The Lady Tigers have been over the place after winning the 2023 NCAA Championship title by trumping the Iowa Hawkeyes. Their popularity has grown so much that most of the athletes from the team occupy a major position in the NIL valuation list and have been living a lifestyle at par with the WNBA players. Recently, a journalist made a comparison that drew a lot of attention.

American Journalist Nick DePaula opened up about how deals were different during Michael Jordan’s time and how they have transformed with the introduction of the NIL.

What did Nick DePaula say?

DePaula was present on episode 49 of ‘SHOWTIME Basketball’ and spoke at length about the major changes in the basketball industry with the advent of NIL deals. The video was uploaded on Monday and evoked a lot of nostalgia as he reminisced the times of Michael Jordan’s deal with Nike.

“Jordan 11 was like patent leather on a basketball shoes,” he said. “Like you know all the carbon fiber and then you know the marketing was kind of new at the time and he was so aspirational from the way he played. Like there are other players that have had great success but it was never like anybody hitting at all times on one cylinder like across the board like that…This is by far the most exciting time. Coz you got like you say Angel Reese at LSU, right? So the top three players at LSU… All have a shoe deals not with Nike. So Hailey Van Lith is with Adidas, Flau’jae is with Puma, and now Angel’s going to be with Reebok.”

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For the unversed, Name, Image, and LIkeness (NIL) deals help amateur athletes earn money through their brand image. The law for the NIL deals was implemented from 1 July 2021 and has been a major earning source for college athletes. Though different states and colleges have different NIL laws, the common thing among them has been athletes living a life at par with some of the WNBA players.

While Angel Reese became the first athlete to sign a deal with Reebok during its re-emergence plan under the newly appointed President for Basketball – Shaquille O’Neal, the LSU’s recently transferred star Hailey Van Lith had previously inked at deal with Adidas. Though Hailey would not be wearing Adidas apparel on the court, she would endorse its products off it. Similarly, Falu’jae Johnson had made a deal with Puma.

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The NIL valuation is expected to grow as these athletes again step on the court to fight for the coveted title.

When will the upcoming NCAA season start?

The NCAA season would commence from November 7 with the LSU Lady Tigers battling it out against the Colorado Buffaloes. This will be the first instance when the Buffs will compete against a top-ranked team in the season’s opener. Apart from the enthusiasm that comes with the NCAA season’s start, Angel Reese had recently made it to the headlines for meeting with her favorite popstars – Beyonce and Jay Z.

The star power and the influence it creates on celebs is a testament to the fact that college basketball has expanded in terms of capital over time. With all the major college athletes now sporting a NIL deal, will they achieve the stardom and impact that Jordan had in his times?

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The upcoming season will definitely speak a lot about the basketball craze in fans. Let us know in the comments your favorite college athlete.