Played 4 seasons at Illinois came to Kansas State with one of the top individual compensation deals
Coleman Hawkins cautionary tale in NIL world
- Thread starter NYShoreGuy
- Start date
You’d have to be pretty hard-hearted to watch that video and NOT feel any sympathy for the guy. He obviously put a lot of pressure on himself and is struggling with the feelings that he let his teammates (and a lot of other people) down. And I most certainly do feel sorry for him. That said, my sympathy only goes so far. The guy was paid a “salary” that placed him in the top 1% of ALL earners in this country, to play basketball. He is, in every sense, a professional athlete. In fact, I would cynically say that the vast majority of the guys playing D-1 football and basketball are pure mercenaries, who will readily leave the school he is currently attending, so that he can grab a bigger payday at another school. I honestly don’t fault any of these guys for doing that, but I also don’t think any of them should expect any of the fans to treat them like a young guy just trying hard for the beloved alma mater. We’re in a new reality where these guys are going to get paid like professional athletes and frankly, are going to be treated like the professional athletes they are.
He's crying all the way to the bank--Welcome to the real world kid, it doesn't get any easier.
I don’t think there is a lesson. Why’s the lesson? He had no idea leaving for money to a program that wasn’t as good may end up like this? He made a decision. This is how the world works. People jump for money in every profession and sometimes they end up worse off for it but cashed in for a time.
He played 4 years at Illinois (good for him), took $2MM in a free Covid year to bolt for the highest bidder, and he’s this upset? Sad that he’s sad but not sad that he is now financially set at 23 years old. Oh and he’s a projected 2nd round NBA draft pick. It’ll be ok, man.
100%. He was answering questions in the immediate aftermath of his season and career coming to an end, upset that his team lost and that his career ended like it did. That doesn't mean that he should or shouldn't have taken the money or that he will feel as sad about what happened going forward.
Always sad seeing a college player’s career end. If Hawkins had stayed at Illinois, he would have the support of thousands of Illinois fans and a place to come back for the rest of his life. Now, no one cares. Surely his agent made him aware of this when he entered the portal.
All the money in the world can’t mask that these are still kids seeing a great chapter of their lives coming to an end. Don’t get me wrong, they still make their own decisions chasing the money, but it’s always tough to see a kid realize his college days are over.
Like free agency in professional sports, the NIL and transfer portal movement will have situations where it goes as well as can be imagined, and others where the individual probably has regrets. That's life. Coleman seems to be regretting his decision. It's obviously worked out enormously well for our 2 good players that left, especially Richmond.
Kansas State (allegedly) had one of the biggest NIL funds this year. Not just for Coleman. They were viewed as essentially having "no salary" cap. They are one of a bunch which show that wins and losses isn't all about NIL.
I don't know where Arkansas L today places them in the NCAA conversation. I've been watching the Vice series with Cal so have more of an appreciate of their roster/players. Even considering they play in the juggernaut known as the SEC this year, when you think about the level of talent on that team, and what their NIL probably is hovering around, it is wild they didn't have a better year. Just some of the talent they bring off the bench is pretty staggering.
Kansas State (allegedly) had one of the biggest NIL funds this year. Not just for Coleman. They were viewed as essentially having "no salary" cap. They are one of a bunch which show that wins and losses isn't all about NIL.
I don't know where Arkansas L today places them in the NCAA conversation. I've been watching the Vice series with Cal so have more of an appreciate of their roster/players. Even considering they play in the juggernaut known as the SEC this year, when you think about the level of talent on that team, and what their NIL probably is hovering around, it is wild they didn't have a better year. Just some of the talent they bring off the bench is pretty staggering.
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