March 1, 1971
Haywood v. National Basketball Association
Haywood left college early, signed with a rival league, then tried to enter the NBA before its mandatory four-year waiting period was up. The league said no. The Court let him play. Every underclassman who has entered a draft early since is standing on Haywood's exception.
Why it still matters
Draft eligibility rules exist at the sufferance of antitrust law, not by right. Haywood is why.
Sources
Historical summaries prepared from published opinions and secondary sources. Commentary and analysis, not legal advice.
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