What is the One and Done Rule in Basketball? An In-Depth Expert Guide

The "one and done" rule in basketball refers to a rule requiring players to be at least one year removed from high school before entering the NBA draft. As a passionate basketball fan and home renovation expert, I‘m excited to provide you with an in-depth look at this controversial rule. In this guide, I‘ll share details on when the rule was created, how it works, arguments for and against it, and what changes we might see in the future. My goal is to give you a comprehensive perspective on this unique rule that has shaped the basketball landscape over the past 15+ years.

When Was the One and Done Rule Created?

History of Draft Eligibility Rules

The one and done rule was instituted in 2005, but the NBA has an interesting history of drafting high school players:

1970s – NCAA required players wait 4 years after high school before NBA eligibility.

1976 – Darryl Dawkins and Bill Willoughby became first HS players drafted.

1995 – Kevin Garnett ushered in modern era of HS players skipping college for NBA.

2005 – New CBA added "one and done" rule requiring 1 year removed from HS.

So while occasional high school players were drafted decades ago, Kevin Garnett in 1995 really started the trend of prolific high school jumps to the NBA. Concerns eventually led to the creation of the one and done rule in 2005.

Reasons for One and Done Rule

The NBA and players‘ union agreed on the "one and done" rule for the following key reasons:

• Better evaluation of prospects with an extra year of development

• Growing maturity concerns over high school draft entries

• Compromise between the NBA wanting two years removed from high school and players wanting no restriction

• Provides some mandatory college experience before going pro

First Draft With New Requirement

The rule was introduced in the 2005 collective bargaining agreement and the first draft with the new requirement was 2006 – that‘s when "one and done" officially started.

How Does the One and Done Rule Actually Work?

The NBA‘s collective bargaining agreement (CBA) contains this key requirement:

All players must be at least 19 years old during the calendar year of the draft

All players must be at least one year removed from high school graduation

This makes high school seniors ineligible – players can only enter the draft after one year out of high school.

Most top prospects use this time to play college basketball for one season and get drafted after their freshman year. Hence the "one and done" nickname.

But any professional experience qualifies, like playing overseas. As long as you are one year removed from high school and 19 years old, you can enter the draft.

One-and-Done Era NBA Draft Examples

Here are some prominent examples of how the one and done rule has shaped the NBA draft since being implemented:

Greg Oden / Kevin Durant – The first No. 1 and 2 draft picks under the new rule, both freshmen in 2007 after a college season.

Derrick Rose – Won NCAA tournament with Memphis in 2008, then drafted No. 1 overall.

John Wall – Star Kentucky freshman drafted first in 2010 after one NCAA season.

Anthony Davis – Dominated college basketball in 2011-12, then selected No. 1 overall.

Ben Simmons – Post-grad high school year, one season at LSU, and No. 1 pick in 2016.

Zion Williamson – After sensational freshman season at Duke, drafted No. 1 in 2019.

As you can see, most top prospects now use the one and done route through a year in college basketball before entering the NBA draft.

Key Stats and Data Points on One and Done

Let‘s look at some insightful statistics and data around the one and done phenomenon:

• 50+ – Estimated number of one-and-done players drafted since 2006 when the rule was implemented.

• 13 – Consecutive drafts from 2006-2018 where at least one one-and-done player was drafted in the 1st round.

• 11 – One-and-done players selected 1st overall in drafts since 2006.

• Kentucky – 16 One-and-done players drafted from 2007-2018, the most of any school.

• 4% – Approximate percentage of college basketball players who get drafted.

• 60% – Estimated percentage of one-and-done players who get drafted after their freshman season.

The numbers indicate that while still a small minority of all players, the one-and-done trend has significantly impacted the NBA draft and teams like Kentucky in college basketball.

Arguments For and Against One and Done

The rule has been controversial, with good arguments on both sides:

Arguments Against One and Done

• Forces players into college who don‘t want to be there
• Delays millions in rookie earnings for NBA-ready prospects
• Results in hollow degrees as players follow easy classes for a year
• Potentially harms NBA teams missing a year of development
• Incentivizes focus on NBA over education

Arguments For One and Done

• Gives exposure to campus life and athletics
• Allows strength and skill development against better competition
• Provides NBA teams opportunity to evaluate prospects
• Generally helps prevent poor draft decisions
• Ensures players get at least some college experience

Reasonable people can debate the merits on both sides. But it‘s clear the current system remains controversial.

Potential Changes to the One and Done Rule

With criticisms mounting, there is growing momentum to modify or eliminate the one and done rule. Here are some changes that have been proposed:

• Lower minimum draft age to 18 – Allow players to enter NBA again directly out of HS.

• Two years removed from HS – Was original NBA proposal but faced opposition.

• Age 20 minimum – Draft eligibility based on age, not years removed from HS.

• NBA G League – Prospects can use G League as one year removed from HS instead of college.

• High school combines – Showcases for elite prospects to demonstrate abilities for scouts.

• Status quo – Simplest option but seems untenable long-term given concerns.

Based on public comments, both the NBA and players‘ union seem open to revising the rule around draft eligibility.

What Might Replace the One and Done Rule?

Here are a few possibilities that have been floated for new systems to replace one and done:

High School and G League Option

Top prospects could choose either the NBA G League or high school-to-NBA route. Would provide alternative for players who don‘t want college.

Two Years Removed from HS

The original NBA proposal, but less friendly to prospects who would lose an eligible year from draft.

Minimum Draft Age of 18

Simple approach letting teams draft players out of high school again. But both the NBA and NCAA have resisted this.

Age 20 Minimum Regardless of Experience

Places focus strictly on minimum age without forcing any one experience path.

Any changes would likely need to appease both the NBA and players‘ union in the next CBA negotiations. But it seems clear that reform is desired around one and done.

Why Reform the One and Done Rule? Video Insights

Check out this quick video where I analyze reasons why the one and done rule is likely to change in the coming years:

As I mentioned in the video, the controversies around forcing prospects into college seem central to driving changes to the draft eligibility rules in the future.

Key Takeaways on One and Done

Let‘s recap the key things to know about the NBA‘s one and done rule:

• Implemented in 2005 CBA requiring 1 year removed from high school

• Forced elite players into mandatory short college stints before NBA

• Created controversy but some benefits like added maturity and evaluation

• Strong calls to reform rule from players, teams, media, and NCAA

• Change seems inevitable but form still uncertain (HS to NBA, 2 years minimum, etc)

• Has fundamentally shaped NBA draft and transition process for 15+ years

Hopefully this guide gave you a detailed understanding of the NBA‘s one and done rule – from how it originated to why it‘s controversial and what changes we might see. Let me know if you have any other basketball or home renovation questions!