Florida Star Alex Condon Shocks Fans by Withdrawing from NBA Draft—What’s Behind His Unexpected Return to the Gators?

Alex Condon isn’t just any sophomore forward — he was a cornerstone in Florida’s remarkable run to their first national championship in nearly two decades, a feat they hadn’t achieved since their back-to-back triumphs in ’06 and ’07. Now, with a fire burning brighter than ever, Condon has made the bold choice to pull out of the 2025 NBA Draft, setting his sights on repeating that hard-earned glory. It’s not every day you see a player turn down the allure of the NBA to chase something as fleeting as a back-to-back championship, but Alex’s commitment to the Gators’ legacy and to sharpening his game speaks volumes. His mindset? Simple: there’s magic in shared struggle, growth, and chemistry built over time — the kind that fueled last season’s epic success. Standing tall at 6-foot-11 and boasting averages that put him among the team’s best, Condon’s decision echoes a genuine hunger to mature and dominate on the collegiate stage before stepping into the limelight ahead. As Florida’s coach Todd Golden put it, Alex has “positioned himself nicely” by going all-in for another year in Gainesville. Intrigued? Dive deeper into this story and discover what’s next for this Australian standout. LEARN MORE.

AdvertisementCondon, who is Australian, averaged 10.6 points and 7.5 rebounds with the Gators last season. Those figures ranked fourth and first on the team, respectively.

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The 6-foot-11 forward ranked 40th on Yahoo Sports’ NBA Draft big board, making him a possible early second-round pick in the NBA Draft. Condon pushed himself to excel offensively during private workouts with NBA teams, and told ESPN he “learned a lot about” himself during the draft process.

This story will be updated.Florida head coach Todd Golden echoed that sentiment Tuesday, and believes Condon “positioned himself nicely,” by coming back to Florida for another year.Sophomore forward Alex Condon played a major role in Florida winning its first national championship since the university went back-to-back during in 2006 and 2007. Now, Condon will look to repeat that feat after withdrawing his name from the 2025 NBA Draft.

Condon announced that decision Tuesday — a day before the deadline for college players with remaining eligibility to withdraw from the NBA Draft. He cited the desire to go back-to-back as a major reason he opted to return to Florida for his junior year, per ESPN.