LeBron James has finally decided where he is going to play next season, but the salary of the four-time NBA champion is even less than that of Kentucky’s Milan Momcilovic. This prompted interesting reactions from college basketball fans.
James, one of the greatest players the NBA has ever seen, has agreed to sign a two-year, $8 million contract with a player option to join the Philadelphia 76ers. His 2026-27 season earnings are going to be just $3.88 million, which is way less than what Kentucky is paying Momcilovic, with his NIL valuation at $6 million (per On3).
Fans on X used this stark difference as a means to mock Kentucky’s program for overpaying.
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“Kentucky is known to overpay. Can’t win with a 22 million dollar roster,” one fan wrote.
“A college kid out-earning a billionaire by $2.12 Million,” one fan remarked.
“Milan will be the highest paid NIT participant of all time,” another wrote.
“So Milan’s cash flow is basically a cheat code for the rest of us, while LeBron is still stuck in the Lakers‑only DLC. 🤯,” one fan added.
However, one must note that LeBron James signing that deal isn’t a true reflection of his value. The chase to win his fifth ring with a superteam is what has apparently encouraged him to sign such a low-figure deal in the first place.
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Where Kentucky’s Milan Momcilovic’s $6M NIL Valuation Stands Among the Rest of CBB Players
Kentucky forward Milan Momcilovic is tied for the highest-valued men’s college basketball player and sits No. 2 among all college athletes, according to On3’s NIL earnings rankings.
He falls behind Miami Hurricanes quarterback Darian Mensah, who carries a $6.5 million NIL valuation.
After withdrawing from the 2026 NBA draft, Milan Momcilovic entered the transfer portal. Kentucky, which has had its disappointments in March Madness over the last few years, aggressively pursued him and assembled a lucrative NIL package for him.
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The Wisconsin native had a great junior season with Iowa State, where he shot 50.6% from the field and led the nation by shooting 48.7% from 3-point range. He averaged 16.9 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 1.0 assists per game.
Kentucky sees huge value in him, and that’s why Milancilovic will carry a heavy pocket around.
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Milan Momcilovic Already Leads Summer Rankings in Key Metric as He Makes Impressive Kentucky Start
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