After a grueling 161 days of countless meetings, finger-pointing and accusations which at times got nasty, NBA owners and players ratified a new collective bargaining agreement last Thursday. The ratified deal ended a work stoppage that was on pubic display and scrutinized as much as the league’s actual games.

The 19-year old age limit rule did not change with the new CBA, so high school players are not directly affected by the new labor deal this season.

So, what did prep players around the country learn from the NBA lockout?

ESPNHS interviewed high school players from across the country and found out teenagers are happy the NBA will return on Christmas. We also found out that they appreciated the insight that they got on the business aspect of the pro game during these lockout months.

The lockout also opened some eyes about the importance of education and a non-basketball related career.

Prepsters also learned about the dedication required to become one of the best players in the world and that ample opportunities exist to earn a living playing the game outside of the NBA.

Predictably, some players can’t wait until Christmas, while others are not particularly enthralled by the star-driven league.

Here is what some high school players had to say about the NBA lockout:

“I learned players definitely have a voice. I also learned basketball can be taken away from you… you have to learn to get money from other things in life. I learned a lot about basketball from the lockout. I didn’t know players had an association to help them understand and fight for what was right for them. I also didn’t know there were so many leagues out there. I thought there was the NBA and a European league. I got to play with some NBA players and it was an eye-opening experience to see how hard they work at their game.”

-Stanley Johnson, Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) 2014

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