NBA Draft: Discussions Reportedly No Longer Ongoing to Lower Draft Age

Per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, discussions are no longer ongoing between the NBA and the National Basketball Players Association to lower the draft age to 18 ahead of the 2024 NBA Draft.

In February, The Athletic’s Shams Charania reported that the NBA and NBPA were further progressing in talks to reach a new collective bargaining agreement. One that could include lowering the NBA Draft age to 18-years-old.

Now, it seems that those talks have stalled for the foreseeable future, likely due to opposition or indifference from league executives.

Per Wojnarowski’s story: “NBA owners and executives were largely indifferent or fully against returning to high school gymnasiums to evaluate players, and even less enthusiastic about that idea without concessions from the NBPA on providing increased access to pre-draft player medical information and increased participation in several elements of the draft combine, sources said.”

As of 2006, high school players are no longer allowed to go straight to the NBA, as the minimum draft eligibility was raised from 18-years-old to 19-years-old.

The rule change would’ve created a ripple effect league-wide, likely leading to a “double draft,” in 2024. For now, those looking to join the NBA will need to be at least 19-years-old, spending a year in college, playing international basketball, joining the league’s G League affiliate, the Ignite, or various other leagues.

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