How did we get here? And what could happen next? ESPN college basketball reporters Jeff Borzello and Myron Medcalf break down the biggest talking points.
Why was James Nnaji granted NCAA eligibility?
While Nanaji’s situation is unprecedented in men’s college basketball, there is precedent on the women’s side: Nastja Claessens Was the 30th pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft and is now playing for kansas state,
Nnaji checks many of the same boxes as Claessens: he had never previously attended college, having spent the previous five years with FC Barcelona; Despite being drafted he never played an official NBA game; And as NCAA eligibility rules dictate, he is within five years of his high school graduation.
From the perspective of the letter of the law, the NCAA’s reasoning in sanctioning Nnaji is not much different from its reasoning in sanctioning several other former European professionals who came to the United States last season to play men’s college basketball. ole miss, elias kamardin, North Carolina‘S luka bogavac, , mihailo petrovic, louisville‘S Sananda Fru And Texas A&M‘S ruben dominguez
Ahead Thierry Darlan, BYU Center Abdullah Ahmed and louisville guard london johnson
Coach John Calipari’s michigan state
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‘The NCAA should be ashamed!’ Izzo talks signing former NBA draft pick from Baylor
Michigan State coach Tom Izzo expressed his disappointment with Baylor signing former NBA draft pick James Nnaji.
Their collective discontent may not be about Nnaji specifically, but they see the circumstances of his involvement as another example of the NCAA’s blurred eligibility lines and the limits of its authority to impose its own rules. — medcalf
it
Its chances seem less this season. There are a limited number of players who have participated in the G League’s Ignite program or Overtime Elite without playing college basketball or signing an NBA contract and are still within the equivalent five years of high school graduation.
Similar to Nnaji, the list of former NBA Draft selections without actual NBA experience or contractual ties is long, but the window for players to enroll before the second semester or third quarter of school and compete in the second half of the 2025-26 season is closing quickly.
in the future? This is a different conversation.
Finally, outside of the NBA, college basketball teams can now offer some of the largest pay days in the world. The average G League salary is approximately $40,000. Average EuroLeague player, per Europrobasket.comEarns anywhere from $500,000 to $800,000. Even a player on a two-way contract in the NBA makes about half that of a rookie, or $646,000. There are players on Kentucky’s roster this season who are averaging more than those three points.
Earnings are the allure of college basketball, where schools have found ways to offer both revenue sharing packages and zero-deal deals. Players in Nanaji’s position – including Johnson and Darlan – will continue to seek out the financial opportunities available at this level. But will it stop here? — medcalf
Is there any chance the current NBA player could ever return to college?
Baker’s statement was clear: a player who signs an NBA contract will not be allowed to play college basketball.
But what if someone takes it to court?
A few years ago, college players were not allowed to be paid for their name, image or likeness; He lost that battle in NCAA court. College players then could not play immediately after transferring schools; He also lost in NCAA court. And not so long ago, schools were not required to directly compensate their athletes; The NCAA lost that case as well, clearing the way for a new revenue sharing model.
This is important context, because on paper, the paths of European players who have been paid to compete overseas before joining DI programs seem similar to those of two-way players and young NBA players who have signed contracts but played little at the next level. With the money available to college players right now, it would not be surprising if the NCAA faced another major legal case from a player who is currently ineligible to play college basketball. — medcalf
trentine flowerwho is on a two-way contract with Chicago Bulls And the Windy City Bulls are exploring the possibility of going to college, sources tell ESPN. Flowers played in two NBA games earlier this month. Based on Baker’s statement, Flowers will not be granted college eligibility. But given the NCAA’s recent history in court, this will be debated. — Borzello
Has the NCAA indicated whether it can close the loophole that granted Nnaji eligibility?
In the eyes of the NCAA, this is not a loophole, so there is nothing to close it down. With Nnaji and the G League players, the NCAA believes it is simply implementing the same guidelines that have allowed European professionals to come to the United States to play college basketball in large numbers. Moving forward, it is fair game to recruit players with similar backgrounds who meet other eligibility requirements. — Borzello
It is important to pay attention to the “actual and necessary expenses” portion of the NCAA rules for players who have competed professionally outside the NBA. As per DI manualA player who has competed and received cost-of-living support – which may include food, housing, apparel, health/medical insurance and “other reasonable expenses” – may be eligible to play at this level. Sometimes a player may be required to repay an amount in excess of those expenses before playing Division I basketball. This is the case for many European players who have been signed by college programs.
This is where the gray area is. What is the exact scope of “actual and necessary expenditure”? DI teams have signed players with EuroLeague experience as well as G League players who have been compensated for playing basketball for several years. The “actual and necessary expenses” category is what gives the NCAA leeway to give players like Nnaji the opportunity to play college basketball.
This is the main principle that has justified the NCAA’s eligibility decisions for those players – and it may one day be challenged in another legal proceeding. — medcalf
