Table of Contents

    Player Eligibility

    Below are the rules governing a Players Eligibility to play in the NBA. The rules differ between Domestic and International Players. If a Player is Eligible, then he will go through the Draft process and a Team will either have Draft Rights to the Player or he will go undrafted and he will become an Undrafted Rookie Free Agent.

    The Process

    Three pages in this Guide discuss a Player’s entry into the NBA:

    1. Eligibility – This page discusses when/how a Player is eligible for the NBA, at which point he enters into the Draft Process in the year he is eligible.
    2. The Draft – Discusses what happens when a Player is drafted (or is undrafted), how his Draft Rights are attached, and how the Team retains his Draft Rights until he signs a Contract.
    3. Draft Pick Signings – This page discusses what types of Contracts a Draft Pick (or Undrafted Player) signs based on where they were drafted (or undrafted).

    Player Eligibility Generally

    Below is the test for a Player to be eligible for the NBA . A Player who is eligible, must first go through the NBA Draft process in the year he is eligible for the NBA.

    Most commonly, a Player in the NBA Draft has “declared” for the Draft as an Early Entrant (see below). All other Players are automatically eligible for the Draft the year they become eligible using the test below.

    Once a Player is eligible for the NBA Draft, he is either selected in that year’s Draft, or he becomes an NBA Rookie Free Agent.

    The effect of each are found in the Guide’s Draft Rules page.

    ✍️ This is the Case for All Eligible Players
    Note that Players don’t have to “declare” for the Draft to be Draft Eligible. That is the colloquial term for “Early Entrant” Players who (typically) enter the Draft early knowing they will be drafted. For example, all International Players turning 22 in the calendar year of the Draft are Eligible to play in the NBA and can therefore be drafted. If they go undrafted, they become Rookie Free Agents.

    Two-Step Test

    There is a two-step process for a Player to be Eligible for the Draft.

    Step One:

    The Player must satisfy all of the following:

    1. Will be 19 years old during the calendar year of the Draft;
    2. If not an International Player (defined below), at least 1 NBA Season has lapsed since:
      • He graduated from high school; or
      • If he didn’t graduate, then the later of the class he would have graduated with from either (i) the class he first enrolled in or (ii) his last high school class.
    🏀 Flagg Reclassifies to Enter Draft a Year Early
    Cooper Flagg was born in December 2006. He was initially set to graduate high school in 2025. However, he reclassified to the class of 2024. This allowed him to attend Duke for the 2024-25 Season, and then enter the 2025 Draft. Because he turns 19 during the end of the calendar year, he just makes the cut for eligibility.

    Step Two:

    If Step One is satisfied, a Player must also satisfy one for the following:

    💡 Early Entrant is Your Typical Draftee
    An “Early Entrant” is a Player that hasn’t hit any of the other requirements below, but declares early for the Draft.
    1. He declared as an Early Entrant (most common);
      • Note that a Player can withdraw as an Early Entrant up to 10 days prior to the Draft. He cannot withdraw from more than 2 Drafts.
    2. He (i) Graduated or will graduate from a four-year College in the U.S. during the same calendar year of the Draft and (ii) has no remaining intercollegiate bball eligibility;
    3. He (i) is attending or attended a four-year college in U.S., (ii) his original class in such college has graduated or will graduate in the same calendar year as the Draft, and (iii) has no remaining intercollegiate bball eligibility;
    4. He (i) graduated from high school in the U.S., (ii) did not enroll in college, and (iii) 4 years have elapsed since his high school graduation;
    5. He (i) did not graduate high school in U.S. and (ii) 4 years have passed since the class he would have graduated with has graduated with;
    6. He (i) is or will be 22 during the calendar year of the Draft, (ii) has signed a non-NBA professional bball contract, and (iii) has rendered services under such contract prior the the January 1st immediately preceding the Draft;
    7. He (i) is or will be 22 during the calendar year of the Draft and (ii) is a an International Player.

    International Player

    A Player is considered an International Player if the following elements are met:

    1. Maintained permanent residence outside of the U.S. for at least 3 years prior to the Draft, while participating in amateur or pro bball outside of the U.S.;
    2. Never previously enrolled in a college or university in the U.S.; and
    3. Did not complete high school in the U.S.