The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) has amended its new rule that prohibited mega agents like Rich Paul from signing star athletes to exclusive management contracts. According to CBS, the “NCAA has amended its controversial agent certification requirements. A bachelor’s degree is no longer required to represent players, as long as the agent is certified by the NBPA.”
When the NCAA announced its new rule, dubbed the “Rich Paul Rule”, critics like LeBron James accused the league of being racist.
LeBron (pictured) called the new rule “racist” and discriminatory against his close friend. He said the NCAA enacted the new rule to block anyone who didn’t have a college degree from becoming the next Rich Paul.
The rule prohibited college dropouts – such as Rich Paul – from signing college athletes to his sports agency. Under the rule Paul couldn’t approach or even speak to a NCAA athlete who is heading to the NBA or NFL.
Now agents who don’t have a bachelor’s degree can continue to sign athletes, but they must pass a rigorous exam in the NCAA headquarters.
The super agent is pictured right with his No. 1 client and Savannah James.
Paul, 37, got his start working at Creative Artists Agency (CAA) under Leon Rose, who negotiated LeBron’s contract extension with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2006.
When Paul left CAA in 2012 to start his own agency, Klutch Sports Group, he took LeBron with him. His list of clients include Eric Bledsoe, John Wall and Ben Simmons.
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