Less than a month ago, the NCAA tried to impose their will on player agents, instituting a new mandate that would require agents to have a bachelor's degree. Although the NCAA later rescinded the change after massive backlash, the community of agency firms and individual agents are hitting back.
According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, a number of major agencies are planning to boycott the NCAA's new mandatory agent testing on Nov. 6 in Indianapolis:
Sources: There are NBA representation agencies — from major firms to others — planning to boycott the NCAA’s new mandatory agent testing in Indianapolis. NCAA sent memo to agents today about Sept. 30 deadline to apply but there are top agencies not planning to participate.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) September 5, 2019
In August, the NCAA reversed its requirement for player agents to have bachelor's degree — six hours after an op-ed in @TheAthletic. Now, agents — both top and small firms — are preparing not to participate in NCAA's in-person exam on Nov. 6 in Indianapolis. https://t.co/b9J4bL1uOs
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) September 5, 2019
As soon as the NCAA initially revealed the new requirement, current NBA players, analysts and basketball personalities alike almost immediately chastised it as a ridiculous stipulation. In fact, many felt that the rule should have been renamed as the “Rich Paul Rule.”
Paul, the agent for the likes of LeBron James, Anthony Davis, John Wall and Draymond Green, never went to college. Having grown up just outside of Cleveland, Paul first met LeBron in 2002 when he was selling NBA throwback jerseys out of his car. Shortly thereafter, James welcomed Paul into his inner circle and had him working with then-agent Leon Rose.
Eventually, Paul would go on to start his own agency, Klutch Sports, which has become one of the biggest firms in the country. Naturally, his partnership with James has also been one of the most powerful dynamics in the NBA, and Paul was also a central figure in the Anthony Davis saga last season.
The NCAA might otherwise be hoping that they can find a way to attract agents to the new in-person exams, but they may have already signed their own death wish last month.
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