Anyone else miss the Armando Bacot era? Part of UNC’s National Championship runner-up squad in 2022, then the 2024 team that earned a top Regional seed and advanced to the Sweet 16, Bacot left Chapel Hill as one of the greatest big men in program history.
Bacot is North Carolina’s all-time leader in rebounds (1,715), offensive boards (593) and double-doubles (87). The Richmond, Va. native went undrafted in the 2024 NBA Draft, signed with the Memphis Grizzles, then played his first professional season with their G League affiliate Memphis Hustle.
Now a member of Maccabi Tel Aviv in the Israeli Premier League, Bacot recently spoke about how much NIL money he earned from playing five seasons as a Tar Heel.
“I had no clue,” Bacot told former North Carolina player Theo Pinson in a recent interview. “I didn’t know what I was doing. Because you go from that to like being a millionaire, that fast. It was crazy because we didn’t realize it. I made $2 million plus. I’m saying that humbly though. That speaks on the brand of Carolina because if I didn’t go to Carolina, these deals with Turbo Tax, all those people, they wouldn’t do with me. If you go to Carolina, you handle business, you go out there and play, somewhat be marketable, it pays. That’s what I’m saying. I could never say a bad word about Carolina. I got life-changing money. I’m from Richmond. I got life-changing money in college just off playing basketball. That’s why I’m forever thankful for Carolina, the brand, because to be able to make over $2 million just in college is crazy.”
NIL money is growing even faster since Bacot left UNC, with former teammate Seth Trimble a prime example. Louisville paid $3 million to land Trimble in the transfer portal, more than the $2 million Bacot made over five seasons.
NIL money and the transfer portal are currently out of control, but they also help change lives like Bacot’s. If Bacot makes an NBA roster in the future, he’ll get even more life-changing money.
