When former NBA draft pick James Nnaji committed to play for Scott Drew’s Baylor program, it signaled a shift in the college basketball landscape. Nnaji, the 31st pick in the 2023 NBA draft, has played in Europe since he was drafted and the Knicks currently own his draft rights.
The commitment sparked plenty of controversy, notably with Michigan State coach Tom Izzo ripping the NCAA for allowing in-season additions that take away from players already within the program. Although Nnaji hasn’t played in an NBA game, he was nearly a first-round draft pick, played in the NBA Summer League in two separate seasons and his draft rights even landed with the Knicks as part of the deal that sent star big man Karl-Anthony Towns to New York.
