Wisconsin guard Nick Boyd's chances in the 2026 NBA Draft improve due to low early entry numbers, with only 71 players declaring compared to 106 last year. This is the lowest total since 2003, influenced by NIL opportunities for collegiate athletes.
After declaring for the 2026 NBA Draft, Wisconsin Badgers guard Nick Boyd's chances are better than ever.
NIL has changed the landscape of college athletics, and this time around, it's given Boyd tremendous odds of being drafted.
The NBA reported that just 71 players have entered the 2026 draft. According to Draft Express' Jonathan Givony, that's down from 106 a year ago. Keep in mind, as many as 363 players entered the draft back in 2021.
Givony notes this sample size of 71 players is the lowest early-entrant total since 2003. Looking at how much money collegiate athletes are getting to stick around and play in college, it makes a ton of sense.
Boyd, 25, is ready to take his game to the next level. He started at Florida Atlantic in the 2020-21 season before transferring to San Diego State and later finished his career at Wisconsin.
NBA teams have no choice but to acknowledge his career highs in points per game (20.7) and field goal percentage (48%). Back in January, Boyd ranked as The Athletic's No. 81 overall prospect in Sam Vecenie's top 100 rankings.
The 2026 edition of the NBA draft takes place from June 23-24 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY.
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Only 71 players have declared for the 2026 NBA Draft, marking a significant decrease from previous years.
The low early entry numbers are largely influenced by NIL opportunities that encourage collegiate athletes to remain in school.
Nick Boyd's chances are enhanced due to the historically low number of early entrants, which is the fewest since 2003.
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This article originally appeared on Badgers Wire: Nick Boyd's NBA draft chances with just 71 early entry candidates