March 2018 High School Wiretap

Michele Roberts Anticipates Possible Unionization Of G League Players

Oct 24, 2018 8:05 AM

Michele Roberts reacted to an announcement from the NBA that the G League will have "Special Contracts" available for top prep stars who wish to forego college and make $125,000 for one season in the G League. The goal of the plan is to offer an alternate path for prospects who would rather not to go college before the one-and-done rule is eliminated, which will likely be by 2022.

“Everybody wants to stay at home. That’s natural instinct,” National Basketball Players Association executive director Michele Roberts told Yahoo Sports. “Going overseas is lonely. The G League, at least historically, has been a more profitable option … most of the time, guys are making more money, having access to family and friends.”

Roberts wasn't involved in the union when the one-and-done rule was enacted.

“I don’t know how many slots we’re talking about [for elite G League players with special contracts], I don’t know what additional conditions are attached to it,” Roberts said. “This is not something we’ve [the NBPA] negotiated. [The prospects] are not members of the union. I have more questions about that contract. The six figures will get some guys’ attention.”

Roberts told Yahoo Sports that unionization of G League players could be on the horizon.

Vincent Goodwill/Yahoo! Sports

Tags: High School, NCAA, NBA, D-League, NBA CBA

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NBA Trying To Add Two Conditions To Elimination Of One-And-Done Rule

Oct 20, 2018 3:03 PM

The NBA and National Basketball Players Association are struggling to reach an agreement on lowering the league's minimum age to 18.

The NBA is attempting to attach two conditions: requiring player-agents furnish all teams with medical information on draft prospects and also mandating players' attendance and some level of participation in the pre-draft combine.

The NBA hopes to have a deal with the NBPA to remove the one-and-done rule in time for the 2022 NBA Draft.

The league and union must collectively bargain any changes to a CBA that was ratified in 2016.

Adrian Wojnarowski/ESPN

Tags: High School, NCAA, NBA, NBA NBA Draft, NBA Draft General, NBA CBA

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G League To Offer $125k Salaries To Elite One-And-Done Prospects

Oct 18, 2018 12:15 PM

The G League is creating a new venture as an alternative to the current one-and-done route for the best American basketball prospects.

As part of a newly formed "professional path" starting in the summer of 2019, the G League will offer "Select Contracts" worth $125,000 to elite prospects who are at least 18 years old but not yet eligible for the NBA draft.

The rule will target recent or would-be high school graduates who would otherwise likely spend just one season playing college basketball. They will receive a six-figure salary and benefit from the NBA's infrastructure. 

Without the restrictions of the NCAA's amateurism rules, players will also be free to hire agents, profit off their likeness and pursue marketing deals from sneaker companies.

While changes to the NBA's age limit likely won't be implemented until the 2022 draft, the league considers this an immediate response.

Jonathan Givony/ESPN

Tags: High School, NCAA, NBA, D-League

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