Long before he steps his foot on an NBA court, Airious “Ace” Bailey is making ridiculous money in college basketball.
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The tall man from Rutgers, likely a top-10 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, gets lots of eyes for his game skills and his top Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals that grow his brand fast.
Bailey’s NIL portfolio
Sportskeeda states that Bailey’s NIL is worth somehwere around $1.6 million, one of the top in the country. His great dunks and good scores make him worth a lot, drawing big sponsors and fan groups.
Bailey’s two big NIL links are:
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- Nike: The huge sport brand signed Bailey in late 2024, making him a key young star of the brand.
- Knights of The Raritan: A group at Rutgers that helps student-athletes with deals, fan love, and ads.
This mix of big and local branding helps Bailey get fans all over global social media and at Rutgers too.
Already a big name
Bailey has an average of 17.6 points and got 7.2 rebounds a game in his first year, with a high shot rate of 46%. His 39-point game against Indiana not only made national and international headlines but proved he is among the NBA-level players.
But, his path to the draft had some ups and downs. He missed some team workouts, which got some bad talk but did not hurt his spot much in NBA scout eyes. They still see great potential in him.
What’s Bailey’s worth?
There is no confirmed amount or guess of Bailey’s worth, but hints say his money from NIL and ads could possibly put him over a million dollars, a big thing for a college player.
Financial analysts think that once he reaches a good spot in the NBA, Bailey could make more through:
- A multi-million contract NBA deal
- More ad deals on top of Nike
- New investements, media moves, and social media profit
College players financial present
Bailey’s rise shows the big money shift in college sports made by NIL changes. Players can now make money from their brand while in school. This changes how recruits see college and shifts the basketball money game.
As the NBA Draft awaits, Bailey will likely be a top 10 pick. However, financially speaking, he’s already at the top.
