After the NBA and ABA merged, players could come out after high school. Still, there were only a few cases prior to Kevin Garnett coming out in 1995, so Nike and the other companies were only involved in the college game. — Sonny Vaccaro Copy Share Image
What happens when you get hurt? Take that kid at Kentucky, Nerlens Noel, who could have turned pro after high school.Who knows what's going to happen? How the operation is going to go? The only thing I do know is… — Sonny Vaccaro Copy Share Image
Now the kids are portrayed as dirty when they talk to an agent, a shoe guy, some hanger-on. Well, it's only natural that people… — Sonny Vaccaro Copy Share
In terms of my work with Nike, obviously signing Michael Jordan to a $500,000 contract in 1984 set a new precedent for the business… — Sonny Vaccaro Copy Share
LeBron james came, and he gets $10 million a year. There was no stigma or blemish, like you have with one-and-done. Now people say,… — Sonny Vaccaro Copy Share
It's not uncommon in the entertainment world for agents to sign young talent. It's sinful that these players can't be represented by lawyers and… — Sonny Vaccaro Copy Share
There's Brandon Jennings. The NBA told him to go to college for a year, and he said, "Screw that. I'll go to Europe and… — Sonny Vaccaro Copy Share
After the NBA and ABA merged, players could come out after high school. Still, there were only a few cases prior to Kevin Garnett… — Sonny Vaccaro Copy Share
I was starting out in the business, there was only one path to playing professionally - graduate, or go four years. With the creation… — Sonny Vaccaro Copy Share
Very unfairly, there's a negative image of the kid, which really stems from the greed and selfishness of the NBA and NCAA. They're forcing… — Sonny Vaccaro Copy Share
Paternalistic is a very good word. They think they have to look out for these guys? Don't worry about it. Why? Because of history.… — Sonny Vaccaro Copy Share
Kobe [Bryant] had the biggest contract for a high school kid. He was the first one to get more than a million a year. — Sonny Vaccaro Copy Share
What would be wrong with letting a kid go pro, and if it doesn't work out he can come back to college? What's the… — Sonny Vaccaro Copy Share
NBA has a selfish rationale. It saves the owners money by delaying the time a player gets to a second, more lucrative contract. Even… — Sonny Vaccaro Copy Share
What would have happened if Derrick Rose had torn his knee in college, or Greg Oden? It would have cost them millions of dollars.… — Sonny Vaccaro Copy Share
The NCAA wants to control the images; they say they own your image forever. If you look through this façade, it's crazy. — Sonny Vaccaro Copy Share
One-and-done is the most damaging thing in college basketball. It brings money into the college game, because it kickstarts the bidding war. When you… — Sonny Vaccaro Copy Share
