REPORT: Oscar Tshiebwe’s Camp Asked For “$8 Million” NIL Deal to Return Kentucky
On Wednesday, Oscar Tshiebwe officially announced that he would be pursuing his professional dreams and remaining in the 2023 NBA Draft. Prior to his final decision, KY Insider was told that Tshiebwe was truly “torn” between staying in the NBA Draft and returning to Kentucky.
One of the primary reasons Tshiebwe seriously considered a return to Kentucky is due to NIL. Last season, Tshiebwe is reported to have made between $2-3 million dollars in NIL. That number is much larger than the NBA league minimum salary ($1,017,781), which most late second-round picks sign for.
However, for Tshiebwe to return for a final season, the initial asking price was substantially higher. According to a live stream that featured Jack Pilgrim of Kentucky Sports Radio, Tshiebwe’s camp reportedly asked for $8 million dollars in NIL to keep him in Lexington.
Interestingly, John Calipari seemingly refuted those numbers in a tweet on Thursday morning. “There’s so much misinformation out there and most of it we can’t address publicly,” Calipari said. “Numbers being thrown around just aren’t accurate.
In the end, it is clear that both sides found a deal they were okay with should he have returned. Ultimately, Tshiebwe ultimately decided it was best for him to fight for his dream of playing in the NBA.
