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Basketball drafts

NBA Draft Combine: The Changing Landscape of College Athletes

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

As the 2025 NBA Draft Combine continues, athletes like Yaxel Lendeborg are facing decisions that were previously unimaginable. With the rise of name, image, and likeness (NIL) compensation and the NCAA's revenue sharing model, college athletes can now earn significant amounts of money in one season, making the traditional NBA draft decision tree less clear-cut. Lendeborg, a 6-foot-10 big man, is torn between pursuing an NBA contract or staying at Michigan, where he's committed to play and could earn millions through NIL deals.

Key Takeaways:

  • The 2025 NBA Draft Combine has seen a significant decrease in early entrants, with only 106 players entering, the lowest number in a decade, down from 353 in 2021.
  • The increase in NIL money being doled out by college basketball programs has created a trend where college players can earn more than an NBA player in their first year of a rookie deal.
  • The transfer portal and constant roster churn have infused chaos into the college ranks, with numerous college coaching staffs attending the Combine to support their players and convince them to stay in college.
  • NBA executives view the implementation of NIL as a positive development, seeing it as a way for college players to build brands and prepare for the NBA draft.
  • Players like Lendeborg are torn between pursuing an NBA contract and staying in college to earn millions through NIL deals.
  • The NCAA's May 28 withdrawal date for players to retain their college eligibility creates a sense of urgency for athletes like Lendeborg, who need to make a decision before the deadline.
  • The changing landscape of college athletics has created a new reality for players, with many considering themselves "semipros" who are trying to find the best opportunity at the right moment.

Statistics:

  • 106 early entrants entered the 2025 NBA Draft, the lowest figure in a decade (Source: USA TODAY Sports)
  • 353 players entered the 2021 NBA Draft, the highest number in recent years (Source: USA TODAY Sports)
  • 18 players from the Portsmouth Invitational, a pre-draft event for college seniors, were invited to the NBA Draft Combine, a number that is up from recent years (Source: USA TODAY Sports)
  • The average salary for an NBA player in their first year of a rookie deal is around $5 million, while top college players can earn millions through NIL deals in a single season (Source: Various reports)
  • The NCAA's revenue sharing model is set to be implemented for the 2025-26 season, which could lead to further changes in the way college athletes earn money (Source: NCAA)

Sources:

  • USA TODAY Sports
  • USA TODAY CHICAGO
  • Yaxel Lendeborg, USA TODAY Sports
  • Mike Boynton, University of Michigan assistant coach
  • R.J. Luis, St. John's star
  • Five NBA executives, USA TODAY Sports

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