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Former Duke basketball sharpshooter Isaiah Evans had to wait much longer than originally anticipated before being selected in the 2026 NBA Draft.
Evans elected to enter the 2026 NBA Draft and bypass his remaining collegiate eligibility as a projected mid-to-late first-round pick. Things didn’t pan out that way.
Jun 23, 2026; New York, NY, USA; Draft prospect Isaiah Evans poses for photos on the red carpet before the 2026 NBA draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images | Brad Penner-Imagn Images
Isaiah Evans’ Draft Fall
The 6’6″ wing was invited to the NBA Draft Green Room, but ended up being the last prospect in the room at the end of the night, as Evans went home empty-handed. The first 30 picks of the 2026 draft came and went, and Evans did not hear his name called.
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Immediately, the financial repercussions of Evans’ decision to make the jump to the NBA instead of returning to college are clear. Had Evans come back to college basketball, whether that be for Duke or another program via the transfer portal, the North Carolina native certainly would’ve made a hefty paycheck. His decision to head to the NBA leaves potentially millions of dollars on the table.
Mar 29, 2026; Washington, DC, USA; UConn Huskies guard Braylon Mullins (24) shoots the ball past Duke Blue Devils guard Isaiah Evans (3) in the second half during an Elite Eight game of the East Regional of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-Imagn Images | Amber Searls-Imagn Images
Evans was eventually selected with the No. 33 pick in the draft by the Minnesota Timberwolves, and he has the skill set to carve out a role at the NBA level. Still, most second-rounders are handed non-guaranteed or two-way contracts, which will likely pay Evans significantly less than he would’ve earned in college basketball in 2026-27.
The former Blue Devil took a bit of a gamble, and, in the immediate moment, it didn’t pay off. Now, Evans can obviously go on to earn…
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Publish date : 2026-06-25 15:23:00
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