2026 NBA Draft reaching lowest record since 2003 shows the value of NIL deals

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The 2026 NBA Draft is making history, but not in the way the league would have expected.

For years, the draft has been driven by a steady flow of young talent eager to make the jump to the professional level.

But this time, the numbers are telling a completely different story, one that points directly to a major shift in how players are approaching their careers.

And at the center of it all is the growing influence of NIL deals, which are quietly reshaping the entire draft pipeline.

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2026 NBA Draft sees historic drop in early entrants

As highlighted in Jonathan Givony’s post on X, the numbers behind this year’s draft are impossible to ignore.

“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,” Givony wrote.

The NBA Draft expert added, “That’s the lowest early-entrant total since 2003. College basketball stars are staying in school, overwhelmingly.”

The drop is not just significant, it is historic. From over 300 early entrants just a few years ago to barely crossing 70, the shift signals a major change in how players view the draft.

And while top-tier prospects are still making the jump, the depth of the class is clearly being impacted by decisions made long before draft night.

NIL deals are changing how players approach the NBA Draft

The reasoning behind this shift is becoming increasingly clear across college basketball.

For many players, especially those projected outside the lottery, the decision is no longer just about reaching the NBA as quickly as possible. It’s about timing, security, and long-term value.

NIL deals are now offering college stars guaranteed earnings that can rival or even exceed what late first-round or second-round picks would make in their first professional season.

In some cases, players are earning several million dollars while staying in school, without the uncertainty that comes with non-guaranteed NBA contracts.

That financial security changes everything. Instead of risking a slide into the second round or limited minutes in the G League, players can remain in college, take on larger roles, build their brand, and improve their draft stock for the following year.

It also explains why the middle tier of draft talent is thinning out. Those borderline prospects who once would have declared early are now choosing to wait.

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