NBA Draft takes place every summer and marks the entry of promising talents into the league. Whether these are expected number one picks or hidden gems, NBA Draft Explained stands among the most exciting annual events that happen within the league.
While free agency represents an opportunity for teams to sign already established players, NBA Draft enables them to choose promising youth from college basketball, from international league and even from other sources. The success of the draft could mean a new era for those teams which are going through reconstruction period.
If you are new to the sport of basketball, phrases such as draft lottery, first round pick, second round pick, draft rights and rookie contract might be unfamiliar to you. However, once you know the rules about how the players qualify for the draft, about the lottery, draft order and about selecting process, you will see how simple this procedure is.
If you’re new to professional basketball, start with our What Is the NBA? A Complete Beginner’s Guide to understand how the league is structured before learning how new players enter it.
What is the NBA Draft?
The NBA Draft Explained is an annual selection process used by the NBA to draft eligible players into the league.
The main function of the draft is to allocate new talent to all 30 NBA teams.
Most players chosen in the draft are selected from:
- NCAA College Basketball
- Professional international leagues
- NBA G-League development program
- Other basketball programs approved by the NBA
Each chosen player seeks to start their NBA career successfully, while teams are hoping for future stars.
Why Is the NBA Draft Important?
The NBA Draft is among the most important ways for an NBA team to form a champion team.
Whereas free agency enables a team to sign veteran players, the draft offers an avenue for developing young talent in the long term.
It is noteworthy that many NBA stars entered the league through the draft, hence its importance in the game of basketball.
A strong draft class may turn around a bad team to a champion of the future.
Who Is Eligible for NBA Draft?
All basketball players do not qualify to join NBA Draft directly.
There are specific eligibility requirements that must be met before entering into NBA draft.
They include:
- Must be at least 19 years old in the year of the draft.
- Should be at least one year away from his or her graduation year in high school.
The qualified players can be from different backgrounds as follows:
- NCAA college basketball
- International pro leagues
- G-League program
- Overseas development league
While the international players have different qualification criteria, they become the first round picks annually.
How Do Players Get into the NBA Draft?
Players who qualify based on the requirements can declare themselves for the NBA Draft.
College players usually declare themselves eligible for the NBA Draft after one or several seasons of playing in the NCAA.
International players could also declare themselves after becoming eligible for the NBA Draft based on its requirements.
Some college players continue to remain eligible for the draft according to the NCAA rules for declaring for the draft, while others become represented professionally and start preparing for the NBA.
Prior to the NBA Draft, teams assess prospects by:
- One-on-one workouts
- Interviews
- Medical examinations
- College games
- International games
- NBA Draft Combine measurements
NBA Draft Lottery
One of the key aspects of the draft process is the NBA Draft Lottery.
Lottery establishes the order of picking of the first few picks for those teams that failed to make it into the NBA playoffs.
While the worst team would automatically get the number one pick without a lottery, it was introduced to discourage teams from trying to lose their games.
Teams with the worst regular season performance have the highest probability to get the number one pick, but all the lottery teams have a shot.
However, lottery only establishes the order of the first few picks; the rest of the first round is determined mostly by regular season results.
Why Does the NBA Conduct a Draft Lottery?
There are two main reasons why the NBA adopted the lottery system.
One of them is that without a lottery, the weak teams could have a motive to lose as many games as possible to get the first choice pick.
The uncertainty about the first pick motivates teams to play well during the season.
To understand how teams qualify for the postseason after the regular season, read our How the NBA Playoffs Work guide.
How is the Order of the NBA Draft Decided?
The order of the draft is determined according to the performance of teams during the season.
Normally:
- Lottery teams get the first choices in the NBA Draft Lottery.
- Playoff teams choose later, depending on the standings at the end of the regular season.
- The NBA champion usually gets one of the last picks in the first round unless some draft choices
- have already been traded.
Teams can exchange draft choices with each other; therefore, the team that makes a choice in the draft is not necessarily the team that won that particular draft choice.
How many rounds does the NBA Draft have?
There are two rounds in the NBA Draft.
Since there are 30 teams in the NBA, there are 60 picks on average.
Every NBA team typically gets:
- One pick in the first round
- One pick in the second round
But trades and penalties from the NBA can increase or decrease the number of picks in the draft.
First-Round Picks vs. Second-Round Picks
While all draftees become NBA players, the first and second-round picks differ in many ways.
First-Round Picks
- Normally consist of the most talented prospects.
- Mostly get guaranteed contracts for rookies.
- Great investment from teams to nurture them.
- Get the most publicity.
Second-Round Picks
- Help teams get players that went unnoticed.
