How much money do professional lacrosse players make. Professional Lacrosse Player Salaries: Insights into Earnings and Career Prospects

How much do professional lacrosse players typically earn. What factors influence lacrosse player salaries. Are there differences between men’s and women’s lacrosse earnings. How does lacrosse compare to other professional sports in terms of pay.

The Average Salary of Professional Lacrosse Players

Professional lacrosse players in the United States earn an average salary of $51,770 per year. This figure, however, can vary significantly based on factors such as experience, league, and individual performance. Top-tier players with extensive experience can command salaries exceeding $100,000, while those just beginning their careers may start at around $25,000.

The salary range in professional lacrosse reflects the sport’s status as a “non-core” professional sport in the United States. Despite its growing popularity, lacrosse has not yet achieved the same level of financial success as major sports like basketball, football, or baseball.

Major League Lacrosse (MLL) and National Lacrosse League (NLL) Salaries

The two primary professional lacrosse leagues in North America are Major League Lacrosse (MLL) and the National Lacrosse League (NLL). Players in these leagues can expect varying levels of compensation:

• MLL players: Average salaries range from $10,000 to $40,000 per year
• NLL players: Typically earn slightly less than their MLL counterparts

It’s important to note that these figures represent average earnings, and individual salaries can differ based on a player’s skill level, experience, and negotiating power. Rookies generally receive the lowest salaries, while seasoned professionals command higher pay.

Supplemental Income Sources for Lacrosse Players

Given the relatively modest salaries in professional lacrosse, many players seek additional income sources to supplement their earnings. Some common strategies include:

1. Full-time jobs outside of lacrosse
2. Coaching youth lacrosse teams
3. Sponsorships and endorsements
4. Lacrosse clinics and camps
5. Product development and sales

For example, Brett Schmidt, a defender for the Charlotte Hounds, works as a Finance Analyst, earning approximately $75,000 per year in addition to his lacrosse salary. Similarly, Scott Ratliff, a midfielder for the Boston Cannons, coaches a youth lacrosse team to boost his income.

The Highest-Paid Lacrosse Player: Paul Rabil

While most professional lacrosse players earn modest salaries, there are exceptions. Paul Rabil, widely regarded as one of the sport’s greatest players, has achieved unprecedented financial success in the world of lacrosse.

Paul Rabil’s Earnings

Paul Rabil’s annual income reaches an impressive $1.5 million, making him the highest-paid lacrosse player in history. His success can be attributed to several factors:

• Participation in both MLL and NLL leagues
• Exceptional skill and performance on the field
• Strong personal brand and marketability
• Lucrative endorsement deals with major brands like New Balance and Nike
• Entrepreneurial ventures within the lacrosse industry

Rabil’s success demonstrates the potential for top-tier lacrosse players to earn substantial incomes, albeit as an exception rather than the norm in the current landscape of professional lacrosse.

Women’s Professional Lacrosse: Salary Disparities

The financial landscape for women’s professional lacrosse players differs significantly from their male counterparts. Women’s professional lacrosse is a relatively new phenomenon, with leagues still in their infancy compared to men’s professional lacrosse.

Women’s Professional Lacrosse League (WPLL) Salaries

The Women’s Professional Lacrosse League (WPLL), founded in 2018, is one of the primary platforms for women’s professional lacrosse in the United States. However, player salaries in the WPLL are considerably lower than those in men’s leagues:

• Average WPLL player salary: $5,000 to $7,000 per season
• Top players may earn up to $10,000 per season

These figures highlight the significant gender pay gap in professional lacrosse, reflecting broader issues of gender inequality in professional sports.

Factors Influencing Lacrosse Player Salaries

Several factors contribute to the determination of a professional lacrosse player’s salary:

1. League: MLL generally offers higher salaries than NLL
2. Experience: Veteran players typically earn more than rookies
3. Performance: Standout players can negotiate higher salaries
4. Position: Some positions may command higher salaries based on scarcity or importance
5. Marketability: Players with strong personal brands may attract higher salaries and endorsements
6. Team budget: Salary caps and team finances can impact player compensation
7. Negotiation skills: A player’s ability to negotiate can influence their final salary

Understanding these factors can help aspiring professional lacrosse players strategize their career development and maximize their earning potential.

Comparing Lacrosse Salaries to Other Professional Sports

To put lacrosse salaries in perspective, it’s helpful to compare them to other professional sports:

• NBA (Basketball): Average salary of $7.7 million per year
• NFL (Football): Average salary of $3.26 million per year
• MLB (Baseball): Average salary of $4.17 million per year
• NHL (Hockey): Average salary of $2.69 million per year
• MLS (Soccer): Average salary of $410,000 per year
• PLL (Premier Lacrosse League): Average salary of $35,000 per year

These comparisons illustrate the significant financial gap between lacrosse and more established professional sports. However, it’s important to note that lacrosse is a growing sport, and salaries may increase as the sport gains popularity and attracts more investment.

