UCLA denies $12 million NIL deal reports for Nikola Kusturica

UCLA offensive coordinator and international recruiting specialist Nemanja Jovanovic Jogi has disputed reports claiming that Serbian basketball prospect Nikola Kusturica signed a $12 million NIL deal.

According to Jovanovic, the reported figure—which suggested a two-year package worth approximately $6 million per season—was circulated by competing universities that lost the recruitment battle. He stated that these programs used the figure to explain the loss to their fan bases. While the specific financial terms of Kusturica’s agreement were not disclosed, Jovanovic emphasized that the recruitment was driven by the player's desire to develop into an NBA player and his goal of securing a starting position at UCLA.

Kusturica, a 17-year-old standout, previously played for Barcelona and earned MVP honors at the U18 EuroLeague tournament. His recruitment to UCLA accelerated in April after he decided to finish high school early.