As the NIL deals round out the new landscape for collegiate students, an NBA veteran is getting his collegiate flowers after his professional basketball career.
Former NBA guard J.R. Smith officially has a name, image, and likeness deal as a collegiate athlete. According to reports, Smith has taken his freshman golfer status to new heights while a student at North Carolina A&T.
New NIL Rules
Smith has signed a deal with Excel Sports Management for his NIL representation.
The 36-year-old, who recently began his second semester in college, is now earning endorsement opportunities under the NCAA’s new name, image, and likeness parameters. According to reports, Smith’s agent, Lance Young, revealed that interest for Smith has been significant for NIL opportunities.
Young Again
Although Smith earned over $90M during his NBA career, he is letting the NIL world open for business as a college student. Smith played high school basketball at New Jersey basketball powerhouse Saint Benedict’s Preparatory School in Newark.
He entered the NBA out of high school after being selected in the first round of the 2004 NBA draft. Smith was the 18th overall pick by the New Orleans Hornets.
He has also played for the Denver Nuggets, New York Knicks, and the Zhejiang Golden Bulls of the Chinese Basketball Association. Smith has won two NBA championships, with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016 and the Los Angeles Lakers in 2020.
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