A worker had intentions of finding another job if his current employer didn't give him a raise he'd proven he earned. The worker felt like he should be paid more after doing well. We live in a capitalist society, so you would think that something like this would be appreciated. The scapegoat was Miami Hurricanes star Isaiah Wong. The college basketball landscape blew a gasket last week when Wong's agent said that his client wanted a better NIL deal or else. If the NIL number doesn't meet his expectations, he will enter the transfer portal on Friday, keeping his eligibility in the NBA draft. He led his team to the Elite Eight. He wants his NIL to reflect that he was a leader of the team that made it to the Elite Eight. The game had changed and Wong wanted more. It makes sense for dollars. Wong watched as Nijel Pack announced that he was transferring to Miami to be his teammate. One of the main reasons he was moving to Florida was because he had secured a two-year $800,000 NIL deal and a free car from LifeWallet, the same company that Wong has a NIL deal with. Wong's deal is not as sweet.
Miami just finished a run to the Elite Eight. The Hurricanes were the tenth seed in the Midwest region and had to play two ranked teams in their first two games. Who led Miami in scoring in those two games?
In the past two years, Miami has only had one player on their roster that was named All-Conference in back-to-back seasons. His name is Isaiah Wong.
Sounds like he was outplayed by his contract. I only use the term contract because it's what the man is paying.
He has been treated well by LifeWallet, according to the CEO. Wong was under contract and he was against changing it. I can't say how much, but I can say that he was treated fairly.
Things work in a capitalist society. You get a job. Do good work. Ask for a raise. If you get rejected, you can either stay or try to find a better job. Wong became the scapegoat for the NCAA's failure to properly construct the transfer portal and what is and isn't allowable under NIL. After decades of screaming about how corrupt and unfair the NCAA and amateurism are, the first time a college athlete tried to go about getting more in a way that was above board, he got crucified for it.
I keep saying it because Wong said he didn't want this. The statement was made after the backlash happened. He's staying in Miami and won't be moving.
Both sides have made up, as Ruiz said on day one that he would help Wong get other NIL Deals. The crowd of people that once claimed that these athletes deserved a bigger piece of the pie got pissed off when one finally asked for one.
To make things worse, some were concerned about how Wong's decision would affect Miami coach Jim Larranaga, a coach who signed a contract extension in March, and who has been able to land two of the best guards in the country.
If they did anything other than champion Wong for what he may have been, they should be ashamed of themselves. The reaction should have been expected. This is what happens when a group that has been ignored for decades tries to balance the scales. When it's time to make equality happen, people always find a way to object to it. People like ideas more than execution.
Spencer Haywood changed basketball and people were angry that he took his case against the NBA to the Supreme Court. His case opened the door for high school and college players to enter the draft if they wanted to, without having to stay in school for four years. He is one of the most important people in the history of basketball. I hope history remembers him the same way.
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