The Future of Professional Lacrosse Salaries

While current salaries in professional lacrosse may seem modest compared to other sports, there are several factors that could contribute to increased player compensation in the future:

Growing Popularity

Lacrosse is one of the fastest-growing sports in the United States, with participation rates increasing at both the youth and collegiate levels. As the sport’s fan base expands, there is potential for increased revenue through ticket sales, merchandise, and media rights, which could translate to higher player salaries.

League Expansion and Competition

The emergence of new professional leagues, such as the Premier Lacrosse League (PLL), has created competition for player talent. This competition could drive up salaries as leagues vie for top players.

Increased Media Coverage

As lacrosse gains more mainstream media attention, including television broadcasts and streaming deals, the sport’s visibility and revenue potential could increase, potentially leading to higher player salaries.

Corporate Sponsorships

Growing interest from corporate sponsors could inject more money into professional lacrosse, potentially increasing team budgets and player salaries.

International Growth

While lacrosse is primarily popular in North America, efforts to grow the sport internationally could open up new markets and revenue streams, potentially benefiting player compensation in the long run.

Despite these potential growth factors, it’s important for aspiring professional lacrosse players to maintain realistic expectations about their earning potential and consider developing skills and careers outside of playing professional lacrosse.

Strategies for Maximizing Earnings as a Professional Lacrosse Player

Given the current salary landscape in professional lacrosse, players looking to maximize their earnings should consider the following strategies:

1. Develop exceptional skills: Focus on becoming a top-tier player to command higher salaries and attract endorsement deals.
2. Build a personal brand: Cultivate a strong social media presence and engage with fans to increase marketability.
3. Pursue education: Obtain a college degree to have career options outside of lacrosse.
4. Diversify income streams: Explore coaching, clinics, and lacrosse-related business ventures.
5. Consider playing in multiple leagues: Participate in both indoor and outdoor leagues to maximize playing time and earnings.
6. Seek sponsorships: Actively pursue endorsement deals with lacrosse equipment manufacturers and other relevant brands.
7. Develop transferable skills: Acquire skills that can be applied to other careers, such as business, marketing, or sports management.

By implementing these strategies, professional lacrosse players can work towards achieving financial stability and potentially increasing their overall earnings both during and after their playing careers.

In conclusion, while professional lacrosse salaries may not currently match those of major sports leagues, the sport’s growing popularity and evolving landscape offer potential for future growth. Players who approach their careers strategically, diversify their income sources, and prepare for life beyond playing can position themselves for long-term financial success in the world of professional lacrosse.

How much do professional lacrosse players make?

This question is about athlete salaries.

By Zippia Team – Dec. 9, 2022

In the United States, the average professional lacrosse player makes $51,770 per year. Top lacrosse players with experience can make over $100,000. The lowest-paid lacrosse players, who are often just starting their careers, start at around $25,000.

Lacrosse is considered a “non-core” professional sport in the United States and notoriously doesn’t pay well.

Search for athlete jobs

Related Topics

Questions About The Building And Grounds Maintenance Industry

Questions About The Business And Financial Industry

Questions About The Community And Social Services Industry

Questions About The Computer And Mathematical Industry

Questions About The Construction And Extraction Industry

Related Questions For Athlete

How much do professional paintballers make?

How much do professional rugby players make?

How much money does a professional volleyball player make?

What is a professional hitchhiker?

How much does a professional rugby player make?

Recent Job Searches

• Registered Nurse Jobs

  ResumeLocation

• Truck Driver Jobs

  ResumeLocation

• Call Center Representative Jobs

  ResumeLocation

• Customer Service Representative Jobs

  Resume

• Delivery Driver Jobs

  ResumeLocation

• Warehouse Worker Jobs

  ResumeLocation

• Account Executive Jobs

  ResumeLocation

• Sales Associate Jobs

  ResumeLocation

• Licensed Practical Nurse Jobs

  ResumeLocation

• Company Driver Jobs

  Resume

Learn More About Athlete Jobs

• Overview

• Jobs

• Salary

• Resume

• Skills

• What They Do

• Demographics

• Career Path

• Job Description

• How To Hire

• Best States

• Trends

• Part Time Jobs

• Entry Level Jobs

• Full Time Jobs

How do you become a professional runner?

Why do female athletes get paid less?

Why can’t college athletes get paid?

How much do professional tag players make?

How much do professional surfers make?

How much do professional tennis players make?

How Much do Pro Lacrosse Players Make? Paul Rabils Salary?

We most people always want to become a sports player, yes when we are youngsters definitely we might have been love with a certain game and even dream’t  of becoming a professional player in that game, but the main reason why we have thought like that is because once we become a pro player our life will be settled and we’ll earning in millions and can have a luxurious life.

