The NBA announced today that 71 players have filed as early entry candidates for the 2026 NBA draft, the lowest total since 2012 with 66. Since NIL has gone into effect, this number has decreased every season.
In continuance with this thread from last season
NIL has given NCAA underclassmen a reason to remain in school and no longer get to the NBA as quickly as possible.
With 71 early entry candidates, the NBA Draft has seen this pool continue to decrease with each passing year since the inception of NIL.
2010 NBA Draft - 103
2011 NBA Draft - 89
2012 NBA Draft - 66
2013 NBA Draft - 77
2014 NBA Draft - 75
2015 NBA Draft - 91
2016 NBA Draft - 162
2017 NBA Draft - 182
2018 NBA Draft - 236
2019 NBA Draft - 233
2020 NBA Draft - 205
2021 NBA Draft - 353
NIL begins on July 1, 2021
2022 NBA Draft- 283
2023 NBA Draft - 242
2024 NBA Draft - 195
2025 NBA Draft - 106
2026 NBA Draft - 71