Williamson, the projected top pick in this year's draft, helped re-ignite the debate about one-and-donesGETTY IMAGES
The NBA has submitted to the NBPA a "formal proposal that will lower the draft-eligible age to 18 from 19," according to a source cited by Jeff Zillgitt of USA TODAY. NBPA Exec Dir Michele Roberts "planned to review the proposal Monday at a post-All-Star weekend meeting in the Bahamas," though the union in the past was "not opposed to lowering the age limit." This is the "first step in formal negotiations to lower the age limit" in time for the '22 Draft. The NBA is targeting that year's Draft because the league "wants to give teams ample time to prepare for the change." With the NBA submitting their proposal now, it is "clear it would prefer to reach an agreement, or at least a framework of the deal, in the next few months." Both sides "seem willing to get a deal done, and there is confidence it will get done." While the current CBA does not expire until the end of the '23-24 season, both sides can "agree to amend rules before then." The timing of the proposal is "coincidental in relation" to Duke F Zion Williamson's injury, which "re-ignited the debate about one-and-done college players" (USA TODAY, 2/22).
TIME FOR A CHANGE: ACC Commissioner John Swofford said that he "doesn't like the one-and-done rule" and added that he is hopeful the NBA and the NBPA will "eliminate that rule" in their next CBA. Swofford said that the current rule has a "small effect on college basketball because only a few high school players are good enough to play immediately in the NBA." Swofford: "College basketball didn't miss LeBron James because he wasn't there. College basketball is still about the names of the institutions on the front of the jerseys" (WINSTON-SALEM JOURNAL, 2/22).
GOOD EITHER WAY: North Carolina coach Roy Williams said he has "no problem" with the NBA reducing the age limit, noting it is an NBA rule and not a college basketball rule. He said, "We, meaning college basketball, have served as a farm system for the NBA for many years. (NBA teams) make better decisions after a kid plays in college one year, two years, three -- whatever it is. But there is no perfect rule. LeBron James has done OK. ... But I do think probably more kids make mistakes (skipping college)" ("Get Up," ESPN, 2/22).
