Undrafted Jazz rookie made $2 million playing for Michael Jordan’s North Carolina

The NIL deals help aspiring college athletes earn millions.

Undrafted Jazz rookie made $2 million playing for Michael Jordan’s North Carolina

Armando Bacot made $2 million through NCAA approved NIL deals playing for Michael Jordan's North Carolina

There was a time when athletes would work hard to get to the pros. However, everything changed when the NCAA allowed college athletes to sign NIL deals. This led to someone like undrafted rookie Armando Bacot earning a staggering amount of money playing for Michael Jordan‘s alma mater, the University of North Carolina. The rookie is earning far less after being signed by the Utah Jazz.

He was a guest on the podcast Tidal League. There, host and former NBA and North Carolina player Theo Pinson asked him how much he earned by being a part of the North Carolina Tar Heels.

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I will say $2 million plus. I'm saying that humbly though. That speaks on the brand of Carolina, because if I didn't go to Carolina, doing deals with Turbo Tax, all those people, they wouldn't deal with me. I got life-changing money, in college, just off playing basketball. That's why I'm forever thankful to Carolina, the brand, because to be able to make over $2 million just in college, it's crazy.
Theo Pinson said

Bacot revealed that he could earn that because he was with North Carolina. The brand helped him earn all that money. Armando Bacot was clear that he was not from a wealthy family. Therefore, to get life-changing money by playing college basketball was the highlight of his career. He knows that financially he and his family are doing well now.

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All he has to do is to make the Utah Jazz team. As an undrafted rookie, he will be up against a lot of other players vying for a roster spot. If he can get one, then he will be able to add on to the money he earned from Michael Jordan‘s alma mater.

NIL Deals changing the course of NCAA and college sports

Before the NIL deals were allowed, athletes had to wait until they turned pro to earn a livelihood. The NCAA used to punish those who took benefits from programs to join them. Today things have changed, as athletes can earn a significant sum of money even before becoming pros. For instance, Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese and Bronny James made millions off NIL Deals.

But it is not just restricted to the superstars. Even non-stars end up making money. Just like Armando Bacot and Clark’s best friend and former Iowa teammate Kate Martin used to. However, the easy money route has raised potential questions. Earlier, the prospect of earning life-changing money and becoming recognized as some of the best athletes motivated college athletes.

Now, money is already in their hands even before they sign letters of commitment. Therefore, are we getting the best athletes in the country, or are they just a product of the best NIL programs?

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