NIL and pay-for-play are not the same thing. However, they have become interchangeable.
Name, Image and Likeness is now pay-for-play.
A new report from the world of college basketball is the perfect example. It is the epitome of what is wrong with the system and it is not just a one-off occurance.
According to Jeff Goodman, an athlete who has not yet entered the transfer portal is seeking an astonishing amount of money to leave his current program and play somewhere else. Rather, his agent is doing so on his behalf.
The player is unknown. As are the schools involved.
While $1.5 million might seem like a big number, because it is, there are college athletes who are receiving similar amounts of money through “NIL” in the modern era. While it is more common in college football than college basketball, they exist.
The top players in the country can command $1 million or more. It is not particularly common, but they can.
This particular unnamed athlete — who has yet to even declared his intentions to leave his current program — must be one of the best players at a premium position. He is, in essence, a free agent.
If a team can meet his request, he will leave. If not, he will stay at a “discount.”
NIL was not supposed to be like this. Athletes were granted the ability to make money from things like endorsement deals, paid appearances and charity work. Collectives and a lack of regulation from a competent governing body has created something completely different.
It is simply not sustainable.
I am particularly curious to know if this unnamed player knows that his representation is seeking such a large chunk of change or if the agent is operating under his own devices. Either way, it’s not great!