{"id":368403,"date":"2025-12-24T23:44:11","date_gmt":"2025-12-24T23:44:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/368403\/"},"modified":"2025-12-24T23:44:11","modified_gmt":"2025-12-24T23:44:11","slug":"nba-media-fans-losing-minds-after-recent-knicks-draft-pick-signs-with-baylor","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/368403\/","title":{"rendered":"NBA media, fans losing minds after recent Knicks draft pick signs with Baylor"},"content":{"rendered":"

NBA media, fans losing minds after recent Knicks draft pick signs with Baylor<\/a> appeared first on ClutchPoints<\/a>. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

In a rare turn of events, New York Knicks<\/a>\u2019 James Nnaji has been granted NCAA eligibility and is headed to Baylor to play college basketball for the Bears. Nnaji was a second-round pick in 2023<\/a>. He was initially projected to be a first-round pick before the Detroit Pistons selected him 31st overall in the second round. However, after the NCAA granted eligibility to multiple former G League players earlier this year, the former second-round pick is headed back to school.<\/p>\n

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Nnaji is heading back to college basketball<\/a>, per ESPN\u2019s Jonathan Givony.<\/p>\n

\u201cJames Nnaji, the No. 31 pick in the 2023 NBA draft, has enrolled at Baylor, agents Gerard Raventos and Deirunas Visockas of Gersh Sports told DraftExpress. A monumental development: a former NBA draft pick is immediately eligible to play college basketball this season,\u201d Givony reported.<\/p>\n

The news of Nnaji\u2019s return to NCAA basketball didn\u2019t sit well with some, including Field of 88\u2019s Sean Paul, who is more understanding of G League players and non-drafted players, but Nnaji\u2019s last move doesn\u2019t sit well with him<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cAllllllllllllllright, think this is where I draw a line. You can\u2019t be drafted and play college basketball. I don\u2019t care about the G-League shit that much because none of dudes were drafted or ever in consideration to be drafted. James Nnaji was damn near a first round pick,\u201d Paul said.<\/p>\n

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Paul\u2019s collegue in former ESPN writer, Jeff Goodman, agrees<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s hard to blame Scott Drew or any of the college coaches for this if it\u2019s allowed by the NCAA. But it\u2019s become a complete joke now because there are no rules anymore,\u201d Goodman said. \u201cIt\u2019s just \u201cmake it up as you go\u201d now. And where does it end?\u201d<\/p>\n

NBA media, other reactions to James Nnaji\u2019s move to Baylor\"Darren<\/p>\n

Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

The Knicks\u2019 James Nnaji was a projected first-round pick<\/a> before falling to the 31st pick in the 2023 NBA Draft. For many, the opportunities, which included playing in the Hungarian League and with FC Barcelona, for Nnaji should make him ineligible. However, it appears not to be the case.<\/p>\n

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Still, the rare move has confused<\/a> NBA analysts, some of which have come forward, including NBA insider Keith Smith.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t really know how to process that this is a thing,\u201d Smith said. \u201cBut good for Nnaji and good for the Knicks (they acquired Nnaji\u2019s draft rights as the \u201csomething\u201d from the Hornets in the KAT deal) who will get to see him play here stateside. Certainly, a new an interesting situation.\u201d<\/p>\n

Baylor has yet to release a statement.<\/p>\n

Related: Knicks\u2019 Jalen Brunson set to play vs. Cavs on Christmas Day<\/a><\/p>\n

Related: Karl-Anthony Towns appreciates continued respect from Timberwolves fans: \u2018I left my heart and soul here in Minnesota\u2019<\/a><\/p>\n