Milan Momcilovic withdraws from the 2026 NBA Draft

[t-noah]

I will care zero about Milans NBA career after he ends up at UK. Tyrese stayed a Cyclone

I’d certainly take the money. But I would also do so with the realization that I’ve burned the bridge back to Ames in the future. That’s the loss in all this transfer stuff. We’re losing the connection to players to come back in the future to be welcomed back as Cyclones.

And if I took the money and had a game scheduled in Hilton, I’d also expect to be booed and criticized for being a traitor. But that’s what comes with being a mercenary.

You guys are being a bit hypocritical, and I'm not just talking about you two. It's the way things are right now, college sports, transfers, the highest bidder. It sucks but Milan is doing what is right for him, and most of you all know it. And it was Milan's particular circumstance. He didn't leave us dry, He and TJ talked this over and came to an understanding. TJ was prepared and allowed to go and get the transfers that he needed, w/o Milan.

Milan did not let Iowa State or Ames down. Sure, it would be nice for Milan to leave a s a Cyclone but in his shoes, 95% of you would do the same thing.

 

[t-noah]

Can you justify why you’re hating on a player (making money that they can) vs. hating on the manipulation of collegiate sports over the last 20-30 years by the likes of ESPN and FOX along with Big10 and SEC pressuring to gain advantages at the expense of the Big12, PAC-12 and ACC?

10 years ago Milan would have played at ISU his entire collegiate career.

Yes. If we blame anybody, blame this.

 

[drmwevr08]

If you hate Audi, but justify Rocco and Milan, its either racial,sexist or a distain of a body shape. Theyre all the same turncoats for cash.

I'd say fairly so, but yes.

 

[Cy Hard]

All I can say is way too many hurt feelings both ways. In the end we’re all indifferent. Some too pissed he didn’t finish here, some pissed he’s entitled to his pay day. Both are right and really the same, some are just more polite about it. All of them that left, no one blames them but at the same time it is absolute truth they will not be recognized as a Cyclone after their career. ***** and moan or cheer them on doesn’t matter, they’re not us either way.

 

[xr4ticlone]

This was IMHO always going to happen.
Agents knew where he was going to land in the nba. His ‘strong desire to play in the nba’ was more about letting us all down without smacking us in the face.

TJ knew, MM knew. We heard the $$$ and knew we weren’t gonna throw that at him. Nothing close to $5-$7m. Hell, even the NBA isn’t gonna spend that on him.

I’m not mad. Frankly, he’s a damn good shooter, a solid dude, and a decent defender. But he’s not irreplaceable.

No way would I pay that for MM.

And imho he’s not gonna be a top pay guy in the nba ever. I don’t think he’s gonna improve next year, odds are he won’t have the same or better 3pt % next year.

He’s not super crafty, he’s got average athletics & quickness…that’s not changing.

IMHO he’s too slow for an nba 3, too small / unathletic to guard the 4. He’s gonna be a low/mid pay guy as a role player.

Hope he makes a killing…I won’t hate on him if I see him in Ames again one day. But he’ll never be a true cyclone.

 

[ribsnwhiskey]

**** this guy. I hope he has a **** season and never sniffs the nba. Fraud.

 

[Klubber]

This was IMHO always going to happen.
Agents knew where he was going to land in the nba. His ‘strong desire to play in the nba’ was more about letting us all down without smacking us in the face.

TJ knew, MM knew. We heard the $$$ and knew we weren’t gonna throw that at him. Nothing close to $5-$7m. Hell, even the NBA isn’t gonna spend that on him.

I’m not mad. Frankly, he’s a damn good shooter, a solid dude, and a decent defender. But he’s not irreplaceable.

No way would I pay that for MM.

And imho he’s not gonna be a top pay guy in the nba ever. I don’t think he’s gonna improve next year, odds are he won’t have the same or better 3pt % next year.

He’s not super crafty, he’s got average athletics & quickness…that’s not changing.

IMHO he’s too slow for an nba 3, too small / unathletic to guard the 4. He’s gonna be a low/mid pay guy as a role player.

Hope he makes a killing…I won’t hate on him if I see him in Ames again one day. But he’ll never be a true cyclone.

Decent defender is probably a stretch. He went from being a really bad defender to being an average at best defender during his time at ISU IMO.

 

[CySmurf]

1. The college sports system now sucks for the fan that expects loyalty from every player that starts their career at their favorite university.
2. It's been great for the players that are getting huge sums of cash now. A far cry from putting cream cheese on your bagel being an NCAA violation back in the day.
3. I can't change #1.
4. Because of that, don't expect me to pony up my hard earned money to a kid, just to see them leave to play somewhere else now.
5. I enjoy college sports...but the greed and love of money is eroding the sport to the point that if something doesn't change, many people who love college sports will walk away from watching and will spend their entertainment dollars elsewhere.

 

[CySmurf]

You guys are being a bit hypocritical, and I'm not just talking about you two. It's the way things are right now, college sports, transfers, the highest bidder. It sucks but Milan is doing what is right for him, and most of you all know it. And it was Milan's particular circumstance. He didn't leave us dry, He and TJ talked this over and came to an understanding. TJ was prepared and allowed to go and get the transfers that he needed, w/o Milan.

