James Nnaji might be a name many Charlotte Hornets fans have already forgotten. But the big man from Nigeria has recently rocked the boar in the basketball world by enrolling at Baylor University, presumably to play college hoops. The development comes over two years after he was drafted in the NBA, potentially making him the first to suit up in the NCAA after being drafted by an NBA team.
In 2023, Nnaji caught the Hornets' attention enough to trade their Nos. 34 and 39 picks to move up to the No. 31 slot, which they used on him. They thought it best, though, to let him continue playing in Europe.
The following year, Charlotte joined the Karl-Anthony Towns megadeal as a trade facilitator between the Minnesota Timberwolves and New York Knicks. It acquired a few prospects and three second-round picks, only giving up the draft rights to Nnaji and sending him to the Knicks.
Controversy in the NCAA
The Hornets have nothing to do with the Nnaji at the moment. Still, you can't help but wonder how things would have turned out if he stepped into the Association as soon as he was drafted.
Now, the 21-year-old center's possible decision to suit up for Baylor has ruffled some feathers because some people believe it sets an unwanted precedent for amateur basketball. The thing is, he isn't the first player with professional experience to join a collegiate program. A couple of former players from the now-defunct G League Ignite squad, Thierry Darlan and London Johnson, were granted college eligibility earlier this year by the NCAA.
Nnaji's case might be a bit different, though. Aside from having already been drafted into the NBA, he played for the Hornets' Summer League team in 2023. He suited up in this year's Summer League for New York. There's also the matter of him having played professionally since 2019. He began his career in Hungary before signing up with FC Barcelona in 2020. It's worth pointing out that he had never signed an NBA contract.
The question now is whether other NBA draftees can follow in Nnaji's footsteps in the future by returning to college. That probably wouldn't be that big of a problem, since draft-and-stash moves, particularly for late second-round picks, are still quite prevalent in the league.
On the other hand, it could affect the G League ecosystem, as it could result in a significant decline in the level of talent in the NBA's developmental league. If that turns out to be the case, we can expect commissioner Adam Silver to step in.