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IN THE WAKE of what appears to be a massive scandal breaking in the world of college basketball, NBA icon LeBron James blasted the organization as “corrupt” and beyond fixing, per ESPN.
“I don’t know if there’s any fixing the NCAA. I don’t think there is,” James said Tuesday. “It’s what’s been going on for many, many, many, many years. I don’t know how you can fix it. I don’t see how you can fix it.”
He went on to say, “I don’t know all the rules and regulations about it, but I do know what five-star athletes bring to a campus, both in basketball and football,I know how much these college coaches get paid. I know how much these colleges are gaining off these kids… I’ve always heard the narrative that they get a free education, but you guys are not bringing me on campus to get an education, you guys are bringing me on it to help you get to a Final Four or to a national championship, so it’s just a weird thing.”
James went on to say that he wishes the NCAA would have a stronger minor league or farm system, and mentioned European soccer academies as an example.
“We’ve got a lot of kids, we’re worried about kids coming into the league early but they’re not ready, then out of the league because of that. We have to figure out if a kid feels like at 16 or 17, he doesn’t feel like the NCAA is for him or whatever the case may be, we have a system in place where we have a farm league where they can learn and be around the professionals, but not actually become a professional at that point in time. Not actually play in the NBA, but learn for a few years. Learn what the NBA life is about, learn how to move and walk and talk and things of that nature.”
The NBA G League is growing well (previously the D-League until the start of this season) currently has 26 teams, with plans to add a 27th next year. But college basketball is still the overwhelming preference of top basketball prospects as far as trying to get to the NBA is concerned.
The ESPN report states that James, “also said he plans to talk to NBA commissioner Adam Silver about further plans for expansion the [G-League] can potentially make to support teenage basketball players.”
James is right. These universities make millions off these athletes and don’t pay them. The NBA need to change their eligibility rules to allow highschool players enter the NBA. Get rid of the ‘One and Done’
@Stipe Miocic: These universities are making billions from these athletes. Players are not allowed get part-time jobs, get gifts or endorsements and sometimes have to get their parents to pay for everyday meals that the players can’t afford.
@EK: it’s a ridiculous state of affairs, the ‘education’ these kids get is a joke, the majority don’t complete their respective degrees, and the old ‘they’re getting a free education’ is nonsense, a few years ago Time magazine did a piece about it and what SEC colleges were making, it was around the time Johnny Manziel got suspended for getting paid for an autograph signing, that year the University of Texas ‘Longhorns’ revenue from their football program was $105 million, profit on that, $85million, there isn’t too many businesses with margins like that
@Ruairí Mul: in the week just gone there was a Notre Dame footballer who tweeted he was ‘broke and starving’, someone from south bend (where the college is based) responded saying he was welcome in their home for dinner, if he had taken up their offer he would be in breach of NCAA rules
Farcical at this stage