<P> The NBA draft is an annual event dating back to 1947 in which the ( now thirty ) teams from the National Basketball Association ( NBA ) can draft players who are eligible and wish to join the league . These are typically college basketball players , but international players are also eligible to be drafted . College players who have finished their four - year college eligibility are automatically eligible for selection , while the underclassmen have to declare their eligibility and give up their remaining college eligibility . International players who are at least 22 years old are automatically eligible for selection , while the players younger than 22 have to declare their eligibility . Players who are not automatically eligible but have declared their eligibility are often called `` early - entrants '' or `` early - entry candidates '' . The draft usually takes place at the end of June , during the NBA offseason . Since 1989 , the draft has consisted of two rounds ; this is much shorter than the entry drafts of the other major professional sports leagues in the United States and Canada , all of which run at least seven rounds . Sixty players are selected in each draft . No player may sign with the NBA until he has been eligible for at least one draft . </P>
<P> The NBA draft is an annual event dating back to 1947 in which the ( now thirty ) teams from the National Basketball Association ( NBA ) can draft players who are eligible and wish to join the league . These are typically college basketball players , but international players are also eligible to be drafted . College players who have finished their four - year college eligibility are automatically eligible for selection , while the underclassmen have to declare their eligibility and give up their remaining college eligibility . International players who are at least 22 years old are automatically eligible for selection , while the players younger than 22 have to declare their eligibility . Players who are not automatically eligible but have declared their eligibility are often called `` early - entrants '' or `` early - entry candidates '' . The draft usually takes place at the end of June , during the NBA offseason . Since 1989 , the draft has consisted of two rounds ; this is much shorter than the entry drafts of the other major professional sports leagues in the United States and Canada , all of which run at least seven rounds . Sixty players are selected in each draft . No player may sign with the NBA until he has been eligible for at least one draft . </P>
when did nba draft go to two rounds
when did nba draft go to two rounds
1989
1989