##  Barkley Sounds Alarm: NIL Threatens Future of College Sports

**Former NBA Star Warns Current Model Unsustainable**


Charles Barkley, the legendary basketball player with a net worth of $90 million, is sounding the alarm about the impact of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) on college athletics. While he acknowledges athletes deserve to profit from their talents, he warns that the current system is "totally out of whack and out of control."


**"It's an unsustainable business model," Barkley stated during a recent appearance on the 'Pardon My Take' podcast.**  He criticized the practice of relying on donors like himself for millions of dollars annually to support athletes earning lucrative NIL deals.

Barkley made it clear that he loves his alma mater, Auburn, but won't continue contributing vast sums to a system he believes is broken. 


The NIL landscape has exploded in recent years, with young stars like Texas' Arch Manning, BYU’s AJ Dybantsa, and LSU’s Flau’jae Johnson already securing multi-million dollar valuations before playing a full season.

**Barkley acknowledges that players deserve to make money, even admitting he would have made a fortune under the current NIL system during his NBA career.** However, he expresses concern that the current model is unsustainable, likening it to a perpetual PBS telethon where donors are constantly needed to keep programs running. 


“There’s no business that can pay kids $20 to $30 million a year and survive,” Barkley warned. His fear stems from funneling millions into amateur sports without structured revenue models or salary caps. While he supports athletes' right to profit, Barkley calls for reform before unchecked NIL growth destroys college athletics.


**For Barkley, the goal is to create a fair and sustainable system that benefits both players and the institutions that develop them.**






##  Barkley Sounds Alarm: NIL Threatens Future of College Sports

**Former NBA Star Warns Current Model Unsustainable**


Charles Barkley, the legendary basketb

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Charles Barkley issues stark warning about NIL and the future of college sports