No Australians declared early for 2026 NBA Draft as NIL reshapes college pathway and talent flow.<\/p>\n
No Australians declared early for the 2026 NBA Draft, underscoring the stark reality that the NCAA\u2019s NIL agreement<\/a> has fundamentally changed the landscape of professional basketball.<\/p>\n Only twice in the past decade (2018 and 2023) has Australia not had a men\u2019s basketballer drafted to the NBA as an early entry candidate. The 2026 pool is the smallest at 71 since 2003.<\/p>\n The prime Australian candidate<\/a> for the 2026 NBA Draft is Alex Condon<\/a>, but he chose to stay with the 2025 National Champion Florida Gators<\/a> for his senior season.<\/p>\n Dash Daniels<\/a>, who appeared in early mock drafts and is the younger brother of Atlanta Hawks<\/a> star Dyson<\/a>, has chosen to remain with Melbourne United as an NBL Next Star for the 2026-27 season.<\/p>\n NIL \u2013 Name, Image and Likeness \u2013 has pushed college players’ \u201csalaries\u201d into the hundreds of thousands USD and enabled colleges to recruit professionals, such as South East Melbourne Phoenix and Australian Boomers guard Owen Foxwell (Wisconsin)<\/a> and Australian G League journeyman Akoldah Gak.<\/p>\n An extraordinary 65 Australians \u2013 22 men and 43 women \u2013 entered the NCAA Transfer Portal in 2026<\/a>. The portal clears the pathway for college athletes to change schools, including freshman rising stars Bonnie Deas, Joel Foxwell, Lara Somfai and Roman Siulepa. All five will be at different colleges in 2026-27.<\/p>\n Early entry candidates for the June 24, 2026, NBA Draft doesn\u2019t mean an Australian won\u2019t be taken this year. Early entry is simply an indication of intent. The 2026 Draft Combine is from May 10 to 17. The Combine is an opportunity for Australians to work out in front of scouts and NBA execs.<\/p>\n Arizona graduate Anthony Dell\u2019Orso<\/a>, Purdue\u2019s Oscar Cluff<\/a>, and LSU\u2019s Max Mackinnon<\/a> each have NBA talent, and with the early entrants at just 71 \u2013 the draft is 60 players \u2013 the opportunity to force their way into second-round consideration is real.<\/p>\n 2025 NBA Draft#45 Bulls draft Rocco Zikarsky<\/a> (Brisbane) \u2013 Traded to Wolves (via Lakers)#49 Cavaliers draft Tyrese Proctor<\/a> (Duke)#52 Suns draft Alex Toohey<\/a> (Sydney Kings) \u2013 Traded to Warriors. Released after a season-ending knee injury.#55 Lakers draft Lachlan Olbrich<\/a> (Illawarra Hawks) \u2013 Traded to Bulls<\/p>\n Australians (Early Entry and \/ or Undrafted)<\/p>\n Alex Condon \u2013 Florida: Returned to Florida for his junior season.Ben Henshall \u2013 Perth (Australia)2024 NBA Draft#2 Wizards draft Alex Sarr (Perth \u2013 NBL Next Star)#35 Spurs draft Johnny Furphy<\/a> (Kansas) \u2013 Traded to Pacers<\/p>\n Australians (Early Entry and \/ or Undrafted)<\/p>\n Achor Achor \u2013 SamfordJason Spurgin \u2013 Bowling GreenAnthony Dell\u2019Orso \u2013 Campbell (Transferred to Arizona for senior season)<\/p>\n \u2b50 NBL Next Stars \/ Australia-Based Pathway<\/p>\n AJ Johnson \u2013 Illawarra Hawks (USA)Trentyn Flowers \u2013 Adelaide 36ers (USA)2023 NBA Draft<\/p>\n No Australians drafted<\/p>\n Australians (Early Entry and \/ or Undrafted)\u200d<\/p>\n \u2022 Josh Bannan \u2013 Montana<\/p>\n \u2022 Elijah Pepper \u2013 UC Davis<\/p>\n \u2022 David Okwera \u2013 Melbourne<\/p>\n 2022 NBA Draft<\/p>\n \u2022 #8 Pelicans draft Dyson Daniels <\/a>(G League Ignite)<\/p>\n \u2022 #56 Cavaliers draft Luke Travers (Perth)<\/p>\n 2021 NBA Draft<\/p>\n \u2022 #6 Thunder draft Josh Giddey<\/p>\n Australians (Early Entry and \/ or Undrafted)<\/p>\n \u200d\u2022 Gorjok Gak<\/p>\n \u2022 Makur Maker<\/p>\n \u2022 Makuach Maluach\u2022 Jock Perry<\/p>\n 2020 NBA Draft<\/p>\n \u2022 #18 Mavericks draft Josh Green<\/p>\n Australians (Early Entry and \/ or Undrafted)<\/p>\n \u200d\u2022 Makur Maker<\/p>\n \u2022 Jack White<\/p>\n 2019 NBA Draft<\/p>\n \u2022 #20 Celtics draft Matisse Thybulle<\/a> \u2013 Traded to 76ers<\/p>\n Australians (Early Entry and \/ or Undrafted)<\/p>\n \u200d\u2022 Kouat Noi<\/p>\n \u2022 Jack McVeigh<\/p>\n 2018 NBA Draft<\/p>\n No Australians drafted<\/p>\n Australians (Early Entry and \/ or Undrafted)<\/p>\n \u200d\u2022 Duop Reath<\/p>\n \u2022 Jock Landale<\/a><\/p>\n \u2022 Will Magnay<\/p>\n \u2022 Deng Adel<\/p>\n 2017 NBA Draft<\/p>\n \u2022 #36 76ers draft Jonah Bolden<\/p>\n Australians (Early Entry and \/ or Undrafted)<\/p>\n \u200d\u2022 Deng Adel<\/p>\n 2016 NBA Draft<\/p>\n \u2022 #1 76ers draft Ben Simmons<\/a><\/p>\n \u2022 #10 Bucks draft Thon Maker<\/p>\n 2015 NBA Draft<\/p>\n None<\/p>\n 2014 NBA Draft<\/p>\n