NBA-style drafts can soon be a reality in track and field? Well, according to Justin Gatlin, it might be a possibility! As astounding as it might sound, Gatlin has advocated for the draft system recently. NBA Drafts are very popular and are an integral part of the tournament every season. Thousands of fans wait eagerly to learn about the coveted draft picks for each season. This is because the drafts act like a bridge between college athletes and professionals. 

It is through the draft that one can make a successful transition into the NBA. Now, with Gatlin questioning in favor of a similar practice in track and field, the opportunities are likely to broaden for college athletes. 

Justin Gatlin feels the need for draft

Speaking about the tried and tested methods of the NBA & NFL, track and field legend, Justin Gatlin came up with an idea. Taking to his X account, the 42-year-old stated, “The NBA and NFL draft process simplifies turning pro. Track and field needs a draft. When kids ask me how to turn pro, there’s just no consistent answer.” While initially, the idea might sound a bit far-fetched, it really might be a plausible answer. 

According to Gatlin, once the athletes finish college, there is no set pattern for them to turn pro. In the current scheme of things, athletes need to find a suitable agent and sign a sponsorship contract to turn pro. However, this practice is not very transparent and college athletes often get confused as to how the process works. Thus, the track and field icon has asked the $7.6 billion worth (revenue generated during 2017-2021 Olympic cycle) IOC to look into the matter and make a draft-like system to make the process easier. 

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However, soon after the post, a series of comments and analyses surfaced in the comments section. Some stated that since track and field do not have teams, the execution of the draft will not be easy. More opinions poured in, pointing out that the comparison between NFL/NBA and track and field was void. With such confusion brewing, let’s take a detailed look at how the draft works in the NBA and NFL. 

What is the NBA/NFL Draft? 

Both NBA and NFL reign supreme in the hearts of sports enthusiasts. The NBA and NFL draft continue to open the doors for a bunch of talented young athletes, leading them towards greater opportunities. Along with fans, all the 30 franchises of the NBA wait for the draft with elevated enthusiasm as they get to select new players for upcoming professional leagues. Top collegiate athletes who are over 19 years of age and are not international players appear in the eligible selection list for the teams to choose their players. 

The NFL draft too welcomes budding talents to the professional gridiron. 32 clubs are offered the opportunity to include new players from the draft. This order of selection for NFL clubs is followed in a reverse order going by the previous season. While in the NBA, it’s not the team with the lowest ranking who gets the opportunity for a first-round selection. Rather, a lottery is conducted to decide for the same. 

On one hand, the track and field legend deems the draft system a necessary step towards preparing the athletes for the future. However, several track and field enthusiasts have considered this system unnecessary for the track and field world.

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