Baylor men's basketball has added 21-year-old center James Nnaji, selected 31st overall in the 2023 NBA Draft, to its roster midseason. The Nigerian big man is immediately eligible to play after never signing an NBA contract. This historic move fills a key void for the 9-2 Bears amid evolving NCAA eligibility rules.
Baylor University announced on December 24, 2025, that it has signed James Nnaji, a 7-foot center from Makurdi, Nigeria, who was drafted by the Detroit Pistons in the 2023 NBA Draft. His rights were traded to the Charlotte Hornets shortly after and later to the New York Knicks as part of the Karl-Anthony Towns deal in September 2024. Nnaji, who stands at 251 pounds with a 7-foot-7 wingspan, spent the past three seasons playing professionally in Europe, primarily with FC Barcelona in the EuroLeague, along with loans to teams in Spain and Turkey. He parted ways with Barcelona after the 2024-25 season and appeared in the 2025 NBA Summer League for the Knicks, averaging 3.2 points and 3.6 rebounds in 12.9 minutes across five games.
Because Nnaji never signed a standard NBA contract, he retains four years of NCAA eligibility and can play immediately for Baylor. Head coach Scott Drew praised the addition, stating, “James is a really talented young player with a ton of potential, and we’re excited to welcome him to the Baylor Family. Any time you add someone to the roster midseason, it’s going to be a process to get them acclimated and up to speed, but we know James will do everything he can to make it a seamless transition.”
The signing addresses a frontcourt need after Juslin Bodo Bodo, the 2025 Big South Defensive Player of the Year, suffered a season-ending arm injury. Baylor, currently 9-2, lacks height in its rotation, with no player taller than 6-foot-9 seeing significant minutes. Nnaji is expected to debut soon, potentially as early as the Bears' next game against Arlington Baptist on December 29.
This move marks a milestone, as Nnaji will be the first former NBA Draft pick to play college basketball years after being selected. It highlights shifting NCAA rules allowing players with professional experience, including G League stints, to return to the collegiate level. Coaches like Michigan State's Tom Izzo have criticized these changes, with Izzo calling them “ridiculous” and “embarrassing.” Baylor's Drew has echoed frustrations but capitalized on the opportunity. An NCAA spokesperson noted, “Each eligibility case is evaluated and decided individually based on the facts presented,” emphasizing ongoing legal challenges to the rules.
