April 8, 2008
Erroneous reports go out that the league is looking to require two years of college. The age rule is expected to remain at 19.
So much for that new age rule.
Overheated press reports before today's joint NBA-NCAA news conference in San Antonio had NBA Commissioner David Stern and NCAA President Myles Brand about to announce a deal requiring college players to stay for two seasons instead of one.
This was not only in error -- there's no deal, nor was one discussed -- but missed a fundamental point:
This isn't between the NBA and the NCAA. It's between the NBA and the National Basketball Players Assn.
The NCAA acknowledged as much
on its website, branding a
FoxSports.com story "erroneous," and stating that it "has no role whatsoever regarding the NBA age policy or its collective bargaining process."
The news conference was only to announce the two parties' plans to clean up the corrupt environment of youth basketball, which could dovetail with a project Stern has long favored, the founding of an "NBA Academy."
(Laudable as their intentions may be, their chances can be summed up in two words: "Good luck.")
The NBA's age rule is determined by collective bargaining with the union, which gave Stern an important concession in the last deal, going from 18 to 19, which prevented players from coming directly from high school.
Entire article:
New age limit in the NBA? Don't count on it - Los Angeles Times