Rich Paul has responded to the NCAA’s so-called ‘Rich Paul Rule’ by taking proverbial pen to paper.
Paul, the man behind powerful sports agency Klutch Sports Group, wrote an op-ed piece for The Athletic to provide his stance on the NCAA’s new rules.
The NCAA released new rules last week restricting agents without a college degree from representing players who decide to test the NBA Draft waters.
Paul doesn’t have a college degree and has become one of the most powerful agents in sports today.
His clientele includes LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Draymond Green and others.
Paul saying of the NCAA’s new rules,
“The media is calling it ‘The Rich Paul Rule’ that, while incredibly flattering, is not accurate. It has no impact on me or the business of Klutch Sports Group. However, it does have a significant impact on people like me and the NCAA should be called out for it.”
Further saying,
“…requiring a four-year degree accomplishes only one thing — systematically excluding those who come from a world where college is unrealistic.”
Paul is very poignant in his comments and is very clear about the long-term affects this rule could have on others in his position who have the same desires.
Paul says,
“Unfair policy is introduced incrementally so people accept it because it only affects a small group. Then the unfair policy quietly evolves into institutional policy. I’m not sure what the technical term is for that because I didn’t finish college but I know it when I see it.”
The NCAA’s new rules have sparked a national conversation ranging from the value of a college degree to if the NCAA’s new rules are racist given whom the rule potentially affects.
Regardless, Paul is focused on giving back and helping others be in a position to be successful in the future saying,
“But no matter what the NCAA does, I want young men and women no matter their color or background to know that this shouldn’t discourage them from aspiring to be in this profession. Continue to strive for greatness, the marathon of life will continue. #MoreThanAnAgent”
Flip the pages to see Twitter’s reaction to Paul’s comments .