Yes, it is true when it comes to sports like basketball, soccer, hockey, baseball, soccer players on an average earns more than 1$ million per year while the top paid even crosses 10-20$ million.

But the sad truth is that even in some sports even pro players are struggling to make 10000$ per year and Lacrosse is one of the sports among the list actually.

Yes, there are a lot of unknown things about the game of lacrosse, even though more than 8 lakh people are playing the game as per a survey in 2018 and more than 4 million fans are around the world for this game.

Though this game is famous now only in American regions, the game has started to grow even in the European and South American regions too.

Most of the Pro Lacrosse Players make money by playing in the leagues, currently, Major Lacrosse Leagues and National Lacrosse Leagues are the recognised leagues and having lots of fans.

So players who are playing in those leagues are paid on an average of 10000$ to 40000$ based on their level, as we all know rookies are the lowest paid and the experienced pro players paid the maximum. This is the average MLL salary, Average NLL salary is bit lower than the major.

So in the MLL, there are totally 9 teams and the NLL has 11 teams.

Is Lacrosse the only source of income for lacrosse players?

No actually not all the players are dependent only on Lacrosse, only 50-60% players depend on the game, even for some players lacrosse is the second profession because 10000$ is not a big amount to depend on.

Some pro players are even working on full-time jobs to earn more money, for example, Brett Schmidt the defender of Charlotte Hounds picks up his day job as Finance Analyst and earns around 75000$ per annum.

Also, Scott Ratliff, the midfielder of Boston Cannons is also a coach of a youth lacrosse team and make some good revenue through coaching along with the lacrosse game.

Checkout Lacrosse Rebounders Latest Guide

Which Players earns the most through lacrosse?

You might wonder if there no player who makes the most money, yes some players like Paul Rabil who makes the most money even up to 1.5$ million a year. This is the massive Paul Rabil’s Salary. He is the highest paid lacrosse player.

Paul Rabil is 33-year-old Professional lacrosse player, he earns this much amount because he plays for the both the Lacrosse Leagues and due to his popularity in both leagues he becomes sponsor some big brands like New Balance, Nike and much more.

Check out Carbon Fiber Lacrosse Shafts

How much do Women’s lacrosse Players Make?

Nowadays as like Mens Lacrosse, women’s lacrosse game are also getting famous and when it comes to money making women’s Lacrosse has a poor record than men’s lacrosse.

Even Pro Players are making only around 7000$ – 8000$ and when it comes to rookies it is too low.

But after the introduction of Women’s Lacrosse players have started to earn some good money, sooner there will be growth in the income, so that lot’s of women will come to play the game of lacrosse.

Read more- Tips For Students On How to Learn Coding Languages.

Future Scopes of lacrosse

Definitely, the game of lacrosse has improved a lot over the years and in future, you can see the game being played all over the world and soon lots of leagues will be started and even the game might be added in the Olympics soon. So in future surely players will be earning money equal to other sportspersons.

Read More on High Ankle Cleats 

Tips to Make most money in Lacrosse!

So most of the one who is reading this post might be youngsters, for them I just have to say one thing, Don’t be like me yes I’m too a professional Lacrosse player who doesn’t make any good money for my family or to my close ones and as a result I’m still working as a coach for my daily expenses.

So if you want to make money in this field just be a pro player, means show your worth to the world and play many leagues and attract big sponsors, definitely the game of lacrosse has improved a lot. It is not the game I have seen during my period, the game is growing and getting the worlds attention. So it is the right time for you to show the world who you are and become a millionaire.

Subscribe to Go Blue Lacrosse and press the bell icon to receive updates instantly!

User Review

1
(1 vote)

Sending

how much does a sports agent earn? • BUOM

July 29, 2021

Sports agents work with professional athletes to help promote them to teams, advertisers and sponsors and support them during contract negotiations or industry projects and deals. Working as a sports agent can be an exciting, dynamic and challenging career that allows you to combine your passion for the sport with your communication, organizational and management skills. You can work exclusively with one sport or represent different athletes.

In this article, we’ll discuss how much a sports agent makes, what sports they represent, where they work, and what benefits they can earn to help you determine if this career path is right for you.

How much does a sports agent earn?

The average agent salary on Indeed nationwide is $56,793 per year, although sports agents may specialize in different geographies, sports, or disciplines such as collegiate, professional, or Olympic athletics, so average earnings vary widely. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, agents and business managers of entertainers, performers, and athletes can earn an average salary of $9.$8,070 per year.

Windows programs, mobile applications, games – EVERYTHING is FREE, in our closed telegram channel – Subscribe 🙂

Sports agent salary varies depending on their location, company, education, experience and client base. It may vary depending on the athletes you represent and the services you provide to them, and since you may work with clients across the country or around the world with varying contract lengths, your income may fluctuate annually. To get a better idea of ​​how much a sports agent can earn, take a look at the salaries for these similar jobs:

What sports can a sports agent represent?

