Knicks' No. 31 NBA Draft pick enrolls at Baylor, eligible to play college basketball right away

Billy Heyen

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Knicks' No. 31 NBA Draft pick enrolls at Baylor, eligible to play college basketball right away image

In the 2023 NBA Draft, the New York Knicks drafted James Nnaji with the No. 31 overall pick, the first selection of the second round.

Nnaji wasn't coming from college basketball, but rather from Europe. He has had multiple stints in NBA Summer League, but he has yet to appear in an NBA game.

Instead, he spent the last three seasons playing for powerhouse Barcelona in the EuroLeague.

Now? Nnaji is coming to Division I college basketball.

ESPN's Jonathan Givony reports that Nnaji has enrolled at Baylor and is eligible to play immediately for the Bears.

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There have already been former G League players committing to college programs, although none of those guys yet have been NBA Draft picks.

Nnaji was. He nearly was a first-rounder. He played in Summer League multiple times.

And now not only is he going to play in the NCAA -- he's a massive midseason addition for a good Baylor team.

It's a move that definitely won't be loved by the other teams in the Big 12, and it's one that has the potential to set either an intense precedent or lead to a major rule change.

Also, question: Could Nnaji get drafted again? How's that going to work if it ever comes to that?

This is unprecedented.

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Editorial Team