*Just to clarify, the term “One and Done,” in respect to basketball, refers to a player who plays college basketball for one year and then declares for the NBA Draft.
In 2005, the NBA created a rule, as part of the NBA collective bargaining agreement, that prevented 18-year-old high school seniors from jumping directly to pro basketball. The rule states that a player must be at least 19-years-old and at least one year removed from the graduation date of their high school class.
Over the past 15 years, the one-and-done rule has been strongly debated as to whether it is good or bad for basketball. The supporters of the rule have stated that most high schoolers are not ready for the challenges, both physically and mentally, that await them in the NBA. Further stating that one year of college basketball is a great stepping stone to life as a professional. From a financial standpoint, the universities and colleges love what the one-and-done rule presents for them. Having a NBA talent playing a year at their school to sold out arenas, merchandise flying off the racks, and tv ratings going through the roof can only benefit a school, even if they don’t see a large chunk of that money. Even the NBA benefits from the one-and-done rule with regards to financial gain. From a marketing standpoint, the NBA finds it has much more to gain from a player who already has a built-in fan base as opposed to a high schooler that many people have never heard of.
Those that oppose the one-and-done rule state that a player shouldn’t be forced to have to wait a year when they are currently NBA-ready. They also claim that one year of college is pointless from an educational standpoint, when it is a known fact that the player in question is only making a pit stop en route to the NBA. I mean, let’s face it, they’re probably either barely attending class or, for the ones that are, they have a fellow student doing their homework for them. Finally, there’s the argument that it’s bad for college basketball because you hardly get to know a player or team with the constant roster turnover. In truth, it’s really only 2 schools that contribute to this last point.
Coach Mike Krzyzewski, of the Duke Blue Devils, and the poster child for one-and-done schools…Coach John Calipari and his Kentucky Wildcats have gravitated towards the one-and-done player like no other. These 2 schools seem to have a monopoly on the elite high schoolers that go to college for one year. During the 5 year span of 2014-2018, Duke and Kentucky had the Top 2 recruiting classes every year, and during the last 2 years, both schools have been in the Top 3. That’s SEVEN straight years of the creme de la creme of high school seniors! And yet, between the 2 teams, over the last 7 years, they have 1 National Championship (Duke-2015) to show for it. In fact, since the one-and-done rule has been implemented back in 2005, Kentucky has 1 Title (the Anthony Davis-led 2012 team) and Duke has 2 Titles (2010 & 2015,) although that 2010 team was led by mostly upperclassman. Coach K didn’t seem to really embrace the one-and-done player until the following year with Kyrie Irving. With that said, even though Coach Cal and Coach K are the two best in the business at recruiting the one-and-done player, it has not always led to success on the court. Yes, they are in the mix every year of the best schools in the country, but they do seem to also come up short of cutting down the nets in the Championship Game. It seems like veteran teams, with more experience, who had multiple years to gel as a unit, tend to have an advantage in March. Since Duke won in 2015, the last 4 tournament champions were all veteran-led squads (Villanova twice, North Carolina, & Virginia.)
You can really make a valid argument either way as to whether it’s smart to recruit the one-and-done players. I mean for Coach Cal and Coach K, they have the greatest talent every year, they’re always going to be in contention (a Sweet 16 run or better is probable every year,) talent follows talent so on many given years you can pull three, four, sometimes five, Top 40 kids, and the bevy of 1st rounders these 2 schools have going into the NBA draft is insane (which only looks good for the school.) On the flip side, the negatives are that titles are not guaranteed as the past 15 years have shown, you have to try and get your players to mesh at a rapid pace being that they’re only playing together for one year, you have zero veteran leadership and experience when it comes to that big moment in the Final Four, and are the players giving you that 110% effort on and off the court when their sights and mind are set on their future in the NBA.
I happen to stand on the side of the one-and-done rule being terrible for basketball. In my simplest explanation why, it should be about the player and not the league. Forcing a qualified individual to wait a year, where he can suffer a career ending injury, before joining the NBA sounds ludicrous to me. On top of that, some of these high schoolers also come from poverty stricken backgrounds where they need the money that the NBA can provide for them and their families, and instead they have to wait it out. Now thankfully, other options have been created along the way. Many high school seniors have decided to play professional ball overseas for a year before entering the draft. Others have taken up the G League (NBA’s developmental league) as an option. Both of these options are legitimate for the player that doesn’t want to spend an unpaid season in college. My solution is simple. Do away with the one-and-done rule and go back to allowing high school seniors to enter the draft. They can still go to college if a player is not ready or needs that stepping stone to the League. There’s always the overseas option. The G League is still there. Let the decision fall on the player’s shoulders, for better or worse. Lebron James, Kobe Bryant and Kevin Garnett ended up just fine going straight to the NBA. And yes, Kwame Brown, Darius Miles, and Eddy Curry did not fare so well, but that’s ok. Let each kid figure this out for themselves, but don’t force them into a place they don’t need to be. You’re going to tell me Anthony Davis and Zion Williamson were not ready for the NBA?!? That’s laughable!
It seemed the one-and-done rule was on its way out sometime in the next couple of years (thought to be 2022 draft class,) but now there also have been rumors that the NBA and the Player’s Association have come to a standstill, due to the availability of physicals and medical evaluations to all teams. The union will not bend on this issue. So with that said, there’s a strong possibility that the one-and-done conversation won’t be revisited until the next collective bargaining agreement in 2025. I, however, will continue to hope, that the powers that be, come to their senses and let 18-year-olds enter the draft as soon as possible.