The Impact of NIL and the Transfer Portal on Individual Player Performance in NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball

Abstract

The implementation of name, image, and likeness (NIL) policies and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) transfer portal has transformed the landscape of collegiate athletics, introducing new opportunities and challenges for intercollegiate athletic departments, teams, coaches, and student-athletes. This study examines the relationship between NIL valuations, transfer status, and individual player performance among NCAA Division I men’s basketball players. Using a linear regression model, data (N=153) from three seasons were analyzed to assess whether NIL valuations and off-season transfer status impacted changes across seasons. The results indicate that NIL valuations, transfer status, and the interaction between them did not have a significant effect on performance, suggesting that these changes may not impact on-court outcomes as has been assumed. The findings and discussion will assist both scholars and practitioners interested in the evolving NIL practices and transfer policies.