Why is a bad thing for the NBA to require some college for an entry level player? Nearly every other Profession requires some level/form of training/schooling/certification prior to considering applicants for hire.

A Lawyer must have a certain level of schooling and pass a bar exam. Medical Professionals all must have some level of schooling or certification. Computer Programmers must have some level of certification.

If the NBA wishes for it’s prospective employees to have one year or two years of college, how is that any different.

Are Bill Gates and Steve Jobs Computer Geek Mercenaries? Are the people who exit college early to work for Google, Yahoo, Microsoft, etc mercenaries for hire?

If I were David Stern, I would work towards at least three years and I’d work out a deal with the NBA for the NBA Draft to be treated as an Internship.

The NBA and NFL are Professions in the exact same way that becoming a Doctor, Lawyer, Programmer or Pharmaceutical Rep are Professions.

Treat them in the same manner. That is the right thing to do.

This silly use of the terms “One and Done” and Mercenary is moronic. It’s infantile. The NCAA is the problem. Not the NBA. Why treat the NBA as if it’s a drug cartel? Why treat contact with the professionals who are involved in the Sports Profession as if they are drug dealers?

The traditionalists rant and rave that the “One and Done” rule is ruining College Basketball.  They complain that it has turned the NCAA into a minor league for the NBA.  This is exactly how Facebook, Google, Apple, Microsoft, the Supreme Court and Wall Street treat the University System.  Why is this bad for Athletes but good for Doctors and Lawyers and Money Market Managers and such?

Treat the NBA as the Profession and Business that it is. Problem solved.

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