Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James didn't hold back his thoughts on the one WNBA draft rule that confuses the hell out of him: eligibility. After all, players can't declare for the draft unless they play four years of college among many others.
The 2022 WNBA draft was held Tuesday, which saw Rhyne Howard go at No. 1 to the Atlanta Dream and NaLyssa Smith at no. 2 to the Indiana Fever. However, this was when LeBron got the realization that there's something bizarre to the eligibility rules.
“I’m sitting here after watching the WNBA draft the other day and wondering WHY THE HELL do those young ladies have to stay in school for 4 years before being able to go pro??!!! I’m CONFUSED,” the Lakers leader wrote on Twitter.
Unlike men's college basketball players that can go one-and-done or even take a different route like playing overseas for a year or joining the G League, women's basketball players don't enjoy the same benefit. The WNBA eligibility rules requires players to either have graduated or be on track to graduate college in the year of the draft. Aside from that, they would also be eligible for the draft if they are 22 years old during the calendar year or four years removed from high school and have renounced their NCAA eligibility, per NBC.
LeBron James is far from being the only person who doesn't like the eligibility rule. Sue Bird, who is part of the WNBA Players’ Union executive council, admitted it was brought up recently as well but it's not a priority as of the moment. However, she did highlight that there's really a need for players to have a choice.
It remains to be seen if there will be any changes to the rule. If there is a call for it, though, the Lakers forward is likely going to be one of its biggest supporters.
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