The world of college sports money just got even wilder, because Texas Longhorns junior David Punch is reportedly pulling in a staggering $4 million in NIL deals. That’s a number that makes you double-take, especially when you start stacking it up against what NBA rookies are earning. It really puts the “L” in Longhorns for “lucrative” this season, and it’s clear these players are raking in serious cash.
Texas Bringing the Multi-Million Dollar Flex
The Longhorns men’s basketball team is hoping for a major resurgence, and a lot of that hype is riding on transfer sophomore Isaiah Johnson and freshman Marcus Spears Jr., who’s the No. 1 recruit in the Class of 2026. Both these guys carry some serious athletic pedigree, and yep, that translates to massive dollar figures. Spears Jr. is the son of former Dallas Cowboys player Marcus Spears and former Washington Mystics player Aiysha Smith. Talk about some serious athletic genes. Johnson isn’t slouching either, with his parents playing at Texas A&M-Kingsville and UTRGV, and get this: he’s the godson of three-time NBA champion Dwyane Wade! With that kind of star power, you know the NIL numbers are going to be wild.
Johnson reportedly has an NIL value of $3.5 million, which puts him at No. 27 among all college athletes, according to On3’s NIL tracker. Spears Jr.’s numbers are a bit varied, with On3 estimating his NIL value at $1.3 million, while The NIL Standard pegs it at $2.28 million. But here’s the kicker, folks: even with those massive deals, neither of them holds the top NIL spot on the Texas roster. That distinction belongs to junior David Punch, who’s rocking a cool $4 million price tag.
How Does That Stack Against NBA Rookies?
So, with college guys making millions, the big question is: how close are they to NBA money? The San Antonio Spurs have a couple of rookies who’ve just inked their first professional deals. Jayden Quaintance, the No. 20 overall pick, signed a four-year contract worth $18.9 million. That breaks down to an average annual salary of $4.72 million. Tarris Reed Jr., picked No. 26 overall, got a four-year deal for $15.8 million, averaging out to $3.9 million annually.
When you look at those figures, it’s clear the Longhorn stars, like Johnson and Spears Jr., are pulling in way more cash than your average college student. We’re talking life-changing money. But when you stack them directly against a full-time NBA player right out of the draft, there’s still a noticeable gap. David Punch’s $4 million NIL deal gets him pretty darn close to Reed Jr.’s average annual salary, which is insane. Still, Quaintance’s $4.72 million annual average shows that the pros still hold the crown for now.
The Longhorns are set to hit the court against Baylor this Sunday, November 15, at the Frost Bank Center. You gotta wonder if the numbers on their jerseys are the only big digits fans will be talking about. This new era of college ball is wild, and it’s only getting started!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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