The numbers are still swirling, but one thing is clear—Kentucky basketball isn’t shy about flexing its NIL muscles. According to college basketball insider Jeff Goodman, “I'm not sure anyone is gonna touch Kentucky's NIL payroll this season … not even BYU.”
That’s not a small statement. BYU reportedly offered high school phenom AJ Dybantsa over $5 million as a base deal, with another $2 million potentially on the table through NIL endorsements, according to Forbes. But while the Cougars are betting big on one mega-star, Kentucky is playing the long game—and playing it deep.
A different kind of NIL gameplan
Mark Pope and the Kentucky staff chose a different strategy: spread the wealth. Rather than go all-in on one or two headline names, Kentucky distributed their NIL funds more evenly across a versatile, defense-first roster. Denzel Aberdeen, the newest addition from Florida, is rumored to have received around $2 million. And he wasn’t even the highest-profile name the Cats pursued.
That means a lot of guys on this roster are getting paid—and buying into the idea of shared success. Depth over dazzle. Defense over drama. Balanced lineups over big names.
Depth or star power? The NIL philosophy at UK
So how do fans feel about this approach? That depends on whether you believe championships are won with NBA lottery picks or cohesive, seasoned rosters.
On one hand, Pope’s roster-building through NIL shows remarkable discipline and vision. Instead of chasing flash, he’s constructed a group with multiple playable lineups, few glaring weaknesses, and enough athleticism and length to hang with any team in the country.
On the other hand—there’s no true top-five draft pick here. No Zion. No Anthony Davis. No guaranteed lottery picks yet. For a program, and fanbase, used to having the best of the best, that’s a shift.
How it plays out on the floor
With the roster now essentially locked in, the next question becomes how Pope uses all this depth. A nine or ten-man rotation is possible, but managing minutes, egos, and roles is always a challenge—especially when everyone’s NIL check is clearing.
Will Denzel Aberdeen back up Jaland Lowe? Can Jasper Johnson crack the starting lineup? Where does Trent Noah fit? How many minutes will be available for freshmen Malachi Moreno?
Those are all questions for the summer workouts and fall camp. But they’re good problems to have.
The verdict so far: Backed by boosters, built for battles
When Pope took the job, there was skepticism about whether Kentucky’s NIL support would match its blueblood expectations. That doubt is now laughable. “Whatever number Pope needed for NIL would be there,” fans were told—and that’s proven to be 1000% true.
Whether it was Aberdeen, Quaintance, Dioubate, or others, Kentucky landed nearly every piece it wanted. But as always, dollars don’t win titles—defense, chemistry, and execution do. If Pope can connect his roster depth and NIL backing to results on the court, Kentucky’s new era might just be the most balanced, sustainable, and quietly dangerous one in recent memory.
What do you think, BBN? Would you rather spend $7 million on a single star—or $7 million on a lineup that can go 10 deep?