A sports agent can represent athletes in virtually every industry and often at every level of their professional career, including:

• Baseball

• Football

• Basketball

• Football

• Golf

• Tennis

• Rugby

• Lacrosse

• Softball

• Boxing

• Wrestling 900 03

• Volleyball

• Cricket

• Racing and motorsport

Other sports in which you could find work as an agent, are skateboarding, swimming, surfing, diving, athletics and mixed martial arts. U.S. sports agents also operate elsewhere, especially as teams recruit from other countries, and some sports and leagues have Canadian teams that are officially affiliated with American league organizations. For example, the city of Toronto has both a National Hockey League team and a Major League Baseball team. As a sports agent, you can work with international talent from all over the world.

Where do sports agents work?

Sports agents can be self-employed, run their own agencies, or work for various sports agency companies, and you can do all three in your career. Some common sports agent jobs include:

• Sports management companies

• Talent agencies

• Sports marketing firms

As a sports agent, you normally work a standard 40-hour week and, usually in the office, although you may have frequent nights, weekends, and holidays. Long hours are common, especially during hiring, draft weeks, and playing season for every sport you represent. Travel is likely, as you can go where your client is playing a game, doing a public speaking, or meeting with potential sponsors and sports teams.

Can a sports agent be self-employed?

Sports agents may be self-employed and often freelance as independent agents. Client acquisition is an integral part of the sports agent role, whether you work on your own or with an existing agency. Gaining the trust of players, building a reputation and expanding your network of connections and contacts can help you when you work as an individual sports agent. You can also partner with scouting agents who have detailed player information about their performance and ability to play professional sports, giving you access to the talent you want to represent.

Here are some important skills to develop and hone if you want to be a self-employed sports agent:

• Leadership and management. As a sports agent, you are most likely to conduct meetings and arrange business deals on behalf of your clients, so leadership and management skills will help you excel in this area.

• Negotiation and Persuasion: You frequently negotiate contracts for your clients, including player contracts, advertising and marketing deals, or commissions from the commercial use of their name, image, or likeness. The ability to persuade and negotiate can help your client get the best contract or compensation.

• Interpersonal and communication skills. The job of a sports agent involves working with a variety of people, often in high-level positions of influence. Your interpersonal and communication skills will help you present yourself and your client well both in public and in private.

• Sports Knowledge: A deep understanding of the sports industry, the rules of the game, contractual arrangements and business relationships can help you establish yourself as a respected and skilled agent.

• Decision making and problem solving: As a sports agent, you may need to make business decisions on behalf of your client, such as accepting promotional opportunities or turning down a sponsorship deal that doesn’t offer enough. Your ability to solve problems on your own and make decisions with your client’s best interests in mind can help you build your reputation and possibly your client base.

• Organization: You can deal with a client’s public speaking schedule or professional finance, for example, and as an organized agent, you can keep track of important dates, information, and tasks and perform your duties promptly.

What benefits can a sports agent receive?

Sports agents may receive various benefits through professional compensation packages or industry-related fringe benefits. Many came from working with sports agencies, although some may come from player clients themselves, an organization they signed with, or as part of a unique offering. Here are some of the benefits you can get from being a sports agent:

• Holidays and paid holidays: When you work for an agency, you usually get paid holidays, personal or sick leave, and vacation time. The amount usually varies depending on where you work or how long you worked there.

• Medical Benefits: Most employers also provide health and wellness benefits such as paid medical, eye, and dental insurance, gym membership reimbursement, and mental health benefits.

• Retirement: You can participate in retirement savings, which often come from your base salary and go into accounts such as 401(k). Some companies match contributors by adding an additional amount to your total pension amount.

• Free tickets. A common perk of a sports agent would be free tickets to sporting events provided either by your client or the team he plays for. For example, if your player’s team competes in a national championship, you can receive a certain number of tickets to share with family and friends.

How can a sports agent make more money?

You can usually earn more than your base salary through commissions and bonuses that fluctuate by situation, athlete or sport. The commission is usually determined by the athlete’s salary and you can earn approximately 3% to 5% of their agreed contract. The employment contracts commission is often limited to the respective players’ union. You can also earn between 10% and 25% on public speaking, business opportunities, sponsorships and advertising you provide to clients, and these are unlimited. Sometimes you can get a portion of the income an athlete earns by using their name, likeness and likeness.

As a sports agent, you can also earn more by representing athletes from larger organizations or sports leagues. Many professional leagues have minor or lower level farm teams to continue the line of future talent within the team roster. You can start your career working with amateur athletes, then semi-professional athletes and finally professional athletes. For example, you could represent a baseball player who signs up with a minor league team hoping to be called up to the big leagues.

