Atlanta Hawks point guard Trae Young’s recent appointment as assistant general manager for the Oklahoma Sooners basketball program has ignited debate across the sports world. The NBA star announced a substantial $1 million donation to his alma mater on Monday, creating a buzz that extends beyond typical alumni contributions.
The donation, reportedly earmarked for NIL funding, positions Oklahoma to potentially enhance its recruiting arsenal in today’s competitive collegiate landscape. Yet beneath the celebratory announcements, skeptics question whether Young’s dual role as NBA player and collegiate administrator reveals a more calculated strategy.
Oklahoma Basketball Hires Trae Young as Assistant GM
In a move that’s becoming more commonplace among college athletics, the Oklahoma Sooners men’s basketball team has hired team alumnus Trae Young as its assistant GM.
BREAKING: Oklahoma Basketball has hired Trae Young as an Assistant General Manager, he announced on @ESPNNBA
Young will also be donating $1M to the Sooners🔥https://t.co/x255fn6BEC pic.twitter.com/Gd8GEAIYm1
— On3 (@On3sports) March 31, 2025
“How does this even work? The dude is a full-time NBA player. Unless the only responsibility of the role is to donate? In that case, they should really change the title,” wrote one fan on social media, articulating a common concern about the practicality of Young’s appointment.
The timing raises legitimate questions about Young’s capacity to fulfill administrative duties while maintaining his professional playing career. With a $215 million Hawks contract and a fresh Jordan Brand deal signed in November 2024, Young’s availability for day-to-day operations appears logistically challenging at best.
Fans Remain Critical Over OU Young Hire
While the overall role of a general manager—or even an assistant GM—is still relatively new in college athletics, fans remain divided over the Sonners’ decision to bring Young onto the staff.
“This is just some weird tax avoidance strategy now clearly,” one fan speculated, reflecting widespread rumors about potential financial motivations. Young’s estimated $43 million annual NBA salary places him in a tax bracket where charitable deductions could yield significant benefits.
Such arrangements where substantial donations coincide with formal appointments have prompted cynicism among observers.
“This seems like an honorary degree. You gimme money, and we’ll give you a b***s*** degree/position. I expect lots more will follow,” noted one particularly skeptical fan, suggesting this could become a blueprint for wealthy athletes seeking tax advantages.
Young, who earned consensus First-Team All-American honors during his 2017-2018 season with the Sooners before being drafted fifth overall, gave his intentions to On3 Sports.
“Today, the game has changed, and with NIL in college basketball, the way it’s changed, it’s, I think, a perfect time for guys to be more involved with the schools that made them who they were,” the former Sooner said.
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“I know for someone like Steph and me, I mean, we represent our schools off the court and in the locker rooms and talk trash all the time. So now to be able to represent even more is going to be even more special.”
As Youg mentioned, he’s not the first NBA star to take a role with his college team. Earlier this year, the Davidson Wildcats welcomed back alumnus Steph Curry, who took over the team’s GM role. In the world of football, the Stanford Cardinal recently brought on former QB Andrew Luck, who made waves by getting rid of football coach Troy Taylor.
While Young frames his involvement as a natural extension of his Sooner pride, the arrangement undeniably provides Oklahoma with valuable star power and financial resources as universities navigate the evolving landscape of collegiate athletics, where player compensation has fundamentally transformed recruitment and retention strategies.
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