US EditionNCAA Tries to Clarify NBA Stance After Baylor's Addition of 2023 Draft Pick Prompts Criticism
NCAA President Charlie Baker closes eligibility for athletes with NBA contracts to clarify rules amid recent disputes, affecting players like James Nnaji and Trentyn Flowers, NCAA said.
- On Tuesday, NCAA president Charlie Baker announced the NCAA will not grant eligibility to any student-athlete who signed an NBA contract, including two-way deals, framing it as a firm public stance.
- Baylor's Christmas Eve addition of James Nnaji reignited debate as the NCAA cleared him last week despite his professional play in Europe with FC Barcelona.
- Citing enforcement instability, the NCAA noted recent outlier court rulings have enjoined longstanding rules nationwide, and Baker framed his statement as designed to bring clarity to an evolving eligibility landscape.
- Legal and roster consequences may emerge as the NCAA's stance could be tested in court, forcing college programs recruiting experienced pros to face immediate roster uncertainty.
- Looking across precedents, the NCAA's line draws a sharper distinction between international professional players and NBA affiliation, despite exceptions like London Johnson and Thierry Darlan.
33 Articles
33 Articles
NCAA President Charlie Baker draws firm line on college eligibility for players with NBA contracts
The NCAA’s position on eligibility for athletes whose background includes NBA experience has been firmly placed under the microscope in 2025.The organization’s stance was called into question after James Nnaji joined the Baylor men’s basketball team. Nnaji’s move was compounded by reports that Trentyn Flowers, a rookie on a two-way contract with the Chicago Bulls, was allegedly pursuing NCAA eligibility.Just ahead of New Year’s Eve, NCAA Preside…
Eligibility, International Intrigue and NCAA Drama – The American Spectator | USA News and Politics
It was a headline that I had to read twice: An NBA draft pick deciding to walk away and play college ball instead. Being an NBA draft pick wasn’t enough for James Nnaji. In a plot twist worthy of a Netflix sports series, Nnaji, a 7‑footer Nigerian center, was drafted 31st in 2023, traded twice, and never logged a single NBA minute except for a handful of summer league games. He continued to play professionally in Europe after he was drafted, but…
Eligibility, international intrigue and NCAA drama: The pro-to-college pipeline - The Thinking Conservative News
College athletics has become the sports world’s “Where Are They Now?” nobody asked for, with storylines growing increasingly unhinged over time. The post Eligibility, international intrigue and NCAA drama: The pro-to-college pipeline appeared first on The Thinking Conservative News.
NCAA tries to clarify NBA stance after Baylor's addition
INDIANAPOLIS — The NCAA said Tuesday it would not grant eligibility to any player who had signed an NBA contract after Baylor's midseason addition of a 2023 draft pick who had been playing professionally in Europe prompted criticism from coaches…
Associated Press News
NCAA tries to clarify NBA stance after Baylor's addition of 2023 draft pick prompts criticism
The NCAA says it won't grant eligibility to any player who had signed an NBA contract after Baylor’s midseason addition of a 2023 draft pick who had been playing professionally in Europe prompted criticism from coaches across college basketball.
NCAA President Slams the Door on NBA Players Seeking College Eligibility
The NCAA has taken a firm and public stance on a growing eligibility debate, shutting down any possibility of NBA players returning to college basketball or committing for the first time.On Tuesday, NCAA President Charlie Baker issued a clear statement confirming that any player who has signed an NBA contract, including a Two-Way deal, will not be granted collegiate eligibility.The announcement comes amid increasing confusion and controversy sur…
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