Tom Izzo didn’t hold back this afternoon when asked about Baylor’s newest addition, James Nnaji - a 21-year-old who was drafted into the NBA in 2023 but is now suiting up for a college team. The Michigan State head coach, known for his passion and candor, lit into the NCAA for what he sees as a baffling and unfair decision.
“I thought I’d seen the worst. Then Christmas came,” Izzo said.
“It topped it. It just topped it.
What happened just topped it.”
The frustration was clear - and so was the sarcasm. Izzo even joked about calling up some of his former Spartan stars to return to college hoops.
“Come on Magic (Johnson) and Gary (Harris), let’s go baby, let’s do it,” he said with a smirk. “Why not?”
But behind the humor was a serious message. Izzo wasn’t just venting about a single player or one school - he was taking aim at the NCAA’s decision-making process.
His issue? That a player who’s already been drafted into the NBA, played overseas, and appeared in the Summer League is now eligible to play college basketball.
To Izzo, that’s a line that shouldn’t be crossed.
“Shame on the NCAA,” he said. “Shame on the coaches, too.
But shame on the NCAA, because coaches are gonna do what they gotta do, I guess. But the NCAA is the one.
Those people on those committees that are making those decisions to allow something so ridiculous and not think of the kid.”
Let’s break this down.
James Nnaji was selected 31st overall in the 2023 NBA Draft - a high second-round pick - but never signed an NBA contract. Instead, he chose to play professionally in Europe, gaining experience in a different system, against grown men, in a league that pays.
Fast forward to 2025, and he was back stateside, playing in the NBA Summer League with the New York Knicks. Now, he’s enrolled at Baylor and eligible to play college basketball.
Technically, under current NCAA rules, Nnaji’s path is legal. He didn’t sign an NBA contract, which leaves a window open for college eligibility. But for coaches like Izzo, who have spent decades developing players under the traditional college model, this feels like a loophole that undermines the spirit of amateurism - or at least what’s left of it.
From Izzo’s perspective, this isn’t just about one player. It’s about precedent.
If a drafted player - with professional experience - can return to college competition, what does that mean for the integrity of the college game? What message does it send to players who’ve taken the traditional route, grinding through high school and college without a taste of the pro life?
And maybe more importantly, what does it say about the NCAA’s role in shaping the rules of the game?
Izzo’s rant was emotional, yes. But it was also rooted in a deeper concern about the evolving landscape of college basketball - one where eligibility rules are shifting, NIL deals are booming, and the line between amateur and professional continues to blur.
This situation with Nnaji is just the latest flashpoint. And if Izzo’s reaction is any indication, it’s a debate that’s far from over.