SUBSCRIBE
Edit Content
Image

NCAA is chargeable for this mess

SportsJan 3, 2026
3
Minute Read
Pinterest
Linkedin
Mail

Former NBA draft pick James Nnaji made history on Saturday after suiting up for the Baylor Bears against the TCU Horned Frogs. TCU fans inside the Schollmaier Arena booed Nnaji, prompting fans on social media to react to the former Pistons pick’s controversial debut.

With Baylor down 14-6 in the first half at the 11:59 mark, Nnaji was subbed in to become the first player in NCAA history to play after getting drafted in the NBA. He was showered with boos, wearing the No. 50 jersey for the Bears. He scored his first basket three minutes later with a putback dunk.

Nnaji, who was drafted 31st overall by the Detroit Pistons in 2021, was cleared by the NCAA to play college basketball last week. He finished his Baylor debut with five points and four rebounds in 16 minutes, while TCU got the last laugh with a 69-63 win.

The NCAA clearing James Nnaji to play was a controversial move that could pave the way for other athletes to follow the same path. NBA fans were not happy with what happened, and some of them blamed the NCAA on social media.

Here are some of the comments on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Not his fault the NCAA is responsible for this mess.

I assume the boos were for the NCAA they allowed this. Baylor just following the rules or when it comes to the NCAA lack of any.

Terrible. This will be the end of college basketball if this keeps happening.

Even ESPN thinks he’s still in the NBA! What are we doing @NCAA?

His team photo on ESPN is in a Hornets jersey

They can’t afford to put his name on the jersey at Baylor?! Nothing says 2-month mercenary like a temp jersey!

How did James Nnaji get cleared by NCAA?

How did James Nnaji get cleared by NCAA? (Photo: IMAGN)How did James Nnaji get cleared by NCAA? (Photo: IMAGN)
How did James Nnaji get cleared by NCAA? (Photo: IMAGN)

The Detroit Pistons selected James Nnaji with the 31st pick in the 2023 NBA draft. Nnaji was considered a raw prospect, playing several seasons with FC Barcelona in Spain. The Pistons traded him to the Charlotte Hornets on draft night, with Nnaji playing in the Summer League before returning overseas.

The Hornets traded him to the New York Knicks the following season as part of the Karl-Anthony Towns deal with the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Knicks still own his rights, though the NCAA still cleared him to suit up for the Baylor Bears. But why was he allowed to play?

According to ESPN, the NCAA cleared Nnaji because he never played an official NBA game in the regular season and playoffs. He wasn’t the first athlete to be cleared after getting drafted, with Nastja Claessens being allowed to play for Kansas State.

Claessens was picked at No. 30 by the Washington Mystics. The NCAA has also allowed a trio of former NBA G League players, Thierry Darlan, Abdullah Ahmed and London Johnson, to return to college.

Nnaji was also within the five-year window of what would be his high school graduation, which was another rule that he had to pass.