Milan did not let Iowa State or Ames down. Sure, it would be nice for Milan to leave a s a Cyclone but in his shoes, 95% of you would do the same thing.

Being angry at a player is really more about being angry at the state of college sports in general right now.

 

[ClonesTwenty1]

Disagree about the Cyclone part. He will always be a Cyclone. He spent his first 3 formative years of collge ball in Ames. You can't take that away.

I can't blame him for trying to go NBA. Now he will try to pick a team to play with, make some $ with these stupid rules and prepare himself for the NBA in 1-2 years.

I actually will somewhat disagree with this. Say he ends up at Kentucky. When/if he makes the NBA his college will be listed as “Kentucky” under his name every time. They always pick the last school they attended. Was he a Cyclone? Yes. Will he be a Cyclone in the eyes of most? No.

 

[FinalFourCy]

1. The college sports system now sucks for the fan that expects loyalty from every player that starts their career at their favorite university.
2. It's been great for the players that are getting huge sums of cash now. A far cry from putting cream cheese on your bagel being an NCAA violation back in the day.
3. I can't change #1.
4. Because of that, don't expect me to pony up my hard earned money to a kid, just to see them leave to play somewhere else now.
5. I enjoy college sports...but the greed and love of money is eroding the sport to the point that if something doesn't change, many people who love college sports will walk away from watching and will spend their entertainment dollars elsewhere.

He would not be at ISU next year even without being able to pay players.

He’d stay in the draft

 

[madguy30]

Fans do for bragging purposes, young players pay attention to the coach and the program. Older players that aren’t first round drafts, pay attention to the dollars. College athletics is all business now.

When wasn't it?

 

[madguy30]

Y’all missing the point. College athletics is a business now. Tamin is the last of a kind. Everyone should expect that a player that just played for ISU could very well play for a conference opponent next year. You can boo them all you want, but loyalty is dead and gone.

I really loved seeing an ISU team gel over the years and getting to know players and seeing them develop and improve over their career. That sh*t is gone. Today’s game is winning the natty with all starting transfers. I hate it and it’s reality. The good news is that we’re clearly progressing as a society.

There are Cyclone legends that played only one or two seasons after transferring in, went early to the draft, etc.

This idea that players were carved in stone to be at a school for four years and love every second of it is a fantasy.

 

[Cymark86]

**** this guy. I hope he has a **** season and never sniffs the nba. Fraud.

Sounds reasonable. If he was your kid, what would your advice be? Take half of what your worth just so fans like you can feel good about themselves and call you a “true cyclone”. Pretty sad from some of our fans. Good luck to Milan, where ever he lands.

 

[Cyinthenorth]

I think if people paid attention to that, maybe but I'm not sure they do now.

Fans of the respective schools sure as hell do. Might be petty, but that is sports Fandom for you.

 

[Kettes]

**** this guy. I hope he has a **** season and never sniffs the nba. Fraud.

User name checks out. Sleep this one off, buddy. Tomorrow's another day.

 

[madguy30]

Sounds reasonable. If he was your kid, what would your advice be? Take half of what your worth just so fans like you can feel good about themselves and call you a “true cyclone”. Pretty sad from some of our fans. Good luck to Milan, where ever he lands.

Why do you hate the Lincoln Way Hy-Vee?

 

[Cyclad]

I’d certainly take the money. But I would also do so with the realization that I’ve burned the bridge back to Ames in the future. That’s the loss in all this transfer stuff. We’re losing the connection to players to come back in the future to be welcomed back as Cyclones.

And if I took the money and had a game scheduled in Hilton, I’d also expect to be booed and criticized for being a traitor. But that’s what comes with being a mercenary.

I totally agree with what you say, but I could tolerate a lot of Boos for $7M.

 

[Cyclad]

Y’all missing the point. College athletics is a business now. Tamin is the last of a kind. Everyone should expect that a player that just played for ISU could very well play for a conference opponent next year. You can boo them all you want, but loyalty is dead and gone.

I really loved seeing an ISU team gel over the years and getting to know players and seeing them develop and improve over their career. That sh*t is gone. Today’s game is winning the natty with all starting transfers. I hate it and it’s reality. The good news is that we’re clearly progressing as a society.

I assume you meant regressing.

 

[Clonehomer]

Y’all missing the point. College athletics is a business now. Tamin is the last of a kind. Everyone should expect that a player that just played for ISU could very well play for a conference opponent next year. You can boo them all you want, but loyalty is dead and gone.

I really loved seeing an ISU team gel over the years and getting to know players and seeing them develop and improve over their career. That sh*t is gone. Today’s game is winning the natty with all starting transfers. I hate it and it’s reality. The good news is that we’re clearly progressing as a society.

So what’s the draw for watching CFB and CBB over the NFL and NBA? If they are all running a pure business model now, with the pro leagues being much more organized, what’s the draw for college athletics? These players have no real affiliation with the school now. If they are taking classes, most are virtual anyways. The cost of attending games isn’t that different anymore.

So if college doesn’t have what made it special as you got to see players come in as freshmen and see their growth, why not just go watch actual professional sports?