Sports

Mark Cuban says there’s no reason for the NCAA to exist

Sarah Hofmann Contributor
Font Size:

Mark Cuban, owner of the Dallas Mavericks, came out swinging against the NCAA on Sunday. He gave ESPN an earful about how he thinks NBA prospects are better off attending the NBA Development League instead of spending one season in college.

Under the current rules, NBA prospects have to be at least 19 years old and be one year out of high school. Cuban said, “The NCAA rules are so hypocritical, there’s absolutely no reason for a kid to go [to college], because he’s not going to class [and] he’s actually not even able to take advantage of all the fun because the first semester he starts playing basketball. So if the goal is just to graduate to the NBA or be an NBA player, go to the D-League.”

He thinks the development league, which has a minimum age of 18, is more honest and worthwhile in preparing athletes. He said, “You don’t have to pretend. We don’t have to pretend. A major college has to pretend that they’re treating them like a student-athlete, and it’s a big lie and we all know it’s a big lie. At least at most schools, not all. … But we can put more of an emphasis on their education. We can plan it out, have tutors. We can do all kinds of things that the NCAA doesn’t allow schools to do that would really put the individual first.”

He finished acidly with, “Then you wouldn’t be under the stupidity of the NCAA. There’s no reason for the NCAA to exist. None.”

Follow Sarah on Twitter