Hunter Dickinson made headlines recently with his transfer to powerhouse Kansas. The former All-American at Michigan made perhaps the most significant portal move of the college basketball offseason when he joined the Jayhawks. If you listen to the man himself, part of the reason that transfer went down was money.
Dickinson sent a message to his former school when he talked about his decision. He responded to critics of the move and made it clear what was behind it.
“The people hating on me would leave their job right now for a $10,000 increase. … I got less than six figures at Michigan for the year,” Dickinson said on the RoundBall podcast.
Former Michigan star Hunter Dickinson implied that an increase in his NIL earnings played a role in his decision to transfer to Kansas.
🔗 https://t.co/nIHOsUnTGA pic.twitter.com/1eAnYh9rjN
— ESPN (@espn) May 10, 2023
Sheesh.
NIL has been creating opportunities for student-athletes that wouldn’t be possible otherwise. NIL’s opponents continue to fear the impact it might have on the student-athletes. But all that seems to keep happening is more money is flowing to them.
Kansas seemed to have more to “offer” Hunter Dickinson if his words were accurate, and the implication was on the nose. While there are likely drawbacks to that and a need for regulation, if the student-athletes are getting what they’ve earned, then it isn’t much of a controversy. But this reads like a loud message.
KU will likely be one of the best teams in the nation again in 2023 with the addition of Dickinson.
[ESPN]