Often representing professional athletes in these five major sports organizations can make you more money as a sports agent:

• National Hockey League (NHL)

• National Football League (NFL)

• National Basketball Association ( NBA)

• Major League Baseball (MLB)

• Major League Soccer (MLS)

Please note that none of the companies mentioned in this article are affiliated with Indeed.

NBA Draft Revolution: Future stars no longer need to study at least a year at university. There are 2 alternatives! – Good Sport – Blogs

Scoot Henderson and the Thompson twins are on point.

If, through an effort, you still look beyond the first position in the list of the best basketball prospects of this year, then surprisingly: a) not only Victor Vembanyama participates in the NBA draft and b) rather unusual names “Ignight” and “ Overtime Elite.

Sports.ru 2023 NBA Draft Analysis

A revelation not for everyone, but these are not American colleges from the traditional NCAA-NBA food chain.

For almost 20 years in the NBA it has been forbidden to draft yesterday’s high school students without at least a year at the university, but it seems the rules have been hacked. Of course, with reservations.

Prologue. Family circumstances, age, money and money

Until the early 70s, it was possible to enter the NBA draft only four years after graduation. But there was a precedent.

Future Hall of Famer sophomore Spencer Haywood, after winning the Olympics, moved to the Denver Rockets of the ABA (then an NBA competitor). The league was in dire need of young talent and came up with the “Heywood Forced Rule” – an early transition to the pros due to difficult financial and family circumstances. At the time, Spencer’s mom was raising ten children and earning two dollars a day from the cotton plantation. A year later, Haywood moved to the NBA and through the court changed the rule of this league already – for an early entry into the draft, the players also had to prove financial difficulties. There were no particular difficulties with using a loophole for first-year students, but schoolchildren were still not drafted (only once, at 1975th, they took two).

Basketball baby boom did not begin until twenty years later, when in 1995, Minnesota selected Kevin Garnett. A chain reaction followed: Kobe Bryant, Jermaine O’Neal, Tracey McGrady, Amare Stoudemire, Dwight Howard and, of course, LeBron James. Three first picks in ten years (Dwight, LeBron, and Kwame Brown, who wasn’t mentioned on purpose).

But in 2005, when negotiating a new Collective Agreement, NBA commissioner David Stern called for a 20-year age limit – the league received constant complaints about the pressure on high school students from scouts and general managers who filled the school halls. It was believed that 9 was mistakenly created for young Americans0211 image of the NBA as an easy way to fame and fortune . Obviously, somewhere in there, the disgruntled ears of the NCAA collegiate league were sticking out, which the main American talents of the generation simply stopped noticing.

The players were against the new restrictions (Jermaine O’Neill even saw a hint of racism), but played a forbidden trick – in exchange for raising the salary cap, the union agreed to a cap of 19 years (in the calendar year of the draft), which actually meant a year of college education . The rule was called “one-and-done”.

The banal reason for leaving the NBA early is money. The NCAA does not allow player compensation other than scholarships and benefits such as free meals and training courses. Only in 2021, through the court, students were allowed to earn money by monetizing their image and name – the so-called NIL (Name, Image and Likeness) rules.

Important clarification: the compulsory year after high school could be spent outside of college, but young players need to train and play somewhere to stay on the radar of NBA clubs. Even obvious school talents were forced to play at the university “for food” for some period, until recently there were practically no alternatives to the student league.

Part 1. Rebels from future stars or lessons from the Old World

First, more about “practically”. When there are uncomfortable rules, there will be rebels.

In June 2008, Mr. Basketball USA (wow naming and my personal favorite for a school award) and top high school student in the country, 18 year old Brandon Jennings, announced that he would skip college and play professionally in Europe for a year – the best way to gain experience and make money to the NBA draft. A month later, he signed a contract with Rome’s Lottomatica for $1.65 million. Plus, he received $ 2 million from Under Armor for advertising the brand in the Euroleague. The NY Times dubbed the event “a lesson from the Old World for the NBA.”

After an “impressive” season in Italy, Brandon was selected by Milwaukee in the 2009 NBA Draft with a less than tenth overall pick. There is an additional explanation for this – merit outside the United States was still treated with distrust, especially after the legendary draft of Darko Milicic.

The practice did not become mass, but found its one-time adherents. For example, before the 2015 draft, Emmanuel Mudiaye went to China for a year and became richer by $1.2 million. Terrence Ferguson in 2017 was selected in the first round by Oklahoma after a season in Adelaide from the Australian NBL.

