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 would have happened if Derrick Rose had torn his knee in college, or Greg Oden? It would have cost them millions of dollars. They were lucky, coming out early. I'm not saying don't go to college. There are plenty… — 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
![“What would have happened if Derrick Rose had torn his knee in college, or Greg Oden? It would have cost them millions of dollars. They were lucky, coming out early. I'm not saying don't go to college. There are plenty of players like Shaq [O'Neal] who went back and graduated. I commend that. But…” quote by Sonny Vaccaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d86/sonny-vaccaro-29117_college_what-would-have-happened-if-derrick-rose_2541494.jpg)
![“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)
