Agree to Disagree: One and Done
Matthew and Avi debate the NBA’s “One and Done” rule and propose some alternatives
“Agree to Disagree” is a series where our writers debate some of the most controversial topics in sports today. This edition centers on the “One and Done” rule that forces top high school basketball prospects to wait at least a year after their high school graduation before they are eligible to be drafted. While some players opt to play professionally abroad or in the NBA Development League (soon to be the Gatorade League, or G-League for short, which is a much better name right?), most spend a year playing in college. Ben Simmons’ controversial Showtime documentary “One and Done” and the reports about his general apathy for all things not basketball-related during his time at LSU, has once again opened the eyes of the general public to the issues the rule creates. Here, our writers give their opinions on “One and Done,” some evidence to support their views, and propose alternatives. You lucked out because you also got a taste of another possible topic: paying college athletes.
Avi: The NBA should get rid of the one and done rule. I think a system where high schoolers have the option of either jumping straight to the NBA or spending at least two years in college where they are actually responsible for some degree of classwork would be a solid alternative system.
Matthew: I agree but I think shouldn’t even get an option to go straight to the NBA from high school. The competition would be amazing if the top freshman play with and against the top sophomores.
Plus [staying in college longer] gives them more time to develop.
Avi: That’s a fine idea from the standpoint of the NCAA but how can you justify depriving these kids from achieving their livelihood when they have the chance? Fultz and Ball are gonna sign for millions straight out, is it fair to deprive them of that money just so they “develop” and the competition in college is better? A lot of these guys have families that they want to support and going to the NBA immediately allows them to do that.
Think about it this way: If someone wanted to skip college to found their hundred million dollar startup, how could you argue against letting them do it? Even if they don’t succeed as they’d hoped in the NBA they’ll still have money to invest, get educated, etc. to make sure they don’t end up broke (to that end the NBA should set up a system whereby they help players get their investments straight so they can save for the future, optional but encouraged). The only reason people argue against letting them go straight is because it’s sports and they think it’ll be too risky or that there’s no future but that’s not the case anymore with how lucrative and sucessful the league has become.
Matthew: Isn’t there a chance they can go bankrupt? In college they can learn how to spend their money. You can bet that most players won’t go to college, which makes all these high school players rich but very raw. This will then fuck up NCAA basketball. Plus like we talked about before just because you’re a top prospect it doesn’t mean you’ll translate that into college or NBA. Seeing these players in college give NBA scouts to see who these players really are. I always believed that college players should get paid. The colleges make so much money, they can pay the kids something so they can survive and support their families.
Avi: That’s very true. It is possible that many prospects end up bankrupt because they spend their money too quickly and don’t save anything. But you can have those classes when prospects declare for the draft as part of the combine workouts (like Spencer’s speech in Ballers). Setting up a veteran mentorship program would also be helpful if they chose to participate because it would give them a mentor who was in the same position to guide them. To give scouts better samples I would suggest having more country-wide tournaments where the best players get to compete or have more All Star games/events. Even if the NCAA did pay their players it wouldn’t compare to what they could be making in the NBA.
Matthew: I’ve never seen Ballers.
And for that to work you really need a ton of tournaments.
And college is probably better competition than a tournament for just top high school prospects (which they do).
Avi: Both true, and setting up those tourneys would be a majorly expensive hassle, but still I don’t think the important issue is addressed. The biggest problem with rules that require prospects to go to college is preventing players from starting to make their living when they want to. Nobody would prevent someone from dropping out to make millions, they only do here because it’s sports.
Matthew: Of course but I’m talking about a franchise perspective. If Kobe played in college the odds are he would have went much earlier. Teams are very reluctant to take players straight from high school bc they are immature and young. Not to be mean but most of these players come from nothing, going straight to the NBA they would give them all this money they never had and they could easily blow through it all very quickly if they’re not careful. Giving these players a two year college education is better than watching them blow through money and do stupid shit (I know they do that in college but it will be worse for immature 17 year olds)
Avi: But then it’s gotta be up to the teams to do their own workouts and assess the players on their own to see if they’re really that great or not and whether they’ll be able to handle the pressure, fame and sudden windfall. Like I said, it would be much more efficient for the NBA to have their own mandatory rookie courses on financial management, etc to give the players a financial education. Even college players could blow through their money. It’s like Ben Simmons said in his doc about his oceanography class, him and other college big timers probably aren’t going to use any of their college classes for anything, so why bother even taking them and being there wasting everyone’s time?
Matthew: I see college as a way [for players] to prove themselves. Tournaments won’t do anything but watching them lead a team shows their skills. If anything the NBA should make them take a whole year of mandatory classes like what Baruch (College) does to get into Zicklin (Baruch College’s undergraduate business program).
But these mandatory classes should be in college not while they are playing in the NBA because at that point they won’t take them seriously.
Avi: Alright, we’ll have to continue this another time because I think we both have a lot more to say but for now, let’s Agree to Disagree.
Further Reading/Watching:
