I think Bazley will end up ok since Lebron has backed him along with Lebron’s agent and has been on record publicly encouraging him and the path he took. Lebron’s agent Rich Paul has a business setting the details, contacts and contracts to make this a viable path to the NBA for players who don’t want to attend college and give them a new career path to the NBA. They never do say though what their cut of the action is. They are paying $200,000 this year for Bazely’s internship in Boston for 3 months from January through this month to learn all about shoe design and the business end of shoe contracts etc. It is in their interest that he makes it and is at least financially secure for their test to replace college etc for top high school recruits for their new business venture to attract more clients even if they do lose money on Bazely. JB’s comments ruffled Lebron.
I think it’s interesting that Bazely’s shoe contract is with New Balance who left the basketball shoe market in 1990 to re-enter it with Bazely when Lebron is a Nike guy.
Darius Bazely Turns Down College and Lands Multi-Year Endorsement Deal with New Balance | The Source