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After establishing that there would be no more athletes transferring straight from high school to the NBA, basketball analysts have now entertained the possibility of making players stay in college for a minimum of two to three years before they can actually declare themselves eligible for the NBA draft.

This topic could become extremely controversial for fans, so let me plead my case and then readers can plead theirs in the comment section.

The One and Done Rule

The NBA One and Done Rule specifically states that a player must be one year removed from high-school before being eligible to declare themselves NBA draft ready.

While clearly the NBA believes this rule is sufficient, I believe it is far from it.

Let’s take a look back at some of the students that went straight to stardom right out of their old high-school lockers: LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Kevin Garnett, Dwight Howard, Tracy McGrady, Amare Stoudemire, Rashard Lewis.

I mean the list goes on.

The Flaws in the System

Keeping the players listed above in mind, what is the real reason that players must go to college for one season before being able to go to the NBA?

Flaw No. 1

These types of players get scouted all around the world. They know, and the college team that recruits them knows, that they will opt out after their first season and enter themselves into the NBA draft.

Knowing that, how can a college team build chemistry when their biggest recruits are leaving for the NBA after less than a college year?

Flaw No. 2

As mentioned above, a few of the best players in the league have been sent straight to the NBA right out of high school. Why would the NBA create a rule that prevents the most elite players from entering the league, and put them at risk to injuries that could possibly ruin their entire career?

What the NBA Should Really Do

There are two options that the NBA has regarding to the One and Done Rule.

If a player is good enough and wants to skip college to go right to the NBA, the league should let them.

Why make a player go to college when he has the talent and ability to enter and compete in the NBA right then and there?

If a player decides to go to college, a rule should be created that forces these athletes to play in college for two-to-three years before they can declare themselves eligible for the NBA draft.

Why make a player play only one season in college before entering the draft? The more experience, the better. If a rule makes an athlete play two to three seasons in college, his team will build tremendous chemistry over the course of his college career:

That is impossible if a player joins the team for one season just to fulfill an extremely flawed NBA rule.

State your opinions and let’s debate!

by Brandon Ribak