Remember the days of rookies having a tough time transitioning from the college game to the pro game? Or, midway through the NBA season a rookie hitting the dreaded rookie wall? While some rookies still go through their lumps transitioning to the NBA, more and more rookies these days have an immediate impact on their teams, seamlessly, with no transitional period. The top three rookies from last year’s draft: Tyreke Evans, Stephen Curry, and Brandon Jennings all had immediate impacts on their respective teams. With only one professional season under their belts, these three players are considered by many to be the best players on their respective teams.
John Wall, the number one overall pick in the 2010 draft, is expected to have an immediate impact for the struggling Washington Wizards this season. Wall has not played one regular season game and is arguably Washington’s best player. It is not unfair for bottom dwelling teams to have high expectations for rookies to immediately help their teams, as Evans, Curry, and Jennings proved last year by putting up big numbers and playing like grizzled veterans. However, what may be unfair is: talented rookies not being able to help struggling franchises sooner than they already are.
With more and more rookies stepping in and having an instant impact on their teams, the one and done rule seems more irrelevant than ever. With players having immediate impacts on teams, it makes one wonder if they wouldn’t be better suited being able to go straight from high school to the NBA, therefore, helping themselves and the struggling team drafting them sooner than they already are. It is impossible to tell if players would have completely bypassed college if they had the chance, or if they would have had the same impact coming straight from high school. But, if a player feels he is ready and a professional basketball team would benefit from his immediate services, shouldn’t both the player and team be able to take advantage? I know this has been argued a million different times and ways, but the immediate impact first year players are having on NBA teams is a sign the NBA should put away the one and done rule, for the benefit of players and teams.
Joshua Sexton is a lifelong basketball fanatic, who watches as many games as possible. In addition, He has played and coached the game at the high school level. He has recently started writing about the game of basketball.
