NBA hopefuls declaring early for draft dwindles as some NCAA stars choose NIL

The NBA has announced 71 players have filed as early entry candidates for the draft in June – reportedly the smallest number of players in more than two decades . Yet, just five years ago, the NBA announced 363 players had filed as early entry candidates – reportedly the highest number in league history. And the numbers have dipped every year since then.

There’s little mystery behind the trend. The Name Image and Likeness (NIL) era began in July 2021, allowing college athletes to cash in like never before. Clearly, it’s made staying in school more appealing for players not guaranteed to be picked high enough – or at all – during the two-round NBA draft that determines a rookie's salary.

The year's draft will be held June 23-24. Last year, Cooper Flagg , by virtue of getting picked No. 1 overall in the 2025 NBA Draft , was guaranteed a four-year deal worth more than $62 million, according to spotrac.

Getting picked No. 30, the last pick of the first round, guaranteed a four-year deal worth $14 million, according to spotrac. By contrast, not all second-round picks are guaranteed contracts.