Yes, it is possible to play in the NBA without attending college. Players who have finished high school and are at least 19 years old are eligible for the NBA draft.
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Yes, it is possible to play in the NBA without attending college. As per the NBA’s collective bargaining agreement, players who have finished high school and are at least 19 years old are eligible for the NBA draft. This rule was implemented in 2005, leading to the rise of players like LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, and Kevin Garnett, who entered the NBA directly from high school.
While playing college basketball is widely seen as a path to the NBA, it is not a requirement. In fact, some players choose to play professionally overseas before joining the NBA. For example, Brandon Jennings and Emmanuel Mudiay opted to play in Europe and China, respectively, before becoming NBA players.
The decision to skip college is not without its risks, as players may not be as well-prepared mentally and physically for the rigors of the NBA. As former NBA player Shane Battier noted, “It’s a different animal. The NBA is a man’s league, and college really doesn’t prepare you for that.”
Here is a table showing the number of high school players drafted into the NBA each year since the rule change in 2005:
| Year | Number of High School Players Drafted |
|---|---|
| 2005 | 4 |
| 2006 | 7 |
| 2007 | 0 |
| 2008 | 0 |
| 2009 | 0 |
| 2010 | 0 |
| 2011 | 0 |
| 2012 | 0 |
| 2013 | 0 |
| 2014 | 0 |
| 2015 | 0 |
| 2016 | 0 |
| 2017 | 0 |
| 2018 | 0 |
| 2019 | 0 |
| 2020 | 0 |
As can be seen, no players have been drafted directly from high school since 2006, as the NBA has seen a shift towards requiring at least one year of college or playing professionally overseas. However, the possibility remains open for players who meet the age requirement and wish to forego college.
See the answer to “Can you play in NBA without college?” in this video
The video explores the potential paths high school basketball player LaMelo Ball could take to reach the NBA, given his pro status in Lithuania and participation in the JBA league putting his eligibility for college basketball in question. Options include taking advantage of new select contracts offered by the G League or going the prep-school route, which would make him NBA draft-eligible for 2020 and allow him to work on his skills at a top basketball academy without facing college-level competition. It’s uncertain which route Ball will take, but his future as an NBA player is clear.
There are additional viewpoints
Why do You Need to Play College Basketball to Get into the NBA. In addition, before being selected in the NBA draft, players must be nineteen years old or older or have completed one year of college.
In addition, people ask
Correspondingly, Can a high school player go straight to NBA?
In reply to that: So, simply put, you cannot go to the NBA directly out of high school. The agreement also mandated that players must be at least 19 years of age and have been one year removed from high school graduation in order to be eligible for the draft.
Moreover, Can you go to the NBA without graduating? The NBA and the NBPA prohibits the drafting of high school players beginning in 2005. According to the terms of the agreement, a draftee must be at least 19 years old and within one year of his high school graduation or, if he did not graduate, his expected graduation date.
Why can’t high school players go to the NBA?
Response: NBA bans high school drafting
The list has stopped growing however, as basketball players can no longer be drafted from high school. Since 2005, the drafting of high school players has been banned by the collective bargaining agreement between the NBA and the NBPA.
Considering this, Can you tryout for the NBA? The answer is: Before each season, NBA G League teams hold open tryouts, searching for local talent to add to their rosters.
Thereof, Can a high school player play basketball without a college degree?
Thus, he became the first player to have ever been drafted into the NBA without playing basketball at the collegiate level. However, it was prohibited for any high school player to play in the league less than one year after his class graduated, according to the NBA rules.
What happens if a player doesn’t go to college? If a player chooses not to go to college, they must wait until four years have passed from their graduation from high school. Also, if a player signs a contract to play basketball outside of the NBA, they must first be released from that contract before going to play for the NBA.
Additionally, How long do NBA players have to go to college? The rule was called “one and done” and required players to attend college for at least one year or be of the age of 19 in order to be eligible for the NBA draft. That condition has been present ever since, and during that time has never stopped being a talking point for players, fans, college coaches, general managers and others.
Subsequently, How many NBA players did not play college basketball?
As a response to this: There have been more than 40 players that haven’t played a single second for a college basketball team, but have still had solid pro careers. Here are our top 15 NBA players that didn’t play college basketball. 15 15. Andrew Bynum Andrew Bynum is one of the ultimate ‘what could have been’ NBA stories along with Greg Oden and Sam Bowie.
Secondly, Do NBA players have to go to college?
The answer is: Perspective NBA players can go to college to reach the NBA or they can choose to play basketball overseas in order to play in the NBA. One decision that offers a middle ground, and which many players chose, and are now forced to choose is to go to college, but for a shortened period of time.
What happens if a player doesn’t go to college?
If a player chooses not to go to college, they must wait until four years have passed from their graduation from high school. Also, if a player signs a contract to play basketball outside of the NBA, they must first be released from that contract before going to play for the NBA.
Also, When can a college basketball player sign with the NBA?
Answer will be: No player may sign with the NBA until they are 19 years or older. Players who have played at least one year of college basketball are eligible for the NBA draft; this has been colloquially called the one-and-done rule, with such players called "one-and-done players".
Keeping this in consideration, How many NBA players have no degree? The reply will be: According to Rothstein Murman, approximately 21% of current NBA players have undergraduate degrees. That leaves 79% of NBA players without a degree. Still, even when these players leave college early to earn money in the NBA, the majority of them did not completely forget their education. Many NBA players got their degrees years after.