The NCAA attempted to make a major power move in the world of basketball on Tuesday. The organization had previously approved of college players testing the waters in regard to the NBA draft, and the NCAA permitted players to hire an agent before the draft to help with the process.
Well, now CBS Sports’ Jon Rothstein reports the NCAA has established the criteria for agents who are going to represent these student-athletes. And in typical NCAA fashion, the organization dropped the ball, requiring the following from any given agent:
- Bachelor’s Degree
- NBPA Certified for at least three years
- The agent must take an in-person exam at the NCAA Office in Indianapolis
Needless to say, Rothstein’s report ruffled a lot of feathers, particularly Rich Paul’s clients, given he doesn’t have a college degree. LeBron James and Pauls’s other clients are already calling this set of criteria the “Rich Paul Rule.”
Among Paul’s clients is Oklahoma City Thunder rookie Darius Bazley, who had a message to everyone trying to stop his agent.
Although he doesn’t share the same agent as James and Bazley, newly acquired Thunder guard Chris Paul also weighed in. He, like many others, did not agree with the NCAA’s rules.
Paul is absolutely right about life experiences. The NCAA needs to revisit this plan.
