The 2019 rookie class is set to begin their NBA journey in October, and they all know that it won’t be an easy transition for them.

During the annual NBA rookie survey, the 2019 class was asked about what will be the biggest adjustment they have to make as they transition to the league. Unsurprisingly, 40 percent of the rookies cite “speed or pace of the game” as their major point of adjustment.

What will be the biggest adjustment for you, playing in the NBA?

  1. Speed or pace of the game — 40%
  2. Physicality (athleticism, size and strength of opponents) — 21%

Schedule/Length of season — 21%

  1. Lifestyle/Time management — 12%

As noted in the report though, there’s really a massive difference between the speed of the game in the NCAA and NBA.

Worth noting: According to the great Ken Pomeroy, the average pace in NCAA Division I was just 69.0 possessions per 40 minutes last season. When adjusted for a 48-minute game (82.8), that would be almost 18 possessions per 48 slower than the average NBA pace (100.7 per 48).

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The league is leaning towards a faster pace, and almost every NBA team would prefer to play a fast-paced game. With that said, it’s no wonder why many of the new players are focused on getting used to the speed of NBA basketball.

Fortunately for the rookies, teams know that the adjustment is a process and it won’t happen overnight. Some might be able to adjust quickly, but that doesn’t happen to everyone However, it’s still up to the players to put in the work and show what they can do.