There are many arguments for and against drafting players into the NBA straight out of high school, but Stan Van Gundy is curious as to why it was ever up for debate in the first place. Whether or not a player gives college ball a run has never been an issue in other U.S. sports, after all. This according to the Detroit Pistons coach, who argues that the way he sees it the entire issue is one that probably boils down to skin color.
"People that were against [players] coming out [of high school] made a lot of excuses, but I think a lot of it was racist," Van Gundy said prior to Sunday's (February 25) game against the Charlotte Hornets. "I've never heard anybody go up in arms about [minor-league baseball or hockey]," he said.
As it stands, one must be at least 19 years old and has to have played at least one year in college in order to play in the NBA. The rule has led to many young phenoms opting to go 'one-and-done,' which many argue doesn't do much for the NCAA, and doesn't provide much more indication of how a player's career will pan out on the professional level.
Still, despite the success of such past high school draftees as Darryl Dawkins, Kevin Garnett, Kobe Bryant, Jermaine O'Neal, Tracy McGrady, Tyson Chandler, Amar'e Stoudemire, Dwight Howard and Lebron James, commissioner Adam Silver's position remains that having guys enter the league after testing their ranks at the collegiate conveys to teams having a better crop to choose from.
"We think we have a better draft when we've had an opportunity to see these young players play at an elite level before they come into the NBA," Silver told reporters during an All-Star Game break press briefing earlier this month.
Source: bleacherreport.com
