One day after Baylor announced the midseason addition of 2023 NBA draftee James Nnaji, the NCAA officially granted the 7-foot center four years of eligibility, clearing him to play immediately for the Bears. The ruling has ignited social media debates on the future of college athletics amid NIL and antitrust shifts.
Reports on December 25, 2025, confirmed that the NCAA has awarded James Nnaji, the 31st overall pick in the 2023 NBA draft by the Detroit Pistons (rights later traded to Charlotte and New York Knicks), four full years of college eligibility. As detailed in Baylor's December 24 announcement, the 21-year-old Nigerian from Spain never signed an NBA contract despite professional stints overseas, including four seasons with Barcelona in the EuroLeague.
The eligibility clears Nnaji to bolster Baylor's frontcourt, where injuries like Juslin Bodo Bodo's season-ending arm issue have left the 9-2 Bears short on height. Coach Scott Drew expressed excitement about the addition in yesterday's statement.
This decision highlights evolving NCAA rules amid antitrust lawsuits challenging eligibility limits, NIL deals, and the transfer portal. It positions Nnaji as potentially the first drafted player to return to college years later, sparking mixed reactions online: critics argue it erodes amateurism, while supporters view it as athlete empowerment, possibly paving the way for NFL draftees in football.
