College Stars Are Skipping the NBA Draft, and NIL Is the Reason Why!
The 2025 NBA Draft is already making headlines, not for who’s entering, but for who’s staying out. Only 106 players declared early for this year’s draft, the lowest number since 2015. Just four years ago, that figure stood at a staggering 363. This isn’t due to a lack of talent or ambition. It’s because college athletes, for the first time in history, no longer need the NBA to start making money. This is the true impact of the NCAA’s Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) era – and it’s reshaping the future of basketball.
What Is NIL?
NIL stands for Name, Image, and Likeness – a policy shift by the NCAA in 2021 that allows college athletes to earn money through brand deals, endorsements, personal appearances, and even social media monetization. Unlike previous eras where players had to wait until an NBA paycheck, today’s college athletes are building lucrative brands from dorm rooms and practice courts.
For top-tier college basketball players, NIL has removed the financial urgency that once forced early entry into the draft. Athletes who might have been late first-round or second-round picks, where contracts are less secure and salaries are modest, are now realizing they can stay in school, develop their game, and still earn big. In some cases, they’re making more than NBA rookies at the bottom of the draft.
NIL vs. NBA Rookie Money: A Changing Math
Consider the comparison. A player drafted in the late first round of the NBA typically earns between $2 million and $2.5 million in their first year. But that figure can be deceiving when you factor in taxes, agent fees, and cost of living in major cities.
Also Read: Jimmy Butler Says He’s Ready to “Die” for Stephen Curry and Co.
Meanwhile, some of college basketball’s biggest stars – like Duke’s Cooper Flagg – have NIL valuations exceeding $4 million. These aren’t just theoretical numbers. Players are signing real deals with major brands, building personal brands, and gaining national exposure without turning pro.
Staying in school now offers the best of both worlds: competitive basketball at the highest amateur level and the kind of financial stability that used to be exclusive to the NBA.
What It Means for the NBA
This shift is good news for the league, too. NBA franchises have long grappled with drafting young players who weren’t ready for the demands of the pro game. Now, they’re more likely to get seasoned athletes with stronger fundamentals and mental preparation. The development pipeline is improving, and it starts with NIL.
A New Era Has Arrived
The NIL era is doing what the old system never could: empowering athletes to make the best long-term decisions for their careers. Fewer early draft entrants isn’t a red flag, it’s a sign of progress. College basketball is no longer just a stepping stone. For many, it’s a viable destination in itself.
As 2025’s draft class takes shape, it’s clear that the game has changed. And for players, coaches, teams, and fans alike, that change looks like a win.
EN 
ES