"I am so against that" - Matt Barnes blasted the NCAA for allowing James Nnaji’s return to college basketball
One of the biggest stories in sports today is James Nnaji , who became the first player to play in the NCAA after getting drafted in the NBA. Nnaji spent five years playing overseas before being drafted 31st overall by the Detroit Pistons in the 2023 Draft and went on to participate in the Summer League.
He was even a part of the trade that sent Karl Anthony-Towns to the New York Knicks , with the Knicks still owning Nnaji's draft rights. While Nnaji's decision to return to amateur play is criticized, what he did is still not illegal.
NCAA clears players if they have no history of enrolling in college, haven't played in the NBA and are still within five years of high-school graduation. The NCAA cleared Nnaji because he fits those criteria.
Speaking with college basketball insiders Jay Bilas and Seth Greenberg on his podcast, Matt Barnes called out Nnaji and the NCAA for allowing all of this to happen.
"I am so against that, from a standpoint of, and again the rules are outdated, but we came from an era if you stayed in the draft and didn't get drafted, it's unfortunate," Barnes said .
"I feel like if you make that jump and go pro, there's no way you should be able to be coming back," he added.
A dangerous precedent
This is not the only time this has happened in basketball. Nastja Claessens was also a former WNBA draft pick but eventually chose to play college basketball for Kansas State instead.
On paper, Nnaji and Claessen's situations are not as different to how former international professional players get a chance to play basketball in the NCAA. The only difference is that both Nnaji and Claessen already made the jump and were drafted by their respective professional leagues.
Barrnes further explains the danger of the NCAA letting players like Nnaji, who is 21 and has played at the professional level, play in college after being drafted.
"I can only imagine as a 26, 27-year-old, there's not a thing the most talented 17-year-old can do unless you're a Kobe, because I know I'm going ot bully the s—t out of you," he said. The strength there, and I've got nine years on you."
"There's just such a difference because you're still developing so much at 17, 18, when you get into college. our bodies continue to develop until we're like 26, 27. 28, so there's nothing you can really do," he added.
The facts are evident. A 21-year-old clearly has an advantage over a 17-year-old high school graduate due to their superior physical abilities. Not to mention Nnaji's five years of professional experience are more enticing for head coaches who want to win instantly.
The NIL also undoubtedly plays a significant role in Nnaji and Claessens' decisions. College players are now cleared to benefit from their likeness and ability, allowing them to make as much as some professional players.
What this means for college basketball
Nnaji is currently playing for Baylor in the NCAA but is only averaging 1.7 points and 3.7 rebounds per game. Despite his eventful college career so far, the potential dangers of Nnaji's case still linger.
Drafted players who meet the NCAA's eligibility criteria now have an example to follow if they want to maximize their careers and pursue playing college basketball and its alluring NIL opportunities before entering the NBA.
Unless the NCAA modernizes its eligibility standards, fans may see older, more experienced players battling younger, less developed prospects in college basketball for years to come.
Other fans might look at the situation and think this means more opportunities to build talented prospects by letting them play against pro-level players early on. Still, Nnaji's case is just the latest example of how college sports continue to lose their essence.
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Jan 24, 2026, where it first appeared in the College section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
