Rich Paul Responds to New and Ridiculous NCAA Agent Rule That Was Clearly Aimed at Him

Rich Paul has the entire NCAA shaking like a leaf. The organization recently instituted new requirements (now popularly called the "Rich Paul Rule") that agents must satisfy in order to represent players, including possession of a four-year college degree. Paul, a longtime friend of LeBron James who represents him along with impressive group of other NBA players on behalf of Klutch Sports, does not hold a four-year degree.

Considering that Paul helped top high school player Darius Bazley skip college and still end up as a first-round pick, it seems like these rule changes really are aimed at him and others who would choose to follow a similar path. Paul has now responded to these changes in an op-ed for The Athletic, excoriating the NCAA for singling him out like he was some kind of "con artist."

Paul insists that the rule is inherently discriminatory, as kids who want to be agents but don't have the financial means to do so via the college route will be barred from representing amateur athletes as they move toward their NBA dreams.

It's hard to disagree with Paul on that point.

This is the problem of painting with a broad brush. By trying to act on their apparent vendetta against guys like Paul, who has not done anything illegal and is merely going against aspects of the status quo, the NCAA is preventing a large chunk of current and future agents from representing student-athletes.

Then again, this is the NCAA, so all of this nonsense is to be expected. As with all aspects of the organization's incompetence, corruption, and general inability to serve the best interests of student-athletes, the failures are always ongoing.