In a decision that has sent shockwaves through the world of basketball, the NCAA has granted eligibility to a former NBA Draft pick, a move that could fundamentally reshape the relationship between professional and college sport forever.
The Unprecedented Decision
The beneficiary of this historic ruling is James Nnaji, a 21-year-old, 7-foot Nigerian-born professional player who has never played in college. Nnaji has committed to Baylor University and the NCAA has granted him four years of eligibility, clearing him to play for the remainder of the 2025-26 season.
What makes this case extraordinary is Nnaji's professional background. He was selected 31st overall in the 2023 NBA Draft by the Charlotte Hornets. His draft rights were later included in the multi-team trade centred on Karl-Anthony Towns, ultimately landing with the New York Knicks. Crucially, Nnaji has not signed an NBA contract nor played a single minute in a regular-season NBA game, though he has participated in NBA Summer League games and played professionally in Europe for FC Barcelona since 2019.
How It Works: A 'Loan' System Emerges
According to reports, Nnaji's NBA draft rights remain with the New York Knicks despite this move. This arrangement is essentially tantamount to the Knicks loaning Nnaji to Baylor University for up to four years. It establishes a potential new paradigm where NBA teams could draft collegiate prospects and then send them back to university to develop while retaining their professional rights.
This shatters a long-standing NCAA rule. Previously, basketball players were barred from returning to college after merely entering the NBA Draft pool, let alone after being selected. This decision effectively removes that barrier, creating a previously unimaginable pathway.
Reactions and Ripples Across the Sport
The announcement has provoked stunned reactions from across the college basketball landscape. High-profile coaches and analysts have expressed disbelief and concern over the precedent.
UConn men's head coach Dan Hurley posted on social media, "Santa Claus is delivering mid season acquisitions....this s*** is crazy!!"
Former Indiana coach Tom Crean urged people to look at the broader systemic decisions that led here, while college basketball reporter Zach Braziller succinctly wrote, "This makes zero sense. Drafted players can now go to college lol."
On3 bracketologist James Fletcher III highlighted the profound implications: "This is the first pro turned college player that should create serious concern over the trajectory... there is now no barrier from anyone who played less than four years."
The NCAA's decision on James Nnaji is more than a one-off eligibility waiver; it is a seismic shift. It opens the door to a future where the lines between amateur collegiate athletics and professional sports franchises become increasingly blurred, potentially changing how talent is developed and controlled in basketball forever.
