The NCAA’s attempt to have powers over professional basketball appears to be hanging by a thread as the National Basketball Player’s Association is formally rejecting the college sports regulatory body’s proposal for agent certification in the form of a test.
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski broke the news that the NBPA is sending a memo to the NCAA, formally rejecting their idea to have agents come to NCAA headquarters in Indianapolis to take a test certifying them to be able to represent perspective professional hoopers. The proposed regulations previously included a requirement for a bachelor’s degree, which many called “The Rich Paul Rule,” but it was subsequently removed hours after Paul authored an op-ed about how the proposed rule unfairly targeted people from disadvantaged backgrounds like him.
Here’s an excerpt from the memo that was obtained by ESPN.
“Every year, men’s basketball student-athletes continue to make poor decisions on whether to remain in the NBA Draft or return to school. We share in the NCAA’s goal of wanting to correct this problem, yet NCAA legislation continues to demonize and marginalize agents and furthers a negative stigma instead of making strides toward working cooperatively to ensure that student-athletes get the most accurate and competent counsel to make great career and life decisions.”
The NCAA, powerful as they are, are currently in scramble mode as the environment and attitudes towards major college sports are changing. The state of California passed a bill last week supported by LeBron James that could open the door for college athletes to profit off their likeness, which has already forced the NCAA’s hand in trying to convince Governor Gavin Newsom to veto the bill.
So now the NBA’s labor union and the nation’s most populated state are already posing a formal challenge to the NCAA’s attempt to reign in more control of the valuable careers of young elite basketball players.
