Entering The NBA Draft Without Skills

Posted by James Seaman on June 24, 2009

On my checklist of things to accomplish in life, being drafted into the NBA ranks somewhere between walking on the moon and fighting Rocky Balboa. Since I’m afraid of heights, going into space is out. And since Rocky is, well, not a real a person, I can’t really fight him. But there’s still the NBA. I know I’m not alone here. If you’re reading this then at least once in your life you must have pretended that your rec or church league was the NBA, or that your pick-up game was a nationally televised showdown. While only freakish genes and relentless work can get you into the NBA, becoming eligible for the draft isn’t nearly as hard as you might think.

In April of 2007, a college student named Zachary Feinstein—all 5’ 8” and 130 pounds of him—began joking with his roommate about applying for the NBA draft. The following January, Feinstein decided to take the gag seriously. He looked into the eligibility requirements which simply state that one must be either 19 years old or that a full NBA season shall have passed since the applicant’s high school graduation. Anyone meeting that criteria who wishes to become eligible for the draft must send a letter to the NBA notifying the league of said intention. Feinstein—who didn’t play basketball in college, high school, or even middle school—technically met the league’s requirements and sent his letter of intention.

On March 28, 2008, the NBA sent a letter back to Feinstein along with an early entry application and a consent form for release of his academic information and records. When the NBA released its official early entry list for the 2008 draft, the collection of individuals included 69 NCAA underclassmen, 21 international players, 34 former college ballers who became automatically eligible by signing professional contracts, and a random assortment of “unknown individuals,” including Feinstein. With 15 unknowns alongside Feinstein, one might assume that others had the same idea for a practical joke. But this guy will always be able to say that the NBA released his name as an early entrant for the draft. Zach Feinstein’s name was on a list with Derrick Rose and Michael Beasley. Any stories he wants to make up beyond that depend on the gullibility of whoever he’s trying to impress—whether coworkers at the office or girls at the bar.

The Knicks took a good look at me but decided my surgically repaired knee was too big of a risk.

Several teams inquired, but their GMs decided they couldn’t meet my contractual demands.

I out-shot Rose and Beasley in workouts. Teams just didn’t think I’d be big enough to play defense.

I almost got taken by Indiana, but I was always a brawler on the court, and the Ron Artest thing was still too fresh in their minds, ya know?

Whatever the case, you too could get yourself on the NBA’s draft list. Just don’t count on hearing your name among those first few called by David Stern on draft night.

Download Your FREE 2009 Draft Guide Here.

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2 Comments

JayD on June 24, 2009 said:

Wow James , that was an interesting blog . I could try and get eligable but I think the age thing would scare any team away , not to mention that my age would not meet the reqiurements . I never played ball in high school or colledge . But if I was younger then that would be great news to hear .
Oh well James thanks for the smiles anyway .
Jay

pavel arellano on June 24, 2009 said:

im gonna try to do that, maybe a team will pick me

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