Leaving Early To Go Pro
Basketball players who enter the NBA early are not ready for the NBA. Early entry into the NBA by high school and college basketball players has had a negative affect on the college basketball program, the NBA, and the players themselves. Each year the number of early entries in the NBA rises more and more. In 1997, 47 basketball players entered the NBA draft early, and the number has risen since then. The college basketball program is drained of talent due to players leaving early. The high school players that go directly into the NBA are hurting the college program because they never contribute to the college program at all. The NBA now has to deal with a higher level of immaturity and disrespect by young players. College basketball players obtain a certain amount of respect and maturity in college. The players suffer by not grasping the concept of learning due to lack of education. Many analysts say that entering the NBA before finishing a four-year program is entering too early. Still, many in the media believe players should never be allowed to jump straight from high school to professional ball. Despite the immense success of high-school draftees Kobe Bryant and Kevin Garnett. Very few players leave school early or go pro straight from high school, and those who do are good enough that their careers will surely lie on the basketball court. For these NBA-caliber players, attending college is a waste of time. They can get an education at any age, but athletic talent is not life-long. But the league shouldn't prohibit players from entering the draft at their own risk. Parents, friends and coaches will help a player make the personal decision to turn pro, and the NBA should not assume it knows what's best for them. A player missing out on a year of professional ball is a player missing out on a year of an NBA salary. Every small child dreams of becoming the next Michael Jordan or some other superstar in today's sports world. What if...
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