NCAA clarifies eligibility rules for players with NBA contracts

The NCAA is drawing a firm line when it comes to players with NBA contracts.

NCAA president Charlie Baker said Tuesday that players who have signed NBA contracts will remain ineligible for college basketball, even as the organization continues to allow certain professional players to enroll and compete at the NCAA level.

Baker’s statement comes after the NCAA granted four years of eligibility to James Nnaji, the 31st pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, who recently enrolled at Baylor.

Nnaji never signed an NBA contract and continued playing in Europe as a draft-and-stash prospect, clearing the path for his eligibility.

“The NCAA has not and will not grant eligibility to any prospective or returning student athletes who have signed an NBA contract, including a two-way contract,” Baker said in a statement.

He added that the NCAA is exercising discretion to ensure players with American league experience are not disadvantaged compared to international prospects, while also defending long-standing eligibility rules.

The clarification follows reports that college programs had reached out to players with NBA experience, including former Mavericks two-way player Jazian Gortman and current Bulls two-way player Trentyn Flowers.

While international professionals and some former G League players have been granted eligibility, Baker’s comments make clear that signing an NBA contract remains a hard stop. Gortman and Flowers have both appeared in NBA games, which would disqualify them under current rules.

That may not end the discussion, of course. Although neither player is believed to be actively pursuing a college path, Baker acknowledged that recent legal challenges have created uncertainty.

At some point, a player with NBA experience could test the NCAA’s stance in court. So stay tuned with this one. There may be more to come.