The Rich Paul Rule
posted by Antonio Mitchell | September 18, 2019 | In SportsThe Rich Paul Rule was a rule that the NCAA put in place for agents wanting to sign up-and-coming athletes.
The rule stated that sports agents representing NCAA athletes had to have a bachelor’s degree. Other criteria within the rule include three years’ certification with the National Basketball Players’ Association, possession of liability insurance and taking an exam, according to ESPN. With that ruling in place, agents such as Rich Paul were out of a job because he himself does not have a four-year degree.
In light of this action, one of Rich Paul’s biggest clients LeBron James went to Twitter praising the agent: “The harmful consequences of this decision will ricochet onto others who are trying to break in.” Paul also alluded that NCAA executives are trying to hinder young people from less prestigious backgrounds, mainly people of color.
Paul also goes on to say that this decision locks out young people who aspire to be a part of the NBA but do not have the resources, opportunities, or even the desire to get a four-year degree.
The decision would have had a huge impact on the majority of big-time agents representing up-and-coming college athletes because they will no longer be able to represent them if they do not have a four-year degree. This also put a fork in the road for the upcoming agents who are trying to make an honest living but do not have the financial stability or resources to go to college or, at that, even want to go.
On the same day, six hours after the decision was made, the NCAA reversed its ruling due to the backlash they received and also from the help of Rich Paul’s biggest client LeBron James bringing awareness to the actions of the NCAA
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