St. John’s Red Storm coach Rick Pitino has given his honest take about the current state of college basketball as a sport. On Tuesday, Dec. 30, Pitino went over his X/Twitter account to upload a long statement, expressing how he feels about the financial implications that impact collegiate hoops nowadays, as opposed to what he has dealt with in the past.
In Pitino’s statement, he dived deep into the budgeting concerns that surround player recruiting and NIL opportunities nowadays. He also felt that college basketball gives more benefits than playing professional basketball, either overseas in Europe or the NBA G-League.
“Everything I’m reading from college coaches is great stuff, but what’s not being said is that it’s no longer college basketball. It’s professional basketball with budgets that rival the Euroleague. So, pros have trade deadlines. The G-league is way below college basketball on a pay scale. Even two-way players are way below. Unfortunately the game I’ve been in for over 40 years no longer exists,” Pitino wrote.
Everything I’m reading from college coaches is great stuff, but what’s not being said, is that it’s no longer college basketball. It’s professional basketball with budgets that rival the Euroleague. So pros have trade deadlines. The G league is way below college basketball on a…
— Rick Pitino (@RealPitino) December 30, 2025
Pitino is currently coaching in the 2025-26 college basketball season for the Red Storm. The team has uncorked an overall record of 8-4 so far, with one victory coming against a Big East conference opponent, the DePaul Blue Demons, by 13 points, 79-66, on Dec. 16. The team recently defeated the Harvard Crimson by a staggering 26 points, 85-59, on Dec. 23, at Carnesecca Arena in Queens, New York.
Rick Pitino Is In His 49th Year As A Head Coach
For a lone individual such as Rick Pitino to speak boldly about the current state of college basketball, it will surely hold weight as he is currently in his 49th year as a head coach in basketball in the 2025-26 campaign.
He is in his third season at the helm of the St. John’s Red Storm, coming into the team in 2023. Besides his illustrious run with the Louisville Cardinals, Pitino has had stints coaching in the NBA with the New York Knicks and the Boston Celtics.
Also Read: “There’s Nothing More Useless Than Preseason Polls”: Dan Hurley Fires Up Rivalry With Rick Pitino After UConn Loses Top Spot to St. John’s
Read More: “Quit the Glazing”: Fans React as Rick Pitino’s St. John’s New Trio Combine for 50 Points in Blowout Win
College Sports Network has you covered with the latest news, analysis, insights, and trending stories in college football, men’s college basketball, women’s college basketball, and college baseball!
