NIL Earnings Influence Multiple Prospects to Withdraw from 2025 NBA Draft

The 2025 NBA Draft, scheduled for June 25-26, features projected top picks Cooper Flagg and Dylan Harper, yet is broadly considered one of the weakest drafts in recent years, especially in the lower first round. One key factor influencing this weaker draft pool is the increasing impact of college athletes' name, image, and likeness (NIL) deals, which allow players to earn substantial money while retaining college eligibility, motivating many potential draftees to remain in school rather than enter the draft early. Examples include Michigan transfer Yaxel Lendeborg, who withdrew from the draft and secured a $2.3 million NIL deal. Northwestern University has a notable history with the NBA draft but has not sent a player to the league since 1996, with hopes that 2025 draft hopeful Brooks Barnhizer might break this long drought. Meanwhile, UCLA's Norman Powell exemplifies a successful NBA career trajectory for players who start as under-the-radar recruits and develop into key contributors over time, highlighting alternative paths to NBA success beyond early draft prominence. Overall, the draft landscape is shifting due to evolving college athlete incentives, historical team contributions, and varied player development paths.