The NCAA issued new rules towards agents who want to represent NCAA basketball players when testing NBA Draft waters. Agents have to become NCAA certified which entails several qualifications. The requirements are a bachelor’s degree, NBPA certification for at least three consecutive years, professional liability insurance and completion of an in-person exam.
These rules have been criticized by agents, players, and the media. Critics are deeming this the “Rich Paul” rule since the super-agent doesn’t have a bachelor’s degree. Paul is famously known as being the agent of LeBron James. After gaining fame through repping James, Paul’s Klutch Sports agency represents Anthony Davis, Draymond Green, and Ben Simmons amongst others.
Many NBA players have supported Paul on Twitter.
— LeBron James (@KingJames) August 6, 2019
The NCAA has not said why these rules are being put into play. More than likely these were implemented to protect athletes from nefarious agents who may take advantage of an athlete. Several rule changes have been put into place based on the NCAA scandal that rocked college basketball last season. The NCAA memo states the following:
“Men’s basketball student-athletes who are considering careers in professional basketball but who may want to return to school are only permitted to accept permissible agent services from NCAA-certified agents with a signed agent agreement,” the memo stated.”
Many critics have made the point that many agents and runners in the past that have been a part of NCAA violations had bachelors degrees. Looks like the NCAA will have plenty of explaining to do.
