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LeBron James decided to stir up the always entertaining NBA pot in a couple of new interviews talking about both the NCAA pay-to-play scandal as well as saying he enjoyed the Philadelphia 76ers fans’ billboards trying to recruit him.
On Tuesday, the veteran Cavaliers forward, who was able to skip college and be drafted number one by Cleveland when he completed high school, discussed with members of the media what he thought of the NCAA scandal at the team’s morning shootaround.
“I am not a fan of the NCAA. The NCAA is corrupt, we know that,” James told reporters. “Sorry, it’s going to make headlines. But it’s corrupt.”
Also as a part of his 17-minute media session, James went on to hint that had he decided to attend college he and his mom “weren’t going to be poor for long.”
James didn't offer a specific when asked most outlandish offer he received from a college:"Me and my mom was poor,
I'll tell you that. If they expected me to step foot on a
college campus and not go to the NBA, then we weren't going to be poor for
long, I'll tell you that."— Rick Noland MG/CT (@RickNoland) February 27, 2018
James also expressed hope that the NBA’s G-League will eventually be expanded to become a farm system for every NBA team. He also doesn’t think the NCAA, the way it is run now, is fixable.
“I don’t know if there is any fixing the NCAA. It’s been going on for many, many years,” said James. “I don’t know how you can fix it, I don’t see how you can fix it. Obviously, I have never been a part it, but I do know what five–star athletes bring to a campus.”
He also added, “I’ve always heard the narrative they get a free education. But you guys aren’t bringing me on campus to get an education. You guys are bringing me on it to help you get to a Final Four or to a national championship. I don’t know all the rules and regulations about it. But I do know what five-star athletes bring to a campus, both in basketball and football. I know how much these college coaches get paid. I know how much these colleges are gaining off these kids.”
LeBron: “NCAA is corrupt, we know that. I’m sorry. It’s gonna make headlines, but it’s corrupt.” pic.twitter.com/TcbbTFyCQE
— Ashley Bastock (@AshleyBastock42) February 27, 2018
On a lighter note, and one sure to trigger LeBron to the Sixers rumors, because… NBA… he also revealed what he thought of the three billboards 76ers fans placed near the Cavs arena trying to woo him to Philly.
“I know all about it. There’s a lot of potholes on 480, gotta be careful with the cars. Gotta be very careful, that’s why I don’t do much driving. I sit in the backseat,” kidded LeBron.
FOX 8 Cleveland says that while he hasn’t actually seen the billboards, he’s cool with them.
“It’s not a distraction. It’s actually very flattering,” James said. “I’m sitting here at 33 in my 15th year… People in their respective cities want me to play for them. That’s cool, I think. That’s dope.”
Here’s a live look at 76ers fan after hearing that quote from LeBron…
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