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In the aftermath of the NCAA\u2019s landmark $2.8 billion antitrust settlement, former University of Kentucky basketball star DeMarcus Cousins has added his voice to the growing chorus of former athletes calling out the organization\u2019s treatment of student-athletes.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Cousins, who helped lead the Wildcats to an Elite Eight appearance in 2010 before launching a successful NBA career, didn\u2019t mince words when reacting to the news.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n > \u201cLet\u2019s be real \u2014 athletes were being exploited,\u201d Cousins said during an interview on Friday. \u201cWe brought in millions, sold out arenas, sold jerseys with our numbers, and yet we couldn\u2019t legally make a single dollar. It was modern-day exploitation, plain and simple.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n The massive settlement comes after years of lawsuits and public scrutiny over the NCAA\u2019s policies, which for decades prohibited athletes from profiting off their name, image, and likeness (NIL). The agreement will allocate billions to compensate both current and former players who were restricted under those now-defunct rules.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Cousins, long known for his blunt and passionate takes, said the settlement is a \u201cstep in the right direction,\u201d but added that it doesn\u2019t fully repair the damage caused by the system.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n > \u201cThis should\u2019ve happened years ago. You\u2019ve got guys who gave everything to their schools, got injured, and were left with nothing while the NCAA kept cashing checks,\u201d he said.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n While the NCAA prepares to adjust its business model to accommodate a new era of college athletics, former players like Cousins are urging institutions not to stop here. He called for expanded healthcare support for former athletes and more guaranteed educational opportunities.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n > \u201cI\u2019m glad today\u2019s players can finally get a piece of what they\u2019ve earned. But we can\u2019t forget about the ones who came before \u2014 who built the system without ever seeing the reward.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n As debate continues over what college sports should look like in a post-settlement era, voices like Cousins\u2019 are adding urgency to the conversation \u2014 one that may forever reshape the business of amateur athletics.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"