Alright, so you wanna get into that there NBA draft, huh? It ain’t as simple as just showin’ up with a basketball, I tell ya. There’s rules and stuff, gotta jump through some hoops, so to speak.
First off, you gotta be old enough. Can’t be no spring chicken. Gotta be at least 19 years old in the year of the draft. That means if the draft is in 2024, you gotta turn 19 sometime in 2024. Makes sense, right? Don’t want no babies runnin’ around with the big boys.
Now, there’s two ways to get in. One way is if you went to college. If you played four years of college ball, you’re good to go. Automatic, like. No fuss, no muss. They figure four years is enough schoolin’, time to make some real money.
- Finished four years of college ball? You’re in!
- Didn’t go to college but finished high school in the US? Wait four years after your class graduates, then you can join.
But what if you’re one of them fancy “one and done” fellas? You know, those kids who go to college for just a year and then think they’re too good for school? Well, they can get in too, but they gotta be 19 and it’s gotta be one year since they graduated high school. So, they go to college for a year, then they gotta wait a bit. Can’t just up and leave whenever they want.
And what about them kids who didn’t even bother with college? Maybe they went straight outta high school, thinkin’ they’re the next LeBron or somethin’. Well, they gotta wait too. Four years after their high school class graduates, then they can try for the draft. It’s all about makin’ sure you’re ready, I guess.
Now, here’s the important part. You can’t just sit around waitin’ for your name to be called. You gotta declare! That means you gotta tell the NBA, “Hey, I wanna be in the draft!” It ain’t a secret, you gotta let ’em know. And there’s a deadline, mind you. Gotta do it at least 60 days before the draft. Don’t wanna miss that, or you’ll be sittin’ on the sidelines watchin’ other folks get rich.
And get this, if you’re still in college but thinkin’ about the draft, you can get some advice. There’s this thing called the Undergraduate Advisory Committee. They’ll look at you, see how good you are, and tell you if you got a shot. But you gotta apply by April 18th if you want their opinion. Good to know if you’re worth somethin’ or just wastin’ your time.
After you declare, you ain’t done yet. You gotta show off a bit. Go to these pre-draft camps, work out for the teams, let ’em see what you got. It’s like a tryout, you know? Gotta impress them scouts, make ’em think you’re worth pickin’. Show off what you can do.
And it all starts way back when, you know? You gotta play ball in high school, maybe get on a college team. That’s how you get noticed. Ain’t no shortcuts, I tell ya. Gotta put in the work if you wanna make it to the big leagues. You gotta play good ball from the get-go. High school, college – that’s where they find ya.
So, that’s the long and short of it. Be old enough, play some ball, declare on time, and then show ‘em what you’re made of. Sounds easy, right? Well, it ain’t. But if you got the talent and the grit, you might just make it. Just remember, lots of boys dream of the NBA, but only a few get to wear them fancy shorts. So work hard and keep your nose clean.
In short:
- Be at least 19 years old.
- Finish four years of college or wait the required time after high school.
- Declare for the draft at least 60 days before.
- Get advice if you’re still in college.
- Attend pre-draft camps and team workouts.
That’s all there is to it. Now go on and make us proud!
Tags: [NBA Draft, Eligibility, Basketball, College Basketball, NBA, Draft Declaration, NBA Combine, Professional Basketball]
