Tom Izzo is one of the most open and opinionated coaches that college basketball has to offer, so when the NIL and transfer portal eras kicked off, he wasn't afraid to share his thoughts.
The Hall of Fame head coach seemed to have a difficult time adjusting to the new era of college athletics where money was more prevalent (at least no longer behind the scenes) than it had been for the first couple of decades of his career. He has since adapted, working more in the transfer portal to address needs, and using NIL to his advantage in certain situations.
Player retainment has become more difficult, so when Magic Johnson spoke to the media on Saturday during a visit to Michigan for his car show to honor his father, that came up.
Magic spoke candidly to Owen Oszust of WILX 10 about why Izzo's job has become so hard.
"It's so hard for him to enjoy it because his heart and soul is in it," Magic said. "When you recruit a player so hard and then you know that you're good for him and he's good for you, and then somebody comes and offers him some crazy amount of money, then he goes, he chooses that school instead of Michigan State. Or, you develop a player, and then two years later, somebody comes and offers him some crazy amount of money, then he decides to leave. I can see how that can tear (Izzo) apart."
Magic is right. Izzo has been doing things the right way for as long as he's been coaching and he's done it by the book, so when money gets thrown around, he's out of his element.
It's not like Michigan State doesn't have the money, but he has to pick and choose his battles. What's worth throwing money at? If you develop a player for 2-3 years, and then he wants to go somewhere else (Xavier Booker, Tre Holloman), it takes a lot out of you as a coach. He's now learning that he has to recruit his current players. It never stops.
The Spartan legend went on to say that he hopes Izzo doesn't lose his passion for the game, but he understands how that could happen.
Hopefully he sticks around to win No. 2.