It’s funny how rules, policies, and procedures come into effect once a person of color without a formal education infiltrates a world predominantly ruled by folks that aren’t of color. Earlier this week the NCAA dropped a rule out of the side of their necks stating that in order for an agent to represent a player that would be testing the waters on their draft status. That agent would have to have a college degree. WHAT!!?
LeBron James immediately took to Twitter because he knew that the rule was an effort to target young upcoming agents like his homeboy Rich Paul. He’s young, black, and college degree-less. However, Paul represents the most powerful basketball player of all-time that is willing to use his power of influence with social media to call out foolishness on the spot.
Not only does Rich represent LeBron but his roster includes Anthony Davis, Draymond Green, Eric Bledsoe, Ben Simmons and John Wall too. He’s the premiere NBA agent right now and guess what playa? He doesn’t have a college degree. He’s one of LeBron’s homeboys that learned the business by hanging out with LeBron and is getting paid right now.
He’s negotiated more than $624 million in current contracts and has a net worth of more than $20 million. Did I mention that he’s only 37 years old?
Let’s keep it real or all the way 100, whichever comes 1st! The NCAA is the biggest gangster in sports at any level and they’re upset that Rich Paul is making a fortune legally representing cats that trust him. Now this rule has absolutely no affect on Paul himself because he’s at the top of the profession. He’s not representing players who would be testing the waters for the NBA Draft. He’s getting the lottery pick type of guys. In other words, he’s big game hunting out here in these NBA streets.
However, this rule is targeted at keeping all of the young wanna-be Rich Paul’s from getting it in. They don’t want any more young cats slipping into the business without, in their minds, paying tolls first.
What blows my mind is that the NCAA is trying to regulate an area that has absolutely nothing to do with them. Once a player decides that he may be leaving college to pursue a professional career, whomever he hollers at for advice has nothing to do with them. If he doesn’t sign with an agent he’s free to come back to school. However, if he signs with an agent his NCAA eligibility is dead on arrival. So all of this is a mute point.
Players that are just testing the waters at the NBA Combine haven’t signed with an agent. Carsen Edwards from Purdue is a prime example of that. He tested the waters in 2018 without signing with an agent and went back to school. He played in 2018-19 and got drafted to the Celtics in the second round this past June.
So why on earth would the NCAA throw a bogus rule on the table that is pointless? It’s because the non-traditional agent has infiltrated a world that many deem as the good ole boys network. Rich Paul doesn’t look or come from the same world and it’s rubs some folks the wrong way including the NCAA. Stop me when I start lyin’!