If you’re a basketball fan you’re most likely to know the last athlete in the NBA to make it straight to the big boy’s league from high-school, the mandatory one year of college rule which NBA started in 2007. No one other than one of the all time greats Lebron James.

In 2007 NBA, instituted this new rule which requires athletes to be atleast 19 years old or went to college for atleast 1 year. In, my opinion it’s a good decision by the league administration because not all the players who think they are “elite” just because of their stats in high-school, are actually good enough to go to the next level.

Going to college gives them a backup plan. Not everybody has a giant 6’10” frame like Anthony Davis and neither do they got skills like most the professional players. Some players who are actually that talented would have no problem to go straight into the pros.

Even though it’s not as rough as football but basketball is still a contact sport. For ex: a new young player gets drafted into the league straight from high school but unfortunately he gets injured seriously during his first season and is never able to recover from it fully. If that was to happen his life was basically ruined not because he wasn’t going to be able to play basketball but he doesn’t have a degree or a proper high level education because they never went to college.

College is also a pathway for recognition. Athletes who are from smaller high-schools don’t get as recognition by the scouts, the public etc. Going to college before straight to the pros already gives the players who are doing good a higher recognition because it’s a way bigger platform and it gives them a chance to adjust to higher competition level and get a chance to prove themselves and have a higher chance of getting drafted and at a better spot.

It also helps colleges bring in funding for the school through their ticket sales and other sales they do more or less using these players names as to gain attention, and it also helps bring more attention to their college and more younger athletes want to go to that school.