Jonathan Givony: The NIL era is flipping the NBA Draft on its head. Only 71 players entered the 2026 NBA Draft, per the NBA. Down from 106 last year and a peak of 363 in 2021. That’s the lowest early-entrant total since 2003. College basketball stars are staying in school, overwhelmingly.
Per Jonathan Givony:
The NIL era is flipping the NBA Draft on its head. Only 71 players entered the 2026 NBA Draft, per the NBA. Down from 106 last year and a peak of 363 in 2021. That’s the lowest early-entrant total since 2003. College basketball stars are staying in school, overwhelmingly.
The full picture of how NIL reshaped the NBA Draft.
Early-entry numbers climbed from 2016-2021, peaking at 363 when COVID forced seniors to declare to keep draft eligibility.
Alston hit in June 2021, kickstarting the NIL era. Five years later: 71.