What happens to the players who are not selected in the NBA Draft?
On Thursday night, the dreams of 58 NBA aspirants will come true as their post college future is decided, while many other won’t be so lucky.
There will be a whole lot of sleepless nights for many draft hopefuls that are on the verge of the biggest moment of their basketball lives tomorrow. After millions of jump shots, thousands of practices, countless games the day is finally here. The NBA Draft starts tomorrow at 8 p.m. ET from New York City and for 58 players, their life long dream of getting drafted into the NBA will finally come true.
Life after college
There are 242 players that have declared for the 2023 Draft, and there are only 58 selections total over the course of the two rounds which means almost 200 players will end tomorrow with their basketball futures undecided. So what happens to those who are not going to be selected?
Just because they don’t get their names called over the course of tomorrow night doesn’t mean that their basketball journey comes to an end. There are plenty of options for NBA aspirants to continue pursuing their dream of playing in the league, it just may be a longer and harder road then they expected.
Most of the players in the selection pool tomorrow are players that are coming out of college. Until recently, players who hired an agent and entered the NBA draft could not go back to college, but since 2018 the NCAA lightened up and now allow players with eligibility to return to their school “as long as they notify their athletics director of their intent by 5 p.m. the Monday after the draft.”
Summer league first choice for many
This takes the risk out of declaring for the draft for underclassmen who still have years left before their eligibility runs out. For those who have used all of their eligibility up, they have to look for different options to pursue a career in professional basketball.
For many who don’t get selected, the next step to try to make an NBA roster could the Summer League. That gives players a chance to have direct contact with the team, while playing and practicing with members of the organization. The Summer League is a opportunity for players who were drafted or not to get a first taste of NBA action.
None of the big stars participate, so it gives guys who need some time to impress sufficiently playing time to make an impact. The head coaches also sit out Summer League, but are direct contact with the coach of the team, and scouts as they decide on a roster before heading into the regular season.
G-League, overseas other options
A lucky few are fortunate enough to make an NBA roster, but others are not. Those who don’t make it can look to the G-League which is the NBA’s feeder league. Just like minor league baseball, this gives those who don’t make the NBA but to improve, and impress while still being a part of an NBA organization. Teams in the G-League are directly associated with NBA teams so if a player putting up big numbers in the G-League it won’t take long from word to travel through the front office grapevine.
There are also plenty of options abroad. Players who don’t get drafted are often courted by overseas teams. It may not be the route that many were looking for, but playing overseas is a great way to cut your teeth against professionals while experiencing getting a different taste of culture and style of life in a foreign world.
There will be 184 players that will not hear their name called at the Barclay’s Center tomorrow, and while the disappointment will surely set in at first, it’s not the end of the road. Look at the Miami Heat. They just made a run to the Finals with seven undrafted players.