The hits keep coming for FSU sports over the past year. This latest news about six former basketball players suing FSU basketball coach Leonard Hamilton isn't the story Yahoo Sports is attempting to put out there once you read through the article.
In a landmark filing, six former FSU basketball players are suing Seminoles coach Leonard Hamilton over $1.5 million in unpaid NIL cash they say he promised them.
— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) December 30, 2024
The complaint details a team-wide boycott of a practice last season over the payments.https://t.co/1CFVshawH5
Ironically, Jamir Watkins, the best player from last year's team by far, isn't part of the lawsuit. Watkins left FSU to test the waters of the NBA Draft before deciding to return to FSU for the 2024-25 season. He continues to lead the team in scoring, just like last year.
There were no written contracts, and Leonard Hamilton never wrote or even sent a text message regarding NIL promises. Sure, verbal contracts are binding in court, but the coaches can't pay players, that money comes from the NIL Collective. In this case, it would be Rising Spear, not The Battle's End, which handles all football-related stuff.
Fan Reaction
Slimy lawyer money grab attempt. Weak one at that.
— Lanny Day (@LannyDay5) December 30, 2024
the bright side in this scenario is no way they retain hamilton after this
— Mary 🤍 (@FSUStan4L) December 30, 2024
Alright Rising Spear, time for you to go away and stop embarrassing the university
— SkotD (@SkotDuran) December 30, 2024
This is kinda stunning and explains the ‘WTH’ nature of last season https://t.co/IgcTRsRKh7
— Joel (@jsramos04) December 30, 2024
Ham has to go, simply because Jalen Warley isn’t worth $25K, much less a quarter of a million https://t.co/amJwrWbDVS
— Kyle Meredith (@kmeredith22) December 30, 2024
Why are the players suing the coach who couldn't pay them out of his pocket anyway? As far as Hamilton, it's the final year of his contract. I have always thought he wouldn't receive an extension at his age and how the last few years have gone under his watch.
These players likely have no money to fight this in court. I could see this dragging out for a long time and them dropping the suit or settling for a fraction of what they are asking for unless they can get someone to testify against Hamilton on their behalf.
Either way, it's another instance of how NIL is ruining college sports. I find it hard to believe these caliber of players would get 250K, because all six were terrible last year.