The NBA is expected to undo a rule that has been in place since 2005, lowering the age limit for the NBA Draft from 19 to 18.

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per The Athletic:

The NBA is expected to undo a rule that has been in place since 2005, lowering the age limit for the NBA Draft from 19 to 18, according to sources with knowledge of the discussions. The NBA and NBA Players Association can amend this rule as soon as 2024. Prior to 2005, the league saw players like Kobe Bryant, LeBron James and Dwight Howard make the jump from high school to the NBA as 18-year-olds. With a Dec. 15 mutual opt-out date looming for the NBA and the NBPA under their current CBA, let’s break down the new draft age limit, why it matters and what it means for upcoming prospects.

How does current NBA Draft age limit work?​

Currently, the NBA requires any player entering the NBA Draft to be at least 19 years old during the calendar year the draft is held and at least one NBA season removed from his high school graduation or what would have been his graduation if he hasn’t graduated. That means players can go one-and-done after high school, but that one year could be spent in college, abroad or even the G League Ignite.

What would be the new reduced NBA Draft age limit?​

The new age limit would take it down a year, allowing 18-year-olds into the NBA and foregoing the requirement they must be at least one year removed from their high school graduation. That would allow players to go from high school — or the Overtime Elite league or the G League Ignite — straight to the NBA.

When would the new NBA Draft age limit come into effect?​

As early as 2024, which means we could have the mythical double draft that year, where the best players from the 2024 high school class are in the same draft as the 2023 high school class and all other college upperclassmen.

What does this mean for Bronny, Bryce James?​

It doesn’t seem like it’s going to mean much for Bronny James. He’s currently in the 2023 high school class, so if the first year back under the new age limit is 2024, then he’ll still have to play in college for one season before entering the NBA Draft. Bryce James is currently in the 2025 high school class, so he seems to be in a position to make the leap from high school straight to the NBA just like his father, LeBron James.

Could this eliminate G League Ignite team?​

I wonder if the NBA tries to sell separate media rights for the G League if they still use Ignite somehow, maybe in attracting international talent as they’ve done or as a landing spot for the player who doesn’t want to go to college but also doesn’t want to enter the draft yet because his stock isn’t good enough, allowing him a year to build up his resume.

Will NIL help schools still recruit top players from high school?​

A majority of players with a first-round grade are going to skip college entirely. It’s not much different than your best college freshmen in the current system.


Those with a second-round grade or on the fringe of getting drafted will have a harder decision to make. Will it make sense to go to college and try to improve stock while also getting paid? Or is it better to develop on an NBA bench or in the G League and start your NBA clock earlier?

The hit rate of the first few classes could dictate this. How much money schools are able to offer in name, image and likeness deals could also play a role. We’re still very early in the NIL era. It’s possible what schools are able to pay continues to climb or it could be that the biggest contributors do not see enough return on investment to continue offering the kind of deals we’ve seen thus far.

What mental health injury designation covers​

This would undoubtedly be a big step forward for the league and its players in both shedding a light on mental health issues and also substantiating that talk by giving players the time, space and opportunity to address them. We shall see what the actual changes will be and what is afforded players, but even the willingness to discuss something like this should be an acknowledgment that the status quo is insufficient.

How does the NBA CBA work?​

The CBA is the governing manual for the entire league, negotiated between the league and its players’ union, the NBPA. It determines how every part of the NBA works, from the draft to free agency to pretty much everything in between.

When does the current NBA CBA expire?​

The current CBA runs through the 2023-24 season, but the NBA and the NBPA have the ability to opt-out by Dec. 15.

theathletic.com

What NBA changing draft age to 18, eliminating ‘one-and-done' rule means

Let's break down the new draft age limit, why it matters and what it means for upcoming prospects.
theathletic.com theathletic.com

Go Gophers!!
 



JimmyJamesMD said:
I'm good with it
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Oooh, it certainly makes the Wolves picks given up for Gobert more valuable.

More talent, means more draft busts up at the top. Kind of like back in late 90s early 00s. Pushing people down the draft.

Hopefully Connely can use that wisely.
 



atsgopher said:
Oooh, it certainly makes the Wolves picks given up for Gobert more valuable.

More talent, means more draft busts up at the top. Kind of like back in late 90s early 00s. Pushing people down the draft.

Hopefully Connely can use that wisely.
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In theory no it doesnt, 2024 is a pick SWAP, so if we are better than the Jazz (which feels like a near certainty with both of our rosters) we would actually still have our pick in that draft.

I am interested to see if the NCAA does anything with this. Mostly, are they going to find a way to do the baseball/hockey models where you can go to the draft and then after you can decide what you want to do. My personal preference would be this: Go to the draft out of high school fine, if you dont like your team or where you got picked you can choose still go to college no problem, BUT then you cannot enter the draft again for 2 years. To me this helps a few things, if a kid is close he goes, well I might go I might not but if I dont declare I can go to college 1 year to get better/bigger then go. And for the ones who do declare and don't get picked hey FYI that means you werent good enough, we are letting you play in college but the downside is you wait your 2 years. Baseball does 3 years with this, I think for bball that is too long but at least that helps the schools out somewhat, not a situation you have 4-5 guys a year yo-yoing back and forth.
 

leib0039 said:
In theory no it doesnt, 2024 is a pick SWAP, so if we are better than the Jazz (which feels like a near certainty with both of our rosters) we would actually still have our pick in that draft.

I am interested to see if the NCAA does anything with this. Mostly, are they going to find a way to do the baseball/hockey models where you can go to the draft and then after you can decide what you want to do. My personal preference would be this: Go to the draft out of high school fine, if you dont like your team or where you got picked you can choose still go to college no problem, BUT then you cannot enter the draft again for 2 years. To me this helps a few things, if a kid is close he goes, well I might go I might not but if I dont declare I can go to college 1 year to get better/bigger then go. And for the ones who do declare and don't get picked hey FYI that means you werent good enough, we are letting you play in college but the downside is you wait your 2 years. Baseball does 3 years with this, I think for bball that is too long but at least that helps the schools out somewhat, not a situation you have 4-5 guys a year yo-yoing back and forth.
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Correct. This first draft will have more talent than usual. Then it will go back to normal the next year.
 

I'm on board with this. If there are a few kids good enough to go pro right away, so be it.
 




one potential implication:

If most of the "one-and-done" players decide to skip college and go straight to the pros, that will have some fallout on college recruiting.

it's a domino effect: the 1-and-done kid goes to the pros instead of going to Duke or Kentucky. that means Duke or Kentucky needs to grab another kid away from Gonzaga. and then Gonzaga grabs another kid away from Michigan State, and so forth down the line.

it's mainly going to impact the top-level programs.
 


TruthSeeker said:
Correct. This first draft will have more talent than usual. Then it will go back to normal the next year.
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There will always be 1 more year of "talent" available for each draft. So each draft will, in theory, have more talent but there will also be greater chance of missing on players.

With a more robust affiliate league in place, the NBA is much more ready for an infusion of young/under developed talent.
 

Going to college for the sake of going to get drafted never made sense. Doubt if that the kids were taking quality classes and finishing them for that matter. I always wonder what happens to the kids who concentrate solely on basketball and don't make it to the NBA. Can't be good. Is this part of our problem?
 



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