Making the Jump to a Different Level

Currently the NBA has a rule that prohibits players from making the jump from high school to the pros until they are 1 year removed from their graduating class. There have been plenty of speculations as to why that rule was put in place. I am going to look at both sides of the argument today.

As we all know basketball (formerly) and a few other sports such as tennis, golf, and baseball allowed athletes to turn pro as soon as their are able to compete on the professional level. In fact basketball has been doing it for quite some time. Moses Malone was probably the most famous high school player to go straight to the pros when he did it in 1974. He had a hall fame career and an NBA Championship ring. After that it was a while before another high school player was drafted in the NBA. Then in 1995 the trend began again with Kevin Garnett. This is when it seemed to become popular again. Then the likes of Kobe Bryant, Tracy MacGrady, Rashard Lewis, Dwight Howard, and LeBron James continued the successful jump. In fact not only are these players productive on the court, but also in the community helping to bring the NBA a better name and more fans. All these different success stories make you wonder why the NBA chose to change the rule.

Despite the success stories there have been many players who have made the jump and fluttered. Sebastian Telfair and the likes of others come to mind. They may have never gotten in trouble of the court, but they did a poor job of producing on the court. Also, the affect was felt on college sports by not allowing these kids to get a year of experience in college and helping the collegiate sports rank out by lending their talents for a year. The counter argument to that is so many players make the wrong decision on jumping to the NBA weather it is before or after college.

Needless to say I think it is good to see NBA talent in college, even if its only for a year. It allows for more parody in the game, and I think it allows kids to adjust before entering the business side of basketball. With the rule change you have seen a lot of players deciding to take their talent overseas and get paid.

I think all the changes point to our society and the idea of instant gratification, where greedy and money are seen as the goal and players rush into it because of the culture. Hopefully, one day they will realize what Making the Jump is all about......That not being MONEY!!