Before being selected with the third pick in the 2020 draft, Lamelo Ball traveled to the Lithuanian Prienai at sixteen, becoming the youngest American with a professional contract. True, he played only eight matches there (his father expectedly blamed the coaches) and returned to the USA, where he managed to light up in the unsuccessful phantom competitor of the NCAA – the Youth Basketball Association, created by his enterprising father. The result of ignoring college basketball was Ball’s departure to the Australian Illawarra Hawks from the NBL, where the Next Stars program was launched just from the 2017/18 season – “innovative talent development” from around the world before the NBA draft.

Although the project did not cause a massive outflow of talent from the US, it is quite a healthy alternative. It is easier for Americans to adapt there – Australia is closer culturally and linguistically than Europe or Asia. It is also a great opportunity to play not with students, but in a full-fledged adult league with similar regulations.

It was the high-profile departure of LaMelo Ball that caused an obvious fuss in the USA.

Part 2: Ignite or the NBA’s Year of Accelerated Ageing

0211, everyone had the opportunity to go somewhere abroad ,” G-League President Sharif Abdur-Rahim expressed concern.

The G-League (formerly the Development League) is the official minor league in the NBA that has been training NBA players, coaches, officials, instructors, and front office staff since 2001. The tournament’s website cheerfully reports that the league offers “elite professional basketball at an affordable price in a fun, family-friendly atmosphere.” The G-League consists of 30 teams, 28 of which are direct farms of NBA clubs. Many even have the same names – “South Bay Lakers” or “Westchester Knicks”.

Mostly basketball players who have no place in the NBA play there. But this does not mean that they were given up as a bad job. Rather, this is the closest reserve – in the 2022/23 season, a record 47 percent of players on NBA club rosters had experience playing for a farm club in their careers. Among them, for example, status Rudy Gobert, Pascal Siakam and Jordan Poole.

Since 2017, the farms can have two players on a two-way contract (for this, the NBA even expanded the rosters) – such players can be called up by the main team, without the possibility of participating in the playoffs. In particular, last season Scottie Pippen Jr. was on such a contract with the Lakers, Orlando Robinson with the Heat.

But back to the draft. Young players have been selected from the Development League before. But that was more of a margin of error—only seven cases through 2021, with PJ Hairston’s number 26 being the highest. The fact is that the G-League had the same age restrictions as the NBA, so all young talents under 19 were already in the NCAA or increasingly used alternative options from the previous block. It was decidedly impossible to put up with the second.

So-so attempt. Since 2019 (just after the launch of the Australian startup Next Stars), in the G-League from the age of 18, you can enter into special contracts for 125 thousand dollars with “programming opportunities for development”. The queue did not line up – at the time of the opening of the summer training camps, none of the elite students showed up. And one of the best high school students in the country, RJ Hampton, went to the New Zealand New Zealand Breakers from the NBL for playing practice and a million dollars. The dead end branch was not developed.

Pass attempt. In April 2020, the NBA within the G-League creates an “alternative to college basketball” – a special team “Ignite” based in Henderson, Nevada. Promising players over the age of 18 are offered a salary of up to $500,000, which, with various bonuses, can reach a million. Among other things, players receive full scholarships at the University of Arizona State, which cooperates with the NBA.

The aggressive marketing didn’t end there. On the very first day of existence (still under the working name “Select Team”) “Ignite” introduce the first newcomer – Jaylen Green , the highest school ranked player in the class of 2020. Later, other five-star students were recruited: Isaiah Todd, Deishen Nix and Jonathan Cuminga . A few solid undrafted roleplayers were added to the rotation, as well as the most important ingredients – veterans Jarett Jack, Amir Johnson and Bobby Brown. Former Nuggets head coach Brian Shaw was called in to steer.

In the very first season, the club reached the playoffs to the quarterfinals (however, due to the pandemic, eleven teams missed the tournament in the “bubble”), which is not particularly important. The main goal of the project was achieved – it turned out to be profitable to highlight talents. In the 2021 draft, Green was taken with the second pick, Cuminga with the seventh pick, and Todd at the start of the second round. The Dation Knicks were not drafted, but signed with the Rockets through the summer league that same year.

“If you’re just coming to us for money, it won’t work,” says assistant coach Rod Baker. – People come to Ignite to make their dreams come true… This is the difference between short and long money.”

The club recruited new young talents without any problems. At the same time, in addition to the next elite high school students Jaden Hardy and Marjon Bowchamp , a local school star symbolically arrived from Australia – Dyson Daniels . All of them were drafted by the NBA clubs a year later.

The following are the main advantages of preparing for the draft through Ignite:

• The opportunity to earn quite decent money before the draft, while remaining in a comfortable environment – there is no need to travel to the other side of the world with the appropriate adaptation.

• More competitive than at the college level – playing in the league with seniors, many with NBA experience. Prospects get used to playing faster, stronger and smarter early in their development.

• G-League, although the lower division, is part of the NBA ecosystem with the appropriate resources, level and reputation.

