Dick Weiss on College Basketball
LAS VEGAS—The NCAA has outlined new revolutionary criteria for agents who wish to represent student-athletes who wish to test the waters for the NBA draft: a bachelor’s degree, NBPA certification for at least three consecutive years, professional liability and completion of an in-person exam taken at the NCAA office in Indianapolis in early November.
It hasn’t taken NBA superstar LeBron James long to fire back.
James, Anthony Davis, Ben Simmons, Draymond Green among others are all represented by Rick Paul, who recently bought his Klutch Sports Group under the United Talent Agency umbrella. Paul began working with James a couple years out of high school and didn’t graduate from college.
According to the new criteria, Paul would not be able to represent underclassmen testing the NBA waters.
“Can‘t Stop! Won’t Stop! They BIG MAD and Sacred,’’ James tweeted. “Nothing will stop this movement and culture over here. Sorry! Not Sorry.’’
Agents will need to fill out an application and have a background check. Agents will also have to cooperate with the NCAA in investigations of rules violations, ‘even if the alleged violations are unrelated to their NCAA-agent certification.
“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 a agents with a signed agent agreement,’’ an NCAA memo obtained by ESPN said.
“It is important to remember that a men’s basketball student-athlete cannot enter into an agent agreement until after his season is completed and the student-athlete has requested an evaluation from the NBA undergrad advisory commitment.’’
