NBA draft pick joins Baylor for second half of season in unprecedented move

It’s communal for players to denote they are heading to the pros from assemblage — not the different mode around.

But a caller study successful hoops has fans baffled, arsenic Nigerian halfway James Nnaji, the 31st wide prime of the 2023 NBA Draft, has committed to play astatine Baylor.

The 7-foot halfway volition beryllium capable to play the 2nd fractional of the Bears’ season, according to On3 Sports, arsenic good arsenic being granted 4 years of NCAA eligibility.

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James Nnaji of FC Barcelona successful enactment during lukewarm up anterior the 2023/2024 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Playoffs lucifer 1 betwixt FC Barcelona and Olympiacos Piraeus astatine Palau Blaugrana connected April 24, 2024 successful Barcelona, Spain. (Rodolfo Molina/Euroleague Basketball)

How is this imaginable for idiosyncratic who not lone declared for the NBA Draft, but was taken successful the archetypal circular successful 2023?

Well, Nnaji ne'er signed an NBA contract. When helium was drafted by the Detroit Pistons, Nnaji had his rights moved to the Charlotte Hornets. Then, successful the Karl-Anthony Towns three-team deal, his rights moved to the New York Knicks.

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Nnaji ne'er appeared successful a regular-season NBA game, but alternatively decided to spell overseas to proceed his pro career. He played for FC Barcelona successful Liga ACB successful Spain. They mutually parted ways successful August.

Then, Nnaji returned to the Knicks to play successful the Summer League successful Las Vegas, wherever helium averaged 3.2 points and 3.6 rebounds implicit 5 games.

James Nnaji poses during the 2023/2024 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Media Day FC Barcelona connected Sept. 20, 2023, successful Sant Joan Despi, Spain. (Pau Barrena/Euroleague Basketball)

With the Bears being wounded successful the beforehand tribunal — Maikcol Perez and Justin Bodo Bodo are some dealing with injuries — Nnaji volition travel successful and should play important minutes for Scott Drew’s squad astatine Baylor.

Nnaji was conscionable 18 years aged erstwhile helium was drafted and teams truly liked his measurables with the hopes of processing his endowment successful the league.

James Nnaji of Barcelona takes a changeable during the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season Round 34 lucifer betwixt LDLC Asvel Villeurbanne and FC Barcelona astatine LDLC Arena connected April 12, 2024, successful Lyon, France. (Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)

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"Nnaji’s measurable successful presumption of his size and magnitude are awesome and he’s a large leaper who tin decorativeness supra the rim, though helium does contiguous arsenic thing of a task for the Hornets," CBS Sports’ Kyle Boone wrote astir Nnaji erstwhile helium was taken successful 2023.

Baylor is presently 9-2 to commencement the 2025-26 season.

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