How to get drafted in the NBA

The NBA Draft Day is just the beginning of a long journey and all the work you put in comes down to this historic event.

In 2019, the New Orleans Pelicans were ranked seventh before the lottery and moved their way up to first with only a six percent chance. They went on to draft Duke's forward Zion Williamson. The Detroit Pistons were the worst team in the 2023 NBA, five less wins than their counterparts and went on to draft at fifth. They not only missed out on drafting Victor Wembanyama, but failed to secure a spot in the top four picks.

Due to a bad NBA combine, Naz Reid went undrafted in the 2019 NBA Draft and was later signed on a two-way contract. He went on to win the 2024 NBA Sixth Man of the Year award and is playing a vital role in Timberwolves playoff run. The fall of Cam Whitmore in the 2023 NBA Draft was also one of the talking points of the draft in recent years.

The dream of many and lived by some is the experience of an NBA Draft Day. The moment you hear your name out loud by the NBA commissioner is when you know you made it.

Eligibility for the Draft

Before you get to be part of the NBA Draft day, there is a basic eligibility criteria that the players have to pass. There are rules for both national and international players who aspire to play in the NBA. They have to be better than most peers at high school which attracts attention from scouts and analysts not only from the NBA teams, but also Division I colleges.

There is an agreement between the NBA and the CBA which requires the players to wait a year after finishing high school. The rule was a result of a surge of high schoolers in the NBA Draft. The association wanted the players to play in better competitions which improves player development and makes them ready for the NBA. The minimum age limit is 19 to declare for the NBA Draft.

There are some top conferences like the SEC, Big-Ten, Big-12, the Pac-12 and the Big East etc. The colleges in these conferences become a statistical hub for a lot of NBA scouts and analysts. Performing well at the Division I level and in the NCAA tournament can enhance a player's draft stock. The other way is to play for a professional basketball team outside of the U.S for a year and then declare for the draft. This is for the players who might have attended high school in the U.S.

International players become eligible for the NBA draft under specific conditions. They must maintain a permanent residence outside the US for at least three years while participating in professional basketball outside the US. They must not have attended a US college previously, and have not completed high school in the US. Additionally, they can express their desire for draft entry in writing to the NBA at least 60 days before the draft.

All players eligible for the NBA Draft are shortlisted by teams and are called for the Draft Combine. The Combine is an athletic test which measures players’ height, weight, wingspan along with other key performance metrics. Shooting drills are also held at the Draft Combine and teams use this information to determine the best fit for their rosters.