In a sign of the times, the Bears received a commitment from James Nnaji, a 7-foot center from Nigeria who was selected in the 2023 NBA Draft. The 21-year-old will be eligible to play immediately for Scott Drew and will have four years of eligibility remaining, a Baylor spokesperson confirmed to USA TODAY Sports. The Bears is 9-2 this season.
He was the 31st overall pick — first in the second round — in the 2023 draft by the Detroit Pistons, who was then traded him to the Charlotte Hornets. In September 2024, his rights were traded to the New York Knicks as part of the blockbuster deal that sent Karl-Anthony Towns to the Knicks.
Despite getting drafted, Nnaji never played in an NBA regular-season game, only playing for the Hornets in the 2023 Summer Classic and the Knicks’ 2025 Summer League team. For New York, he averaged 3.2 points and 3.6 rebounds in five games. He has been playing professionally in Spain for FC Barcelona. He and the team parted ways in August.
It’s certainly unusual to see an NBA draft pick play college basketball, but it’s the latest sign of the line of amateurism being blurred. With name, image and likeness running wild in college sports, the NCAA has changed eligibility guidelines to where athletes who have played professionally have been able to play collegiately.
It’s typically been done with international players, but it’s leaked to those who have played in the NBA G League, which has drawn the ire of coaches across the country.
Reactions to James Nnaji joining Baylor
As news of Nnaji’s commitment to Baylor spread on Dec. 24, it drew some pretty strong responses as people feel it’s ridiculous for a former NBA draft pick to join a college basketball team in the middle of the season.
Notable reactions include Connecticut coach Dan Hurley, who had a slight NSFW response. It’s also left some people confused as to what happens if Nnaji wants to play professionally, if he can get drafted again or would he still have his professional rights owned by the Knicks.
