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NIL has been a part of college basketball for years now, and ESPN broadcaster Jay Bilas said the sport has never been better.
Bilas, 62, said NIL allowed players to be compensated while staying in school longer.
“I don’t think it’s ever been better. Players are better than they’ve ever been. We’re seeing now that because of NIL and player compensation, players are staying in school longer than in previous years,” Bilas told PK Press Club Digital.
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ESPN College GameDay host Jay Bilas prepares to broadcast before the game between the North Carolina Tar Heels and the Duke Blue Devils at Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham, North Carolina on February 1, 2025. (King Lance/Getty Images)
“That’s more years of service for college teams with their players than before. And I think that’s reflected in a higher level of play. And for those who say, ‘Hey, you know, players should stay in school,’ they stay in school to further their education and make money doing it.”
Bilas said if a musician, author or actor earned money while pursuing their education, they would be commended. The former Duke star added that NIL has allowed talent to spread further and cited Indiana as an example.
“I think it’s only been positive for the sport. We’ve seen talent spread out more and look, I’m not a football guy. I like watching football, but I wouldn’t consider myself in the expert category, but I have a hard time believing that Indiana could win a national championship under the old system. And they won one in the NIL era,” Bilas said.
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ESPN analyst Jay Bilas stands on the court before the game between the Illinois Fighting Illini and the Florida Atlantic Owls at Madison Square Garden in New York on December 5, 2023. (Porter Binks/Getty Images)
“Like Alabama or Clemson, they can’t stock three players at every position like they used to. And one, you can’t afford that. And two, the players say, ‘Wait a minute, I can make this a starter at Texas A&M. Why should I go here and be a backup?'”
Although Bilas praised NIL, he still doesn’t think players are paid what they are worth.
“I think it’s nothing but a good thing and it’s great for the players to now be able to at least negotiate something close to their value. They’re still not getting their value, but at least they’re getting close to their value,” Bilas said.
The broadcaster highlighted the hypocrisy of fans regarding coaches changing schools in relation to player transfers. Bilas said fans don’t complain when coaches leave for another school, but when a player enters the transfer portal.
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Sports broadcaster Jay Bilas plays golf during the first practice round of the 2025 ACC Celebrity Golf Championship at Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course in Stateline, Nevada, July 9, 2025. (David Calvert/Getty Images for American Century Investments)
“There’s never been a salary cap for coaches. Their compensation keeps going up and the coaching portal is always open. You know, they leave whenever they feel like it and no one calls tampering when another school takes them away. That needs to change because they’re under contract with another member institution and in the real world it’s called tortious interference with contract, and the NCAA just turns its head the other way and says: ‘nothing to see here.'”
“But they complain when it comes to the players, not the NCAA, but the fans complain about the players but they never seem to complain about the coaches.”
Bilas will compete in the American Century tournament July 10-12 at Edgewood Golf Course in Lake Tahoe. The tournament will be broadcast on NBC and Peacock.
