Overview
- The NCAA approved James Nnaji to join Baylor immediately with four seasons of eligibility despite his 2023 NBA Draft selection.
- Michigan State coach Tom Izzo called the decision "shame on the NCAA" and warned it disadvantages younger players.
- Nnaji was picked 31st in 2023, never signed an NBA contract, played professionally in Europe, and appeared in the Knicks’ 2025 Summer League, with New York retaining his draft rights.
- Baylor moved for the 21-year-old center to help cover frontcourt injuries, including absences for Juslin Bodo Bodo and Maikcol Perez.
- Attorneys in an ongoing eligibility lawsuit referenced Nnaji’s case in a new filing, adding legal pressure for clearer NCAA policy.