In 2008, former Arizona basketball player Richard Jefferson donated $3.5 million for the UA to build a practice facility, which was named after him. It's one of the best of its kind nationally.
Arizona forward Koa Peat (10) earns a lay-up for the offense during a partially-open practice inside Richard Jefferson Gymnasium, Aug. 12, 2025.
A few months ago, former ASU basketball player James Harden donated an estimated $1 million to the Sun Devils to help fund the school's NIL collective. It drew this reply from Jefferson, now the lead analyst for NBA television coverage on ESPN and ABC:
"Why would you invest your money in something that isn't regulated?," said Jefferson. "You put your money into a pool and you can give a kid a million dollars. The next year, the same kid can jump to another school for $1.1 million. If you want to invest in your school, invest in a practice facility. That's permanent. That helps your school every year. To me, trying to buy players is a waste."
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Arizona Wildcats head coach Tommy Lloyd, right, talks with former Arizona Men's Basketball player Richard Jefferson during Arizona Men's Basketball's Red-Blue game at McKale Center on Sept. 30, 2022.
Harden has been paid $411 million in his long NBA career, according to Spotrac. Jefferson was paid $115 in his 17-year NBA career. So far, ASU has not named anything after Harden.
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