- More flexible terms in contracts.
- Some famous NBA players were selected in the second round despite low expectations.
Sometimes scouts miss on some players, making second-round picks stars later.
Curious about how salary rules affect young players after they’re drafted? Read our NBA Salary Cap Explained guide to learn how rookie contracts fit into team payrolls.
How do NBA Teams Make Their Draft Picks?
During NBA Draft day, each team makes its picks according to the draft order.
There is an allocated time period for the team to make its choice from among those remaining. During this time, the front office members, coaches, and general manager analyze the remaining prospects and submit a name of the player.
Teams decide on the basis of the following:
- Talent and Potential
- Team Needs
- Style of Play
- Future Potential
- Injury record
- Personality traits and character
After this, the NBA Commissioner makes the announcement about the pick and the player joins the team.
Can Draft Pick Selections Be Exchanged in the NBA?
Yes.
One of the things that make the NBA Draft very interesting is the possibility that the draft picks can be exchanged.
Exchanges can involve:
- Current draft picks
- First round draft picks in the future
- Second round draft picks in the future
- Players for draft selections
- More than one selection in one deal
On some occasions, a team will actually announce a draft pick for another franchise because an exchange has already taken place.
Exchange transactions during draft night can have a great impact on many teams.
What Happens after a Player Is Drafted?
Drafting into the NBA does not mark the end of the process but merely the beginning.
After drafting, players generally:
- Sign their rookie contracts.
- Play in Summer League games.
- Train at training camps.
- Fight to be included in the regular-season team rotation.
Rookies can either instantly make an impact or develop for some time before being useful to the team.
Most players need time to adjust to the intensity, physical play, and competition that comes with playing in the NBA, even if they have been highly picked in the draft.
What Are Rookie Contracts?
The rookie contract is the very first contract signed by the drafted players.
For the first-round players, the details of the contract will be mainly dictated by the NBA’s collective bargaining agreement as well as its rookie salary scale.
For the second round, however, there are more options available.
To learn how teams manage payroll while signing rookies and veteran players, read our NBA Salary Cap Explained guide.
What Happens to the Undrafted Players?
Not all skilled players hear their names being called during the draft day.
Undrafted players become free agents of the NBA.
This means that they can join any NBA team that will want to make a contract or invite them to training camp.
Many successful careers of undrafted players are living proof that the draft is not the only way to a successful career in the NBA.
Outstanding performance in NBA Summer League and G-League may also assist undrafted players in obtaining a place in an NBA team in the future.
Why Is NBA Draft so Important?
NBA Draft is very important for keeping a certain level of competitiveness in the league.
Draft allows losing teams to get young talent and players to get the opportunity to play professional basketball.
Among the best players in NBA history are the players drafted, and many championship-winning teams are built from the players drafted over several years.
Fans see the draft as a hope for obtaining the future franchise star.
NBA Draft vs. NBA Free Agency
Although both add players to NBA rosters, the draft and free agency work very differently.
| NBA Draft | NBA Free Agency |
|---|---|
| Teams select eligible young players | Teams sign experienced NBA players |
| Held once each year | Occurs during the offseason |
| Draft order determines selections | Players choose where to sign (within league rules) |
| Focuses on future potential | Focuses on proven talent |
| Includes two rounds | No draft order |
Understanding the difference between these two roster-building methods helps explain how NBA teams plan for both short-term success and long-term growth.
FAQs
How many rounds are there in the NBA Draft?
There are two rounds in the NBA Draft, and each team gets one selection per round.
How many players get drafted annually?
There are 60 draft picks annually, but this number may fluctuate based on the number of picks that the league may remove or penalize from participating in the draft.
What is the NBA Draft Lottery?
The NBA Draft Lottery involves determining the draft order of the lottery picks. It offers teams with the worst records the best opportunity—but not necessarily the surety—of becoming the No. 1 pick in the draft.
Are draft picks tradable?
Yes. The NBA Draft picks can be traded alongside players as part of a package deal between teams.
Is it possible for an undrafted player to play in the NBA?
Yes. The undrafted players can be signed by any NBA team as free agents.
Conclusion
The NBA Draft goes far beyond being a mere event where players are selected annually; it is one of the most vital pieces of any NBA team. It allows talented basketball players to embark on their careers, as well as provides an opportunity for teams to build themselves with new faces and new prospects.
Starting from the lottery to the drafting order and rookie contracts or trades during the draft night, knowledge of the entire draft procedure will help the fans understand how teams are constructed for future success.
Be it the number one pick or a diamond in the rough selected in the second round, there is always plenty of excitement and promise involved in the NBA Draft.
