“Can’t run like prison anymore!” Lavish NIL deals have college coaches fearing to ‘coach’ superstar athletes, claims ex-all star

Gilbert Arenas revealed how NIL deals for star athletes in the NCAA are scaring college coaches from coaching their talent.

“Can’t run like prison anymore!” Lavish NIL deals have college coaches fearing to ‘coach’ superstar athletes, claims ex-all star

Gilbert Arenas believes NIL deals are stopping college coaches from coaching star athletes

The rapidly evolving landscape of college athletics, driven by Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals, has sparked concern about the future of the NCAA. On the latest episode of Gil’s Arena, former NBA star Gilbert Arenas, alongside Brandon Jennings and Nick Young, dissected how these lucrative deals are shifting the balance of power between college coaches and their superstar athletes.

On the show, Gilbert Arenas expressed apprehension about the challenges coaches face when dealing with players earning millions before setting foot in professional leagues. The conversation was prompted by the high-profile recruitment of AJ Dybantsa, the top 2026 NBA Draft prospect. Arenas dished on the restrictions placed on the hard-nosed coaching style of college coaches due to NIL deals.

YouTube video

Coaches seem like they’re scared to be coaches now… You can’t run [your college program] like a prison anymore… You’re scared to be a coach, versus being a dictator… Kid got a bad attitude and he’s talking back but he’s balling, you can’t try to make an example (of him) ‘Sit yo a*s down’ Your leverage is gone.

Gilbert Arenas said

Gilbert Arenas expressed concern at this sentiment, revealing how coaches are disincentivized from being hard on their star athletes, for fear of losing them to higher NIL bids by opposing colleges. Much like the NBA, Arenas fears that this will lead to many star college athletes playing hard only to earn a big NIL deal, but letting go of their work ethic once they secure major deals.

This fear emanated across the basketball world following AJ Dybantsa’s blockbuster announcement. Dybantsa, shockingly, chose BYU over established powerhouses like Kansas and North Carolina due to a record-setting NIL deal worth an estimated $5-$7 million. With legacy Blue Blood colleges getting passed over in favor of NIL deals, who knows what the future of college basketball looks like?

Gilbert Arenas’ son Alijah Arenas set to reclassify amidst major NIL deals

This conversation hit closer to home as Gilbert Arenas’ own son, Alijah Arenas, who claims he can beat his dad mano a mano, is a highly touted high school basketball prospect navigating the NIL waters. Recently, he announced his plans to push up his 2026 graduation date and reclassify into the Class of 2025.

Arenas is already ranked No. 4 in the Class of 2026 by On3 Industry rankings, and his reclassification would position him among top prospects like AJ Dybantsa and Cameron Boozer in the 2025 recruiting class.

The paperwork for Arenas’ reclassification is expected to be finalized soon. The five-star guard has drawn interest from powerhouse programs such as Alabama, Kentucky, and his father Gilbert Arenas’ alma mater, Arizona. Arenas also plans to visit schools including Arizona, Duke, Kansas, and USC this spring, setting the stage for a high-profile recruitment battle.

The young Arenas currently boasts an NIL valuation of $720,000, ranking 22nd among all high school players. Companies such as Panini, the sports trading card company, have already partnered with Alijah Arenas to kickstart his first NIL deal. This just goes to demonstrate how NIL opportunities are reshaping the financial futures of athletes even before they choose a college, just like Gilbert Arenas worried.