Value is different. In college he’s a top 30-50 player which makes a huge impact on a tourney run, ie money. In the nba he (and #8 pick) have limited value relative to the league and team revenue (in that year only).
Milan Momcilovic received an NIL package over $6.5 million from Kentucky after winning a bidding war against Louisville and Arizona.
Momcilovic, projected as an early 2nd-round pick, will make more than the No. 8 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.
The power of the new NIL era.