Cam Christie’s NIL Price May be Reaching Unaffordable Heights

Cam Christie emerged as the standout freshman in the Big Ten this season, proving himself as one of the top scorers for the 2023-2024 Minnesota Gophers men’s basketball team. Christie’s remarkable debut has put the budding youngster in an advantageous position this offseason.

Today vs the Indiana State Sycamores, Cam will continue to pull on the heart strings of Gopher nation, but the moment Minnesota’s NIT Tournament run ends, it will be other teams and leagues tugging on him from all directions. Not only will head coach Ben Johnson have to fend off other collegiate programs… but the NBA is coming for him too.

The 18-year-old Arlington Heights (IL) native will have options. Whether it’s the allure of NIL opportunities or the potential earnings from an NBA contract, money will undoubtedly factor into Cam’s decision-making, just like it does for the rest of us.

How much will it cost to keep Cam Christie with Gophers?

How much will he cost to keep around, you ask? Last month, it was reported that he’d require at least $10,000 per month. But in his column Sunday morning, longtime local insider Charley Walters (Pioneer Press), says sources are telling him that amount has now skyrocketed to as high as $400,000 per year.

Gophers insiders say it could cost $400,000 a year in name, image and likeness (NIL) compensation to retain freshman basketball star guard Cam Christie.

Charley Walters – Pioneer Press

This season, Christie earned a spot on the All-Freshman Team for the Big Ten. He maintained an average of 11.3 points per game and showcased an impressive 40.4% accuracy from beyond the arc, quickly established himself as one of the premier young talents in the nation.

Max Christie got a twin brother who is even better????

Get Cam Christie to the Lakers 👀👀 pic.twitter.com/I5BDs1Zvzq

— 𝐉𝐚𝐤𝐞 (@SixthManJake) February 7, 2024

The NBA is certainly an option for Christie, too, and likely the biggest threat to losing him. The Athletic recently mocked him as a late first round pick. If those projections were to come true, the draft is probably the biggest threat. The $400,000 amount may seem exaggerated at first. But if Christie were to be drafted in the 1st-round, he’d be guaranteed over $2 million.

Related: Parker Fox ‘Leaning Toward’ Leaving

It’s possible a blue blood with deep pockets comes calling for Cam this offseason, with a $500K offer, or something similar. That could be in play too. But this new price could have more to do with his outlook as a draft prospect, than it does his prospects in the transfer portal.

We’ll soon learn how the NBA scouts feel surrounding Christie’s immediate suitability for the league because it’s already been reported that he will go through the early draft process, which will allow teams to give him an idea of where he will go, before making his final decision.