Waiting for Your Team's Star to Announce Isn't Same in NIL Era

Where once there was no hope at all, there's now a shot at one more year

Author:
Kent Smith
Publish date:
Apr 11, 2023 3:13 PM EDT

In this story:

FRISCO, Texas – College is one of the most fun times a person can have in life, even for those who don't party.

It's all the freedoms of being an adult without all the aspects of adulthood that weigh people down when they get older. The only thing missing is the adult paycheck.

That is unless you are a top tier athlete in the NIL era. In that case, it's all the joys of being in college with a healthy dose of hard cash.

Plus, chances are, you're one of, if not the biggest name in town.

It's also a team, city and athletic community the chosen by the athlete to be a reflection is his or her every desire. It's a life like no other.

It's also why so many athletes are taking their time in deciding whether to go pro, especially in basketball. It's a lot to give up, and because of how the NBA slots its rookie contracts, unless you're a Top 10 pick, it might even be a pay cut, especially when factoring in living expenses in an NBA city.

Well compensated players aren't as anxious to go from being the man to just a guy deep down the bench fighting for playing time while sleeping in three different cities in three days. It's a grind.

There's also a ton of adult stress. It doesn't take much for an NBA draft pick to end up posing for life sized cut-outs so the G League schedule can be stenciled across their cardboard chest before it's placed in a dusty corner of a Subway in Portland, Maine.

Playing in front of a hundred people who don't know you and are only there because an elementary school gave out free tickets is a far cry from the hallowed courts of Bud Walton or Rupp Arena.

A player can stand in line at Cane's all day in most G League cities and not get recognized.

Considering the potential alternative, a 19-year-old man will look at the life he currently has – people asking for pictures everywhere he goes, thousands of more genuine girls all around, late night pizza with the guys – and consider continuing that life if the right amount of NIL money can find its way into his pocket.

It's why there will be a flurry of late announcements this year as to whether a player is going to the draft or sticking around. It takes time to round up that much committed money, so it benefits an athlete to give the local community as much time as possible to maximize the compensation.

So, for all the people out there waiting for the next college star to break their hearts with only one year in their favorite college uniform, hang in there. It's never a guarantee, but in the world of NIL there is a far greater chance than ever before.

And that's what college basketball is built on anyway.

The annual hope that this time there's a chance.