In a recent interview with the Out The Mud podcast, NBA star Jalen Williams discussed the subject of NIL wages. Tony Allen, the host of the show, was curious about the 24-year-old reigning NBA champion’s thoughts on NIL’s hold on the NCAA, particularly in basketball. J-Dub didn’t mince words.
He started: “I mean, it’s good,”. “I think the only thing with giving kids that much money is like, you kind of ruin a little bit of the college experience. Cause like looking at it for me, it was low-key fun looking back, some of my fun stuff was not having money in college. Cause that is part of the experience. Everybody is broke in college.”
“I just think it kind of ruins a little bit of wanting to go to the NBA. Cause it’s like, when I was there, I don’t have money and I don’t want to keep asking my parents to make ends meet to do it. So my mindset was lets get to the league,”
“For them its more like, ‘Let me stay back in school and get money.’ It kind of takes a little bit of the allure of the NBA.”
“It’s that double-sided sword. If I know I’m gonna get more money in school I’m going back to school, and I’m going to get a free education with it.”
He’s not incorrect. Although I wouldn’t say it’s enjoyable to be broke, having little money undoubtedly motivated you to strive for your goals. Jalen’s statement that this could educate future ballers not to go for the NBA is more significant than the money, though.
