Pacers' O'Neal Says NBA Age Limit Has Racist Undertones

[Walter Cronkite]

Indiana center Jermaine O'Neal said the NBA's desire to put an age limit in the next collective bargaining agreement could be driven by racism.

"In the last two or three years, the rookie of the year has a been a high school player. There were seven high school players in the All-Star game, so why we even talking an age limit?" said O'Neal, who was drafted out of high school in 1996 by the Portland Trail Blazers.

"As a black guy, you kind of think that's the reason why it's coming up. You don't hear about it in baseball or hockey. To say you have to be 20, 21 to get in the league, it's unconstitutional. If I can go to the U.S. army and fight the war at 18, why can't you play basketball for 48 minutes?"

The NBA's seven-year labor agreement expires after the season and NBA commissioner David Stern has asked for a 20-year-old age limit in the next deal, with incentives provided to players who defer their draft eligibility to stay in college. The union originally opposed raising the current age limit of 18, but has begun to waver.

Cleveland's LeBron James won the rookie of the year award last season, and Phoenix's Amare Stoudemire took home the honor for the 2002-03 season. Both were drafted out of high school.

Source: AP

[Flying High]

You can play tennis at 14. In baseball they're getting you out of high school. You must sign up for the draft at 18. If a person has the skills why deny them the chance to play?

[Modern Arts]

When a supposed educated person, making millions can't tell the difference between racism and age discrimination, that just proves he should have been in school a little longer; proving Sterns point.

Jermaine O'neal is the classic example of why the NBA doesn't want to draft 18 year olds. He sat on the bench and sucked for years in Portland while he grew up and was finally able to play. The owners don't want to pay a guy for 3-4 years before they can even have a chance of getting something out of them.