College basketball was the overarching theme of the first round of the 2026 NBA draft.
The first 20 players selected Tuesday all played in college, which was the most to begin a draft since 1994. The only players picked who didn’t play college basketball were international prospects Karim López and Sergio de Larrea.
That marks a drastic shift from only a few years ago. The 2024 draft saw eight players selected in the first round who didn’t play in college, with four of the first six picks playing internationally or for the G League Ignite.
Players being able to benefit from their NIL and be paid directly by their schools as a result of the House v. NCAA settlement is the primary reason for the sudden change. AJ Dybantsa, who the Wizards selected with the No. 1 overall pick, reportedly made between $4 million and $7 million in name, image, and likeness deals between BYU and sponsors. Former Michigan head coach Dusty May told Front Office Sports in April that he expected the Wolverines’ 2026–27 roster to cost more than $10 million.
Players having the ability to get paid at the college level has altered the NBA’s predraft process. The G League Ignite program—which launched in 2020 as a paid alternative to going to college for NBA prospects—shut down in 2024, with the emergence of NIL in college sports cited as the primary reason. Additionally, more players are staying in college through their senior year, resulting in the draft being less watered down with fringe prospects.
