out of high school and blows out his knee in the first game and then what to dumb to do any thing but sell drugs or worse

i agree most kids dream of being a kobe or a super star only one in 500 i think is the odds that make it big in the nba not good odds for the dreamers

Just let them play

never say never. it really does not matter if the age limit is collectively bargained or not. in baseball steriod testing or should i say a lack of steriod testing was collectively bargained and after congresional pressure it was changed. if congress says it is discrimanation aginst young people to say they can not play the rule will be changed.

If u have talent, no matter what age, you should play