SHOCKWAVE ON THE PLAINS: Johni Broome and Tahaad Pettiford Decline NBA Draft Combine, Sign Stunning 5-Year Pact with Auburn
AUBURN, AL — In a jaw-dropping twist that has sent ripples through the college basketball world and the NBA draft community, Auburn Tigers stars Johni Broome and Tahaad Pettiford have turned their backs on the 2025 NBA Draft Combine — and potentially the draft itself — by signing an unprecedented five-year deal to remain with Auburn University. In a move hailed as “the biggest power play in modern college basketball history,” the duo has committed to rewriting the legacy of college hoops on their own terms.
The news broke early Saturday morning, sending shockwaves through NBA front offices and igniting social media into a frenzy. Both Broome, a dominant big man with first-round projections, and Pettiford, the electric freshman point guard with top-10 potential, were confirmed invitees to the 2025 NBA Draft Combine in Chicago. But in a stunning turn, the pair never boarded the plane. Instead, they inked a groundbreaking Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) contract extension with Auburn reportedly worth a combined $6 million annually over five years.
“We’re not finished here,” Broome said in a fiery press conference. “Why leave legacy on the table for a paycheck when you can do both — right here in front of the fans who made us?”
Sources close to the program say Auburn’s NIL collective, “WarEagle United,” rallied a war chest of unprecedented scale to keep its superstars grounded — and gunning for national glory. The agreement, dubbed “The Legacy Pact,” includes not only financial guarantees but also full creative control over a new Auburn-based docuseries, executive producer credits, and partial ownership stakes in affiliated local businesses.
Tigers head coach Bruce Pearl called the decision “a revolution.” Fighting back emotion, Pearl said, “These young men just changed the game. They chose culture over cash grabs, they chose Auburn over the spotlight. And make no mistake — we’re not just coming back. We’re coming for a national championship.”
The response across the college basketball universe has been swift and polarized. Some praise Broome and Pettiford as visionaries, reshaping the future of college sports in the NIL era. Others call it a risky detour from certain NBA stardom.
Former NBA coach and analyst Stan Van Gundy called the move “the most player-empowering decision I’ve seen in 30 years.” Meanwhile, ESPN draft expert Jonathan Givony tweeted, “It’s official. College basketball is now a real threat to the G-League and Europe. This changes everything.”
Whether it sets a trend or becomes a legendary outlier remains to be seen. But one thing is clear: the Auburn Tigers just became the epicenter of college basketball — and the story is far from over.
Auburn fans are already chanting one word: “Legacy.” And with Broome and Pettiford staying put, it just might become a dynasty.
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