Former Baylor Bears center Isaiah Austin, who saw his dreams of playing in the NBA abruptly come to a halt this week, has an insurance policy worth at least $1 million, his agent Dwon Clifton confirmed to ESPN.com.
“We will get through this week and then we’ll file the claim and get the ball rolling,” Clifton said.
The 7-foot-1 Austin took out the insurance policy through the NCAA’s elite athlete insurance program. A college basketball player typically pays about $5,000 per million, an insurance industry source said, and an athlete can only collect the amount he is insured for if he has a total disability that ends his career.
A predraft physical found that Austin had Marfan Syndrome, a genetic disorder in which those who have it are discouraged from taking part in strenuous exercise to avoid overtaxing the heart.
Insurance policies that cover career-ending situations usually include a 12-month wait period, as the insurer sees if the athlete can make an attempt to recover. But Austin’s case should be resolved sooner, since there’s little debate of his diagnosis and of doctor’s recommendations.
Clifton said the policy would not have paid out if Austin’s career ended due to his eyesight or his shoulder.
Austin has a prosthetic right eye and had surgery on his shoulder heading into his sophomore season this past fall.
Assuming Austin qualifies, and it is expected he should, he will not have to pay taxes on his insurance payout.
Austin was projected to be a mid- to late-second-round pick in Thursday’s draft.
June 30, 2014 6:58 AM
