Scott Drew isn’t ducking the noise - he’s walking right into it with his head held high.
After a week of criticism surrounding Baylor’s mid-season addition of James Nnaji - yes, that James Nnaji, a former NBA Draft pick - Drew took the mic and addressed the controversy head-on. And instead of throwing jabs, he opened with a nod of respect to Michigan State’s Tom Izzo, who made headlines of his own by saying, “Shame on the NCAA and shame on the coaches, too.”
“First off, Coach Izzo and I are friends, and I have a lot of respect for him,” Drew said, setting the tone early. No defensiveness.
No back-and-forth. Just a coach standing firm in his belief that he’s doing what he’s paid to do - give his program the best shot at success.
Let’s be real: the move to bring in Nnaji raised eyebrows across college basketball. The guy has logged NBA minutes.
He was a second-round pick. And now he’s suiting up in the Big 12?
That’s not something we’re used to seeing - but unusual doesn’t mean unethical.
Drew didn’t shy away from the bigger picture, either. “Until we get to collective bargaining, I don't think we can come up with rules that are agreeable or enforceable,” he said. “We’re always going to adapt to put our program in the best position to be successful, because that’s what we get paid to do.”
That quote cuts right to the heart of where college sports stand in 2025. The transfer portal is a revolving door.
NIL deals are booming. Eligibility rules feel more like guidelines - and vague ones at that.
Coaches are operating in a system with no real rulebook, so it’s no surprise when someone like Drew makes a bold move to help his team. There’s no penalty for trying to get better.
And let’s not pretend this is just a Baylor thing. If another high-major program had landed a former NBA player mid-season, you’d hear a lot more cheers than jeers - especially from the fanbase that landed him. It’s easy to criticize from the outside, but most coaches would jump at the chance to add a talent like Nnaji if the opportunity came knocking.
So yes, it’s a little strange. A little unprecedented.
But this is the new normal in college basketball. And Scott Drew?
He’s not apologizing for playing the hand he was dealt - he’s just trying to win the game.