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Since leaving the NBA, Penny Hardaway has had a second career as a college basketball coach.
That means he has worked a lot with young players trying to make a name and career for themselves.
Speaking with Shaquille O’Neal on “The Big Podcast,” Hardaway said that a lot has changed for college athletes.
Today there is a strong focus on NIL, or “name, image, and likeness” deals.
Stating that basketball isn’t “about hooping anymore,” Hardaway said, “Instead of talking to a guy about what you can do for him from a basketball point of view… it’s instantly talking about a number.”
He is adamant about making sure that he encourages his players to keep their minds set on playing hard and well and not get distracted by potential pay days.
“It’s not about hooping anymore… Instead of talking to a guy about what you can do for him from a basketball point of view… it’s instantly talking about a number.”
– Penny Hardaway on dealing with NIL in college sports.
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O’Neal and Hardaway agreed that there should be some sort of board that governs how schools and players negotiate NIL deals so that it’s fair for everyone.
A NIL deal refers to the rights of an educational institution to make money from the likeness of its athletes.
These contracts also let players endorse products and make money from their growing personal brands.
That can lead the way for young players to make a lot of money for their futures, which is undoubtedly a good thing.
However, Hardaway says that it takes the focus off of playing basketball and being the best player possible for the team.
This is unquestionably a bad thing.
College sports is tricky and has been for a very long time but there have been some advancements over the last few years.
Does that mean that these NIL deals will soon be managed and monitored better, as both O’Neal and Hardaway suggest?
The post Penny Hardaway Reveals How He Deals With NIL In College Sports appeared first on The Cold Wire.