• Player development. The best coaches and specialists are attracted to the club through the huge resource of the NBA, and purposeful work is carried out to develop each player. The veterans are well chosen.

Sharif Abdur-Rahim is confident the new team will help track elite talent at home as the trend of high school students dropping out of high school and playing abroad continues to grow.

“They used to choose between college or some international team. I think that Ignite meets modern needs – a good option for a young player who is looking for new opportunities, ”said the president of the G-League.

Four Ignite players entered the 2023 draft: defensemen Scoot Henderson, Sidi Sissoko, Mojave King and small forward Lenard Miller . Henderson is the top pick right behind you-know-who.

Part 3. Overtime Elite or the zoomer talent incubator that Drake already invested in

“If you think about what older audiences like me want, it’s more about nostalgia, like in The Last Dance. But for the younger generation, for our audience, a sense of real time is needed. That’s what we offer ,” said Overtime Elite Youth League President Aaron Ryan.

Overtime sports media company was founded in 2016 by Dan Porter and Zach Weiner. The startup immediately focused on high school basketball, creating short content about high school athletes filmed using iPhone technology.

“In a way, what we’re doing is making a reality show about a new generation of superstars,” Weiner said. “Most videos are five to ten minutes long, and the production values ​​are often amateur in nature, as if to emphasize authenticity and make the interaction with the viewer more intimate.”

At the initial stage, the startup raised $2.5 million in investments – even ex-NBA commissioner David Stern invested (ironically, he was the one who pushed through the age restrictions for the draft). Within a couple of years, Overtime videos were hitting a billion views every month and expanded into football and video games. It was this project that promoted Zion Williamson and Trae Young long before entering the NBA draft. In total, more than $200 million has been invested in the project.

In 2021, Overtime Elite was launched, a professional basketball league for high school basketball players and international players aged 16 to 19. Basketball players can receive $100,000 or reserve this money as a scholarship for future studies. There are no restrictions regarding advertising contracts.

The league resembles a full-fledged sports academy. In Atlanta, a building of almost 10 thousand square meters was built with playgrounds, a gym, classrooms, a canteen and a hydrotherapy room. Everything is thought out to the smallest detail – even the color design of the arena for the most profitable presentation “for a digital audience.” “Overtime” pays for all expenses for accommodation, meals and development of players, along with academic training.

The project’s $80 million funding includes investments from Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, rapper Drake and about two dozen NBA players including Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, Klay Thompson, Trae Young, Pau Gasol and Carmelo Anthony. The last two are also on the league’s board of directors.

The first major sponsor was the isotonic drink manufacturer Gatorade, which has been the main partner of the NBA G-League since 2017 (the league even rebranded, where G stands for Gatorade).

Former NBA Marketing Director Aaron Ryan has taken over as League Commissioner, and former Connecticut Coach Kevin Ollie has become Head of Basketball Coaching and Development.

The young franchise’s first recruits were 17-year-old twins Matt and Ryan Bewley, who are among the top students in the country. Two-meter brothers refused to continue their careers in school and college.

Annually (if not daily) the League recruits the best high school students in the country – got twins Amen and Osara Thompson , Robert Dillingham, Jaden Williams, Bryson Tiller and others. In addition to the American twins, eight scouts track prodigies all over the world – this is how the MVP of the U-17 World Championship and the U-18 European Championship signed Spaniard Isan Almanza . Now there are more than 30 young talents in the league system.

In the first season, three teams participated in the league, in the second it expanded to six. Naming at the top level – among the banal “Bears”, “Falcons” and “Dreamers” you can meet “City Reapers”, “Cold Hearts” and “Holy Rams”.

Teams play against each other, as well as exhibition matches with the best high school teams in the country or just the most media ones – for example, with the Bronnie and Bryce James California basketball club or the Christopher Columbus school with the twins Cam and Kayden Boozer. And last summer, the Overtime team went to exhibition matches in Europe, where they played with the Spanish Girona and the Serbian Mega. Broadcasts and related media content reach over 50 million Overtime audiences through apps, social media and YouTube.

So far, there has been only one product of this system in the NBA draft – last year no one selected Dominic Barlow . But later, the small forward was signed by San Antonio, where he played 28 games in the 2022/23 season.

Summarizing the competitive advantages of preparing for the draft through the Overtime Elite program:

• Infrastructure. All experts note the ultra-modern training conditions created in Atlanta.

• Low age limit. There are no other offers on the market for 16-17-year-old players with the opportunity to study, play basketball and earn money.

• ‘s unique academic program with a 4 to 1 student-teacher ratio offering traditional high school courses as well as life skills training such as financial literacy, social media and other media. Mental health and wellness courses included.

• Contract flexibility. A player can forgo his salary in favor of a guaranteed college scholarship if his basketball career doesn’t work out. At the same time, the player retains the right to monetize his image and name (NIL). Several players have already done this.

