Can NBA players still play college basketball? That’s a question no one expected to see, and yet it’s all over the media and is being widely discussed right now. Why does this question exist, and what does the NCAA say about it?
It all started with James Nnaji, a seven-foot center who has committed to the Baylor Bears for the second half of the season. 21-year-old Nnaji was in the 2023 NBA Draft and was picked by the Detroit Pistons in the second round.
Nnaji’s presence in college basketball has raised questions about the eligibility criteria as the line between professional basketball and the NCAA becomes less clear. Jeff Goodman recently asked for clarification from the NCAA.
In response, the NCAA stated that schools are now seeking eligibility for players with professional experience in foreign leagues and are actively recruiting those players. As of now, the NCAA rules do not clearly prohibit them from doing so. Here’s the full statement by the NCAA:
“Schools are recruiting and seeking eligibility for more individuals with more international, semi-pro and professional experience than ever before and while the NCAA members have updated many rules following the House injunction, more rules must likely be updated to reflect the choices member schools are making.”
“At the same time, NCAA eligibility rules have been invalidated by judges across the country wreaking havoc on the system and leading to fewer opportunities for high school students, which is why the Association is asking Congress to intervene in these challenges.”
I asked the NCAA whether players with NBA experience were eligible to play in college.
This was the statement they provided to @TheFieldOf68. pic.twitter.com/FcPiZ5ifOz
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) December 29, 2025
Nnaji has played for FC Barcelona from 2020 to 2025. His experience at the professional level, coupled with his size, will give Baylor an edge over their competition, which is exactly why this issue is being discussed.
Why is James Nnaji Allowed to Play?
Even though Nnaji was drafted by an NBA team, he never signed a full NBA deal. The NCAA rule specifies that once a player signs a standard NBA contract, their college eligibility ends, and they can no longer play there.
This doesn’t include playing in the G-League, playing on two-way contracts, or playing in an international league. Those players still have the option to ask for their eligibility to be restored, and as mentioned by the NCAA in their response, more teams are resorting to that loophole.
Wait so I can go get a degree and play college ball ? 😎
— Dwight Howard (@DwightHoward) December 28, 2025
This trend has even made Hall of Famer Dwight Howard wonder whether he can also play at the college level now. Since Howard never went to college, he hasn’t exercised his eligibility. Needless to say, he was joking, but it goes on to show how big the issue currently is.
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