The NBA and NBPA are reportedly expected to lower the minimum age for draft eligibility to 18 in the next round of CBA negotiations, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic.
The two sides, led by NBA commissioner Adam Silver and NBPA executive director Tamika Tremaglio, will meet again this week to continue conversations ahead of the Dec. 15 mutual opt-out date of the current CBA.
The minimum draft age is one key point the two sides are negotiating.
Players currently must be 19 years old to be draft eligible but that is expected to be lowered to 18, which will allow prospects to enter the league straight out of high school. The change would be included in the next CBA and could be implemented starting with the 2024 draft.
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The change to the minimum draft age, which was established in 2005, is one that Silver has pushed for in recent years. With alternative professional options now available, the current rule made less sense and the league opted to make a change.
The current CBA runs through the 2023-24 season.
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