When asked if college athletes should get paid, ex-NBA star & current Sacramento mayor, Kevin Johnson didn't hesitate. "Absolutely," he said.
Kevin Johnson, mayor of Sacramento and a former three-time NBA All-Star, said he wants to use his position to help drive the conversation regarding pay for student-athletes. When asked if they should be paid, he told host Chuck Todd on Monday’s The Daily Rundown, “Absolutely.”
His remarks come amid a growing national outcry over rules that prevent college athletes from getting compensation, while allowing colleges and the NCAA to make millions.
“Its a very complicated issue,” said Mayor Johnson who was a guard for the Phoenix Suns and a standout at the University of California, Berkeley. “But its time we get down to the nitty-gritty and this is a topic that mayors will engage in.”
Johnson didn’t elaborate on what role mayors might take, but he may be uniquely positioned to use his experience as a player and a lawmaker to get something done.
“As a student-athlete, I know the advantage of having this discussion (and) now’s the time to have it,” said the mayor.
