NBA Age limit

As of right now, there is an age limit to play in the NBA. You must be 19 years old. It's always struck me as bit odd-an eighteen year old can enter into the job market and get a job based on their skills and abilities-which granted, at age 18, isn't much-but you are a legal adult at that age. Why do you have to play college basketball or go a different route?

My personal view is that someone at age 18 is not mature enough physically or emotionally to play professional sports at the highest level. For every Kobe Bryant there is a Korleone Young and James Lang. However it is not up to me to tell NBA teams who to draft-they should be free to pick and choose who they'd like on their team.

I don't have any sympathy at all for the NCAA. They've shown time and time again how corrupt they are. The schools also make enormous money from their sports programs and sure, while they provide the athletes with a "free" education, the athletes could be making much more if they went professional. For some athletes who lack the skill needed to play professional basketball, college might be a good idea. For those athletes who can compete right away at the highest level, they should have that option.