Former Bradley Braves star, now in the NBA, returns to Peoria

Minimum salary for an NBA player with zero years of experience accrued is $1.3 million in 2026. Yet the man visiting Bradley on Wednesday was the same as ever, rich in humbleness and the same soft-spoken, good guy.

The booming NCAA transfer portal

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) rebounds the ball against Golden State Warriors forward Malevy Leons (33) in the fourth quarter at the Chase Center on April 9, 2026.

Leons has marveled at seeing nearly half the NCAA Division-I basketball players jump into the transfer portal in 2026, and the escalating money being paid out to play.

Wardle has been calling college basketball a professional game for two years now as the money and player movement grows.

"Insane," Leons said. "I left at the right time. Well, maybe (laughing). I think it's great for the guys to get these opportunities and make that much money. But it's sad, too.

"They stay one year, then they leave, they never get a chance to build relationships, to build a history with teammates and coaches and a program. You probably barely know everyone's name by the time you leave."

Would he transfer in today's game?

"For $10 million," Leons said, laughing. "That would be the price. That's what guys are making right now."

Leons was asked about former teammate Demarion Burch's transfer to bitter rival Illinois State in this 2026 portal season, and whether he'd ever imagine a situation where he'd do the same.

"Not even for that $10 million," Leons said. "I don't understand it. I mean .. well … for me, I just wouldn't transfer to Illinois State, or to any other Missouri Valley Conference team. If I was going to transfer, it would be far away as possible."

Golden State Warriors forward Malevy Leons (33) shoots over Washington Wizards forward Anthony Gill (16) during the second half at Capital One Arena on March 16, 2026.

What to know about championship rings

Did Leons get a championship ring from Oklahoma City in 2024-25?

"I had to decline it," he said, grinning. "In the NBA when you get a championship ring, you have to pay tax on the value of it. I couldn't afford it. It's an interesting situation. If you get a ring, you have to sign paperwork that says you can't sell it. I wouldn't want to sell it anyway."

Walking in a Warrior

Golden State Warriors forward Malevy Leons (33) steals the ball from Los Angeles Lakers guard Bronny James (9) in the third quarter at the Chase Center on April 9, 2026.

Leons remembers the moment he was signed in December by Golden State and walked into the Warriors locker room for the first time, a bit star-struck.

"When the Warriors called I packed my bags right away and got there," Leons said. "It's been great. I walked in and saw them, Draymond Green, Stephen Curry, Al Horford, Gary Payton (II) … seeing players like that, guys who played at the highest level and done it all. Getting to meet them, they all are just awesome guys.

"It's one thing to see them on TV, but to be with them, in person, see how they are on a daily basis. All of them have been taking me under their wing, helping me out."

A moment to remember

Leons said his first practice with the Warriors brought home some lessons he learned at Bradley under Wardle.

"Coach Wardle always talked about player-led teams here," Leons said. "So I'm at my first NBA practice with the Warriors, and it's the most player-led team I've ever seen. Everyone was talking, coach (Steve Kerr) was almost just conversating with the players, like 'What are we going to do?' Seeing how everyone had accountability, how they talked through every situation, worked out what they wanted to do. I felt like a lot of what I learned here at Bradley carried with me to the NBA."

Bradley's Malevy Leons, right, and Drake's Tucker DeVries chase a loose ball in the second half Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023 at Carver Arena. The Braves defeated the Bulldogs 73-61.

Malevy and KD

Leons was asked to recall a moment when he found himself up against a legendary NBA player. He chose a sequence against Kevin Durant.

"I guarded him really well for one possession," Leons said, laughing. "Then he like, shot one in, then hit a fadeaway, then a mid-range jumper."

Leons message to the Braves

Bradley's Duke Deen, middle, holds a sign proclaiming the Braves' Missouri Valley Conference championship as he and his teammates celebrate their 73-61 victory over Drake in the regular-season finale Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023 at Carver Arena.

Wardle invited Leons to address the players and coaches on Wednesday. He was asked what he would say to the batch of new players coming in for the 2026-27 season.

"Go in with an open mind," Leons said. "Whatever you did before, and wherever you did it, doesn't really matter anymore. Just enjoy it here, be close to each other, because (in today's portal-influenced system) this team might only be together once. You just don't know what will happen beyond that.

"So you have to make the most of it. You can't waste any of it."

It's Timoty time

Bradley's Timoty van der Knaap is all smiles as he leaves the court at the end of the overtime period Monday, Feb. 9, 2026 at Carver Arena in Peoria.. The Braves defeated the Belmont Bruins 95-84 in overtime.

Bradley junior forward Timoty van der Knaap is working on upsizing in this offseason.

He came to BU as a 180-pound freshman. He played at about 205 last season. In 2026-27, his goal is to build up to playing at 225. He's already reached 217.

He's working with director of sports performance maestro Eddie Papis, and he's excited to see the haul of new players brought in by the coaching staff.

"We are bigger, taller and stronger," van der Knaap said. "We have some older guys coming, smart guys who know how to play. We're getting some guys who play as pros back home or come from great programs."

The 6-foot-8 forward is also preparing for a key role.

"I have to show the way and how we do stuff here," van der Knaap said.

Asked about the transfer of Burch to Illinois State, van der Knaap said, "He's still a brother to me. We were together two years here. But it shocked me. I did not expect that."

van der Knaap was happy to see Leons on the Hilltop. It brought back memories to a visit two years ago.

"I love Mally," van der Knaap said. "On my visit here back in 2023, he was one of the first guys I met. My dad was with me, and he's Dutch, so he met Malevy and they had a great conversation, two guys from the Netherlands.

"Having him here and practicing with us, I'm grateful for that."

Dave Eminian is the Journal Star senior writer and sports columnist, and covers Bradley men's basketball, the Rivermen and Chiefs. He writes the Cleve In The Eve sports column for pjstar.com. He can be reached at deminian@pjstar.com. Follow him on X.com @icetimecleve.

This article originally appeared on Journal Star: NBA player comes back to Peoria to visit Bradley basketball team