In 2021, the NCAA began allowing college athletes to earn money via their name, image and likeness (NIL) rights. Millions upon millions of dollars flooded in soon thereafter, which drastically changed the college basketball landscape.

This year, the NBA Draft saw its fewest early entrants in a decade. Just 106 players entered the draft by the end of April, which continues a downward trend from 363 declarations in 2021 just before the NIL era began.

The ability of college athletes to cash in on their collegiate fame has led to fewer players jumping early to the NBA draft.