Maccabi Tel Aviv Center Armando Bacot Reveals Life-Changing College Earnings

Armando Bacot, the center for Maccabi Tel Aviv, disclosed in an interview with On3 that he earned over two million dollars during his unusual five-year college basketball career at the University of North Carolina. Bacot was eligible for an extra NCAA season due to playing in a league during the COVID-19 pandemic, allowing him to extend his college tenure. In one season alone, he reportedly earned around $930,000, nearly half of his total college earnings, which far exceeded his professional income.

Throughout his professional career, Bacot earned approximately $950,000, with $450,000 from Fenerbahçe and $500,000 from Maccabi Tel Aviv, plus a modest amount from the Memphis G League team. Bacot was a fan favorite at North Carolina and even appeared in a Netflix series filmed locally. The NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) rules permitting college athletes to receive payment came into effect after Bacot had already played two seasons, suggesting he could have earned even more under current regulations.

This revelation highlights the significant financial impact of recent NCAA rule changes on college athletes, contrasting with Bacot's professional earnings to date.