The NBA has submitted a formal proposal to the National Basketball Players Association to lower the draft age for the league to 18, USA Todayreports. The publication, which cited an anonymous source that has "knowledge of the proposal," added that it's the "first step in formal negotiations to lower the age limit by the 2022 draft."
The current draft-eligible age is 19.
The news comes on the heels of Duke's Zion Williamson getting injured in the highly anticipated game against North Carolina. Following Williamson's injury, many took to social media to blast college basketball and the one-and-done rule.
DeMarcus Cousins: “Knowing what I know now, college basketball is bullshit.” Advises Zion Williamson to get ready for the NBA. pic.twitter.com/k3B1JA0E42
Let these kids go straight out of HS!!! Too much on the line to be messing with college if you got a legit chance to turn pro. One injury can change somebody career, Zion sit yo ass down lol and we will be ready for you in the big boy league #LookingOutForThePlayers
"My personal view is that we’re ready to make that change," NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said back in July of 2018, USA Today points out. "When I’ve weighed the pros and cons, given that Condoleezza Rice and her Commission has recommended to the NBA that those one-and-done players now come directly into the league, and in essence the college community is saying we do not want those players anymore. That sort of tips the scale in my mind that we should be taking a serious look at lowering our age to 18."
