Anthony Davis, one of the NBA’s premier talents and a former NCAA champion with the Kentucky Wildcats, is voicing deep concern over the state of college basketball in the wake of the explosive rise of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals. As the college sports world undergoes a seismic shift, Davis believes that the essence of what once made the college game special is slipping away.
In a candid interview, Davis expressed frustration and disappointment with how NIL has quickly transformed college basketball into what he described as a chaotic marketplace. “It’s just not the same anymore,” Davis said. “What we’re seeing now is a free-for-all. It’s about money first, not the game, not the school pride, not the development. The culture that built college basketball—hard work, competition, team loyalty—that’s being overshadowed.”
Since the NCAA opened the door to NIL deals in 2021, college athletes have been able to profit from their personal brand through endorsements, sponsorships, social media campaigns, and other business ventures. While the move was praised for empowering student-athletes and correcting longstanding inequalities, critics like Davis say the implementation has been anything but smooth.
According to Davis, the NIL gold rush has upended recruiting, blurred the lines between amateur and professional sports, and caused instability in locker rooms. “You have guys committing to schools not because of fit, coaching, or development, but because of which booster can promise the biggest paycheck,” he noted. “That’s not how it should be.”
Davis emphasized that he’s not opposed to athletes being compensated. “Let’s be clear—I support players getting what they deserve. I went through college knowing the system made millions off me and my teammates. That’s not right,” he said. “But there has
