- New NCAA rules will require agents hoping to represent players testing the waters of the NBA to have a college degree.
- The rule caught the eye of LeBron James, as it would prevent his agent and friend Rich Paul from being able to represent some young players.
- On Twitter, James dubbed the requirement the "Rich Paul Rule."
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The NCAA's newly released rules regarding the qualifications to represent players testing the waters of a jump to the NBA have caught the eye of LeBron James.
On Monday, the NCAA issued a memo outlining criteria that agents would have to meet to represent college players who are debating whether to return for another year of college basketball or make the leap to play professionally, either in the NBA, in the G League, or internationally.
According to ESPN's Jeff Borzello, those criteria include a bachelor's degree, National Basketball Players Association certification for at least three consecutive years, professional liability insurance, and the completion of an exam taken in person at the NCAA office in Indianapolis in early November.
The degree requirement has since drawn the ire of James, as some think it's aimed directly at Rich Paul, his longtime friend and agent.
Paul never went to college, instead working directly with the superstar, working at Creative Artists Agency, and eventually developing Klutch Sports. He's one of the most powerful agents — if not the most powerful — in the NBA, representing not only James but Anthony Davis, Ben Simmons, Draymond Green, and more.
On Twitter on Tuesday, James called out the requirement, dubbing it the "Rich Paul Rule."
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop! They BIG MAD 😡 and Scared 😱. Nothing will stop this movement and culture over here. Sorry! Not sorry. 😁✌🏾
— LeBron James (@KingJames) August 6, 2019
— LeBron James (@KingJames) August 6, 2019
#StayWokepic.twitter.com/SNtEgqrWhE
— LeBron James (@KingJames) August 7, 2019
Others noticed that the rule seemed to target Paul.
Good Lord, y’all scared of Rich Paul.
— David Aldridge (@davidaldridgedc) August 6, 2019
You know what this is going to do? Push more kids to declare for the draft without testing the waters. If you’re talking to Rich Paul (who doesn’t qualify based on this criteria), you’re just going to jump instead of keeping your options open. It’s really ridiculous.
— Sam Vecenie (@Sam_Vecenie) August 6, 2019
While the rule might be frustrating for Paul in some cases, he has plenty of possible recourse.
As Sports Illustrated's Michael McCann outlined, Paul could argue that the criteria violate federal antitrust law, as they would exclude talented agents from the pool of candidates that players have to pick from as they prepare to enter the league.
An NBA source who spoke with Jeff Goodman disputed the idea that the rule targets Paul.
One NBA guy on new NCAA rule: “The Rich Paul stuff is silliness. He reps like 1 or 2 guys per draft and has lawyers working for him. They are trying to protect kids from all these other clowns. You should see the runner/workout guy/uncle types we get. This isn’t about Rich Paul.”
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) August 7, 2019
Regardless of whether Paul decides to mount a legal challenge, he's established himself as one of the premier agents in the league, with or without a college degree.
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