James Nnaji: Breaking News, Rumors & Highlights

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NCAA eligibility may be a saga that never ends. Things began with former overseas professional players such as James Nnaji and Thierry Darlan, who played pro basketball either overseas or in the NBA G League, then returned to college.

College Football News / Baylor Bears on SI / January 25

Scott Drew's Message to Baylor After 1-6 Big 12 Record, Why James Nnaji Didn't Play

The Baylor Bears fell to 1-6 in Big 12 play on Saturday night after falling to TCU, in what felt like a must-win game for Scott Drew's team. The Horned Frogs were without their star forward David Punch, who missed the contest with the flu.

NBA News / The SportsRush / January 22

'Sounds Really Similar to the One-and-Done Debate': College Analyst Speaks About James Nnaji and NCAA Age Limits

More than ever, it feels like collegiate athletics is the Wild West where anything goes, and there’s nothing anybody can do to get things under control.

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How many of the NBA players with to score 25 points and grab 15 rebounds in the same game at least 60 times can you name in five minutes?

NBA News / Hoops Rumors / January 21

Dink Pate Exploring NCAA Options, Has Passed On Two-Way Offers

Former G League Ignite guard/forward Dink Pate, who is currently playing for the Westchester Knicks, is exploring potential college options, agent Sam Permut of Roc Nation tells Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress (Twitter link).

NBA News / Yardbarker

20 NBA superstars who carried awful teams the farthest

Good players tend to succeed in the NBA. Sometimes, though, they find themselves in terrible situations but still find ways to over-achieve. These are the 20 players who carried the worst NBA teams.

New York Knicks News / FOX Sports / January 16

Watch: Former NBA Draft pick and newest addition to #Baylor, James Nnaji, checks in vs Kansas #CBB

New York Knicks News / ESPN / January 15

Who is James Nnaji -- the most polarizing player in college basketball?

The first men's player to be drafted then cleared by the NCAA sent shockwaves through the sport. Here's how and why.

New York Knicks News / Heartland College Sports / January 11

Maybe Everyone Overreacted About James Nnaji

When Baylor brought in former NBA player James Nnaji, people online acted like the sport was falling apart. Not because he was some five-star monster about to drop 30 a night, but because the NCAA actually cleared him to play.

Takeaways from Baylor's loss to Iowa State

Despite the abundance of headlines surrounding Baylor basketball, Scott Drew, and their controversial addition of James Nnaji, the Bears opened their 2026 with a loss to rival TCU, with Nnaji recording five points, four rebounds in his 16 minutes of action.

NBA News / TCU Horned Frogs on SI / January 5

Midnite Madness and College Basketball's Next Gray Area

James Nnaji made his debut as a basketball player for Baylor University on Saturday, January 3, during the Bears’ 69-63 Big 12 Conference loss to TCU in a sold-out Schollmaier Arena, on the Horned Frogs’ campus in Fort Worth, Texas.

New York Knicks News / ESPN / January 3

Amid boos, Baylor's Nnaji debuts in loss at TCU

James Nnaji, the 7-foot center and 2023 NBA draft pick whose signing drew criticism from coaches across college basketball last month, debuted Saturday, scoring five points with four fouls in Baylor's 69-63 loss to TCU in the Big 12 opener for both teams.

New York Knicks News / FOX Sports / January 3

Watch: Former NBA Draft pick James Nnaji checks in for the first time for Baylor against K-State

New York Knicks News / New York Knicks on SI / January 3

Knicks Should Make Obvious Move to Save Dink Pate Chances

Last week, James Nnaji, who was the No. 31 pick in the 2023 NBA draft and played with the New York Knicks in Summer League, enrolled at Baylor. The decision opened a Pandora's box in the college basketball world.

NBA News / NBC Sports / January 2

Watch: College basketball could use a ‘centralized voice’ on rules

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Baylor coach Scott Drew reveals game plan for playing James Nnaji against TCU

Big 12 play has arrived for Baylor and Scott Drew. Sitting at 10-2 on the season, the Bears will hit the road to take on a TCU program that also has 10 wins.

NBA News / Colorado Buffaloes on SI / January 1

Tad Boyle Calls Out NCAA For Allowing Former Pro James Nnaji Eligibility

Like many other college basketball coaches across the country, Colorado's Tad Boyle was left confused by the NCAA's recent decision to allow former NBA Draft pick James Nnaji four years of eligibility.

New York Knicks News / ESPN / January 1

What does James Nnaji's eligibility mean -- now and for the future?

The former pro signed with Baylor midseason. How did it happen, and what does this mean for the sport?

New York Knicks News / NBC Sports / December 31

Watch: College basketball eligibility rules in 'grey area' after James Nnaji signs with Baylor

NBA News / Last Word On Sports / December 31

Why Professional Basketball Players are Returning to College

Christmas Eve brought an unusual turn of events for the college basketball world. The Baylor Bears announced the signing of James Nnaji. Selected in the second round of the 2023 NBA Draft, at 31st overall, Nnaji has played professional basketball for various European teams since 2019. However, this is far from being an isolated incident.

NBA News / Hoops Wire / December 30

NCAA clarifies eligibility rules for players with NBA contracts

The NCAA is drawing a firm line when it comes to players with NBA contracts. NCAA president Charlie Baker said Tuesday that players who have signed NBA contracts will remain ineligible for college basketball, even as the organization continues to allow certain professional players to enroll and compete at the NCAA level.

Baylor Bears News / Hoops Rumors / December 30

NCAA says players who signed NBA contracts won't be granted eligibility

Although the NCAA has granted four years of college eligibility to 2023 second-round pick James Nnaji, who recently enrolled at Baylor, players who have signed NBA contracts will remain ineligible to play college basketball.

Tom Izzo criticizes absurd system that let Baylor add former NBA Draft pick

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College Basketball News / Larry Brown Sports / December 27

Tom Izzo criticizes system that let Baylor add former draft pick

Tom Izzo criticizes absurd system that allowed Baylor to add former NBA Draft pick James Nnaji: 'Shame on the NCAA, shame on the coaches'

Izzo is very much a traditionalist, and unsurprisingly, he was staunchly opposed to the move.

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New York Knicks News / New York Knicks on SI / December 26

Knicks Center Returns to College Basketball

The Christmas holiday just so happened to be a groundbreaking day in college basketball. James Nnaji, whose draft rights are owned by the New York Knicks and were selected 31st overall in the 2023 NBA Draft, will open the door for guys getting drafted and stashed on NCAA teams instead of overseas.

NBA News / Ball Exclusives / December 24

How did former NBA Draft pick James Nnaji commit to Baylor?

The college sports world was sent into a frenzy on Wednesday after former Detroit Pistons second-round pick James Nnaji officially committed to Baylor University.

New York Knicks News / Hoops Rumors / December 24

Knicks Prospect James Nnaji Enrolls At Baylor

Two years after being selected with the 31st overall pick in the NBA draft, center James Nnaji has enrolled at Baylor and will be immediately eligible to play college basketball this season, his agents at Gersh Sports tell Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress (Twitter link).

Baylor Bears News / Yardbarker / December 26

Former NBA draft pick's college return reveals lunacy of system

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New York Knicks News / Hoops Rumors / August 2

Knicks prospect James Nnaji parts ways with Barcelona

Barcelona and center James Nnaji have opted out of a contract that was scheduled to run through the 2026-27 season, according to an announcement from the Spanish club.

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