Former Clemson star Brevin Galloway details the positive impact of NIL, talks mental health

Brevin Galloway isn’t just another college athlete who benefitted from NIL. Galloway’s story deals with personal trauma, disappointment, mental health struggles, and perseverance. 

The NIL Deal first spoke with Galloway back in February. That exclusive interview came after the Clemson star suffered an unfortunate injury that resulted in a viral video. The hilarious video from Galloway led to numerous NIL opportunities, including deals with underwear company Shinesty. 

At the time of our first interview, Galloway was inundated with interview requests and sponsorships. When speaking to The NIL Deal, Galloway opened up about the whirlwind series of events and how far he’d come as an athlete and person. Galloway detailed his mental health struggles, as well as the disappointments in a basketball career that saw him play at three different schools. 

With Galloway now done playing college basketball, we wanted to reach back out to see how the former Clemson Tiger is doing. For one, Galloway got married since our last conversation. Recently, the hooper also announced that he signed a deal to play professional basketball in the Lithuanian Basketball League (LKL) for BC Nevėžis. 

Galloway mentioned that he received offers from several teams in several different leagues after the 2023 NBA Draft. 

“Lithuania was the best option for me,” explained Galloway. “I’ll have the opportunity to play point guard, which I’ll be doing for the first time in my career. I’ll really be able to reinvent myself as a basketball player.” 

The way Galloway has been treated off of the court by BC Nevėžis was also a key factor in his decision to sign. 

“They’re taking care of me, my wife, and my two pups. They’re paying for our travel and making sure we have an apartment, making sure we have a car,” said Galloway. “Rookies usually can’t get their own place, so this was a great deal for us.” 

The Galloway family will be heading to Lithuania at the beginning of August. Galloway is already excited about the prospects of living in Europe and helping his team qualify for the FIBA Europe Cup. While things are looking up for Galloway, nothing has come easy. 

“It’s kinda been crazy. The day I signed my contract was very emotional for me,” Galloway explained. “What I had been through in Boston, the injuries, the depression, the suicidal thoughts. I was five minutes away from calling my coach and telling him I quit.” 

Galloway knows that his career could have been entirely different if NIL legislation was never passed. While already an established D-I basketball player, Galloway’s personality further opened doors in the NIL era. 

“It was great to benefit from NIL, especially after a horrific, tragic incident. It’s been a blessing for sure,” the former Tiger explained. “Without NIL, it would’ve just been a funny joke.” Custom t-shirts, commercials, clothing deals, and paid ads are just some of the opportunities presented to Galloway thanks to NIL.

While Galloway has every intention to keep playing basketball for a long time, he already knows which route he wants to go after his playing career. 

“I want to keep making progress in the marketing world because that’s eventually what I want to get into after basketball.” It certainly seems like a logical plan for the tech-savvy athlete. Not only has Galloway benefited financially from NIL, but he may also have found a love for marketing and a post-basketball career. 

Finally, Galloway again opened up on mental health. While many adults are uncomfortable talking about this issue, Galloway is not. The 25-year-old stresses the importance of talking to someone if you feel down or hopeless. 

With so much negativity in the world, it’s nice to see a success story like Galloway’s. Using his platform to encourage others and preach about mental health is one of the many positives presented by NIL legislation. It’s been a wild journey, but Galloway is happy with his spot in life. 

“I look at myself in the mirror and I’m happy with it,” declared Galloway. “Keep persevering. Don’t let other people’s opinions affect your mind.”