Who Goes and Who Gets Paid: How NIL Is Reshaping the 2026 NBA Draft
Why draft projections, transfer movement, and NIL money are redefining early-entry decisions
Stay or go?
That decision is hanging over the top tier of men’s college basketball now that the early entry window for the 2026 NBA Draft closed on April 24. But declaring isn’t the final step it once was. Prospects can still go through workouts, collect feedback from teams, and ultimately pull their name out before the withdrawal deadline without sacrificing college eligibility.
That in between space has become the real power play.
Some players are juggling both worlds by entering the transfer portal while exploring their draft stock. Others are opting out of the process altogether. And with NIL deals exploding in value, especially for players projected outside the lottery, the calculus has shifted dramatically.
This isn’t just a basketball decision anymore.
It’s financial strategy.
There are even unverified reports suggesting that Flory Bidunga secured a $6 million NIL deal after moving from Kansas Jayhawks men’s basketball to Louisville Cardinals men’s basketball. Whether that number is exact or exaggerated, it underscores a larger truth: for many prospects, returning to school can now outpay turning pro.
And that shift is already leaving its mark on the 2026 draft class.
The Pre-Draft Landscape
We’re just weeks away from the NBA Draft Lottery on May 10, followed immediately by the Combine in Chicago. For many prospects, preparation is already underway — workouts, interviews, and skill development after weeks of inactivity following postseason exits.
Meanwhile, the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament recently wrapped up, giving upperclassmen one last chance to perform in front of scouts and potentially earn invites to the G League Elite Camp.
But not everyone is moving forward.
Some are stepping back.
