Draymond GreenForward, Golden State Warriors

Jamal Crawford explains how much college sports lost without NIL deals #shorts #nba #warriors

20 Jan 2023 · 1 min

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In this short interview, former NBA guard Jamal Crawford argues that if Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) compensation had existed 20‑30 years ago, many college athletes would have stayed in school longer. He explains that NIL would have alleviated the financial pressure on players and their families—allowing them to cover basic expenses, avoid rushing to the professional ranks, and focus on education. Crawford claims the NCAA would have generated more revenue without the need to push athletes out early. He cites examples like Chris Webber, who might not have left college, and shares a personal anecdote about his own popularity at the University of Michigan, noting he had a dedicated student section and a headband called the “Crawford Crazez,” even surpassing Tom Brady’s campus fame at the time.

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If the NIL was around 20, 25, 30 years ago, think about how many kids would've stayed in school. Absolutely. Think about how much more money the NCAA would've made because now you're removed from the pressure of this kid like, damn, I gotta help provide for my family. Damn, I can't even get extra money to go to a movie because that's against the rules. I ain't got it. Like, you can get that money and still not be in a rush to go to the league. You cannot be in a rush to make some of the decisions. The pressure of my mom's lights may get cut off. Like, we gotta pick between paying the light bill, eating, and my sister's school tuition, whatever it might be. It removes that pressure. So I think if NIL was in, a lot of people, Chris Webber, those guys wouldn't have left the room. Man, I had my own student section at Michigan. The crowd had their student section, our school, and I had a headband called the Crawford Crazez. At that time, true story, I'm not saying this to brag, I was at school with Tom Brady. I was more popular on campus than he was at that time, 'cause Drew Hansen, the quarterback, was there, and he was kinda like the guy.