John Calipari’s recent viral video discussing college basketball eligibility has ignited a wave of debate across the sport, exposing growing concerns about how NCAA rules are being applied—and who they truly protect. What began as a hypothetical discussion has quickly turned into a real-world issue as more professional players attempt to enter the college ranks.
The conversation first gained traction with the case of James Nnaji. A former second-round pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, Nnaji recently entered the college basketball landscape after committing to Baylor. At 23 years old, Nnaji has not appeared in an NBA regular-season game, only spending time in the Summer League.