“We wanted to find a way to bring together the needs of our business and the needs of the players we covered ,” explained league co-creator Dan Porter.

There are two representatives of Overtime in the top 10 of the upcoming NBA draft – twin forwards Osar and Amen Thompson. Also promising defenders Jezian Gortman and Jaylen Martin showed up for the basketball lottery.

Passive Antagonist or NCAA Still Relying on Tradition

Super-important clarification: Almost all of the young talents of the Ignite and Overtime Elite had several confirmed scholarships from the best colleges in the NCAA system at once, but they voluntarily refused to go down the path of collegiate basketball.

The mission of the NCAA is to train student athletes to excel on the playing field, in the classroom, and throughout life.

Let’s look at the economy of the association in the 2021/22 season. More than a billion dollars were received from two main sources: 940 million for television and marketing rights, plus 198.7 million from ticket sales.

The NCAA includes 90 championships in 24 sports ranging from fencing to bowling, but only five of them are self-supporting: men’s basketball, men’s hockey, men’s lacrosse, wrestling and baseball. Why isn’t American football on the list? The American Football Division I playoffs are run independently – the NCAA receives no revenue. Basketball’s March Madness, on the other hand, feeds almost the entire association – a television contract with CBS Sports alone brings in an average of $ 800 million a year.

A quarter of annual income remains with the NCAA for head office funding and “miscellaneous expenses.”

Approximately 75 percent of the NCAA’s progressive income is distributed to colleges and conferences annually, of which more than half goes to sports funding and scholarships for athletes, insurance, various training grants, and courses.

At the same time, only college employees – administrators and coaches – can receive salaries from “sports funding”. And college basketball revenues can fund other sports like figure skating or field hockey. The NCAA estimates that about half a million non-professional athletes receive support in one form or another.

Only two percent of college football and basketball players have ever played a game in the professional NFL or NBA. In addition, many students who don’t get into the professional leagues don’t get a full education: half of all men’s basketball players on full scholarships didn’t graduate from college.

Revolutionary changes in 2021 related to the ability of players to earn money from advertising deals and sponsorships (NIL) really fixed a lot – according to various estimates, this market will generate about $600 million annually. But there is no special merit of the NCAA – this is the execution of the decision of the Supreme Court.

Also, in connection with antitrust cases against the NCAA, athletes are allowed to receive scholarships of up to $6,000 in “tuition fees” and unlimited benefits directly related to education.

The courts are currently at various stages of compensation for players from income from television rights “which they would receive in a competitive market” and the recognition of athletes as employees under the Fair Labor Standards Act. The fact that every cent must be gnawed out in the courts is not the best advertisement for college basketball.

So what are the benefits of the NCAA then? So far, this is more a reflection of the disadvantages of alternative options for young talents:

• Reputation and tradition . The NCAA is still ahead of the alternative leagues in terms of its visible path to glory. March Madness is still breaking TV records. Playing for Duke or North Carolina is a childhood dream for most high school students.

• Presence of a major television contract . NCAA basketball tournaments this year received the highest television ratings in years. The games of competitors from Ignite and Overtime are almost impossible to watch live, the recordings are mainly on YouTube, the quality of the picture and commentary also suffers.

• Fan base . Young projects have yet to find their fans – most of the games are held in empty stands with a corresponding dull entourage. Zoomers don’t go to basketball, they watch it on their gadgets.

• NCAA is still the best junior tournament. G-League – is and will be a minor league in the NBA, “Overtime” – while closer to the school “Globtrotters”.

More than 85 percent of the players who have entered the upcoming draft are college basketball. The NCAA still has a monopoly on the sports talent market.

Open Finals

The NCAA continues to believe that the ability of players to make money off the image will stop the nasty prospect churn. However, in an October 2021 anonymous survey, more than half of college head coaches and assistants expressed varying levels of concern about the possible impact of Ignite and Overtime on the future of college basketball. Last year, five players from these projects were declared in the draft, this year there are already eight, and next year, more than ten may appear in age.

“NIL hasn’t affected our talent pool,” said Ignite head coach Jason Hart. – If a child wants to go to college, he will go there, no matter what. We are not trying to lure children with money. If you come to us and then get a higher draft number, you will end up making more money than you would have received from advertising in your first year.”

Obviously, the basketball talent market is becoming more competitive – time and money dictate their terms. Obsolete rules will always generate some alternative. Stubbornly ignoring this on the part of the NCAA is ossification and self-deception.

“Joining Ignight is a dream come true” – At the end of May, the top contender for the first pick of the 2024 draft Matas Buzelis signed a contract with a G-League club.

A month earlier, the school’s 2024 class number one Naasir Cunningham became the first Overtime Elite basketball player to forgo his salary in favor of securing a future college opportunity: “This is the best place for my development. Overtime will help me become the best player possible.” .