Beginning in 1978, Nike paid coaches to put their shoes on the team. — 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 Image
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 Image
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 Image
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 Image
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 Image
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 Image
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 Image
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 Image
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 Image
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 Image
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 Image
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 Image
![“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 make a million bucks and then come back." And he's proven to be a pretty damn good player. He's done as much for the game as Michael [Jordan] by forging a different route.” quote by Sonny Vaccaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d61/sonny-vaccaro-29117_bucks_there-s-brandon-jennings-the-nba-told-hi_712460.jpg)
![“I was starting out in the business, there was only one path to playing professionally - graduate, or go four years. With the creation of the ABA [American Basketball Association] in the early 1970s, the sanctity of having to go to college was broken. The ABA took anyone, starting with Spencer…” quote by Sonny Vaccaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/8e5/sonny-vaccaro-29117_association_i-was-starting-out-in-the-business-there_791311.jpg)
![“Kobe [Bryant] had the biggest contract for a high school kid. He was the first one to get more than a million a year.” quote by Sonny Vaccaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/292/sonny-vaccaro-29117_contracts_kobe-bryant-had-the-biggest-contract-for_1461193.jpg)
