When reactive > proactive for NIL deals

The fastest 3 minutes in name, image and likeness

Author

Tariq Ahmad
February 26, 2025

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When reactive > proactive for NIL deals

The fastest 3 minutes in name, image and likeness

Reactive sign and proactive sign (Photo Credit:

Last week, I talked about being proactive when it comes to NIL deals.

A proactive approach will (almost) always be better than a reactive approach for NIL partnerships. (And pretty much most things in life.)

However, there are instances where acting reactively will supplant proactiveness - primarily due to a situation that is presented a certain point in time.

As I was watching college basketball last Saturday, the above instance arose where reactive > proactive

The Situation

As I watched the University of Oklahoma’s men’s basketball team battle Mississippi State, Oklahoma Duke Miles dove for a loose ball.

While he did not recover the ball, he laid on the court while the game was still being played before an eventual whistle called for a stoppage in play.

Trainers came out to check on Miles, and picked up what appeared to be his teeth from the floor. (This was later confirmed - check it out here at your own discretion.)

Miles checked out of the game, then subbed back in late in the second half and hit three crucial free throws to guide the Sooners to victory.

The Reactive Approach

First and foremost, I hope Duke is fine and will fully recover from this freak accident.

It also got me thinking about potential NIL opportunities for him.

  • Dental Care

    • As he had multiple teeth chipped, this is a prime opportunity for a dentist to connect with Duke, assess his situation, and help repair his teeth.

    • Duke can get his smile back, earn a partnership (and some cash), and the dentist/dental office gets some publicity and potential future business.

  • Mouthguard

    • To avoid further oral injuries, partnering with a mouthguard company can be beneficial. (And he can probably get a customized mouthguard that he can earn some commission on by sharing with his social media audience.)

    • Same as above: Partnering why wearing a mouthguard would help reduce future mouth injuries, while the brand gets publicity and potential sales.

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