Report: NBA discusses changing draft eligibility age to 18, allowing high school athletes
The longstanding NBA Draft rule that a player must be 19 years old within the calendar year of the draft may finally be changing. According to NBA insider Shams Charania, the NBA and its player’s association, the NBPA, are in talks about lowering that age from 19 back to 18, where it was prior to 2005. A rule that effectively would allow high school seniors to enter the draft, eliminating the need for them to go to college.
Here was Charania’s full report, which he tweeted:
“Sources: NBA and NBPA in serious talks on new items for potential Collective Bargaining Agreement:
- Draft age eligibility from 19 to 18, return of high school-to-NBA
- Measure that allows players citing mental health similar to physical injury”
So if the two parties come to an agreement after these talks, the official draft age could be lowered. For those confused on the actual rules for NBA Draft age and entering the draft, here they are:
- Player must be 19 years old during draft calendar year, and at least one season has passed since graduation of high school. If player did not graduate high school
- Player must declare his eligibility 60 days before draft
- Players are automatically eligible if United States player completes college eligibility or international player turns 22 by December 31.
- An American player who signs a contract and plays for an international team is automatically eligible by age of 19.
- No player is eligible for more than 2 drafts