Thinner NBA Draft pool opens up room for former Badger Nick Boyd

With the 2026 NBA Draft withdrawal deadline now past, the field of players who will officially keep their names in the draft is almost completely set, barring decisions from a couple international prospects. This year’s class, however, is as thin as it has been in quite some time, as the NIL landscape in college basketball has become lucrative enough to convince more players to return to school.

Who benefits from that landscape? Seniors. Guys who no longer have the option to return and are forced to keep their names in the pool. One of the many seniors who could benefit from this weaker class is former Wisconsin Badger guard Nick Boyd, who has all but guaranteed himself an NBA contract over the last few months.

Trending in the Right Direction

Entering the pre-draft process, Boyd was absent from nearly every major outlet’s big board, as his age — 25 years old — and lack of standout physical tools made him far less appealing than some of the younger names in the class. However, Boyd didn’t let any of that bother him, consistently proving he belonged every step of the way.

The NBA Draft Combine in particular was a great showing for him, proving that he could still stand out even when surrounded by other high-level prospects. Boyd dominated offensively in his first scrimmage, scoring 23 points while adding 7 assists, but the second game is arguably what turned the most heads.

Despite struggling to get his shot going, finishing just 1-of-4 from the field, Boyd was stellar as a playmaker, logging 5 assists and posting a team-best -1 plus/minus. He also flashed some intriguing defensive intensity, picking up full court and consistently being a pest at the point of attack, further cementing his place in draft conversations.

Draft Projection

Related: Nick Boyd earns first pre-draft workout with one of the NBA’s up-and-coming teams

Now, with the field almost completely set, the question becomes where Boyd will be selected, if at all. Most mock drafts currently slot him in as a late second-round pick, which feels about right given his standing. Some mocks still project Boyd to go undrafted, which could very well end up being the case given all the factors working against him.

However, whether Boyd ultimately hears his name called or not may not matter much in the grand scheme of things, as it feels almost certain that he will end up on an NBA roster in some capacity following the draft, likely on a two-way deal. Even if he does get drafted, Boyd will almost certainly still have to fight for a fully guaranteed contract, further emphasizing the uphill battle ahead of him.

Nonetheless, Boyd has done just about everything possible to set himself up for future NBA success.

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