Tom Izzo Blasts NCAA Over Baylor’s Signing of Former NBA Draft Pick James Nnaji: ‘Shame on the NCAA’
In a fiery press conference on December 27, 2025, Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo unleashed sharp criticism on the NCAA following Baylor’s midseason addition of James Nnaji, a 21-year-old center who was selected 31st overall in the 2023 NBA Draft. Izzo’s remarks, captured in a widely shared video, highlighted growing frustrations among veteran coaches about the evolving landscape of college basketball, where former professional players are increasingly gaining eligibility.
“Now we’re taking guys that were drafted in the NBA and everything?” Izzo said, referencing Nnaji’s background. “I said it to you a month and a half ago – c’mon Magic (Johnson) and Gary (Harris), let’s go baby, let’s do it. Why not? I mean, if that’s what we’re going to, shame on the NCAA. Shame on the coaches, too. But shame on the NCAA, because coaches are gonna do what they gotta do, I guess. But the NCAA is the one—those people on those committees that are making those decisions to allow something so ridiculous, and not think of the kid.”
Izzo, a Hall of Fame coach with a national championship in 2000 and eight Final Four appearances at Michigan State, emphasized that his concerns stem from fairness to current players rather than selfishness for his program. He argued that adding experienced pros displaces younger athletes who have developed within the college system. “I’m thinking of, what is best for my son if he was in that position? And I just don’t agree with it,” he added.
Nnaji, a 7-foot Nigerian big man, never signed an NBA contract after being drafted by the Detroit Pistons (with his rights later traded to Charlotte and then the New York Knicks as part of the Karl-Anthony Towns deal). Instead, he played professionally in Europe, including stints in Hungary, Spain, and most recently Turkey, while appearing in NBA Summer League games in 2023 and 2025. The NCAA granted him immediate eligibility and four full years at Baylor, citing that he maintained amateur status under their bylaws since he never enrolled in college previously and didn’t sign a guaranteed NBA deal.
Baylor coach Scott Drew, whose team was dealing with frontcourt injuries to players like Juslin Bodo Bodo and Maikcol Perez, defended the move as adapting to the current rules. In a December 29 press conference, Drew said, “We don’t make the rules. Until we get to collective bargaining, I don’t think we can come up with rules that are agreeable or enforceable. All of us have got to be ready to adjust and adapt to what’s out there.” Drew revealed he spoke with Izzo, a longtime friend, describing the conversation as positive despite the public disagreement. “Coach Izzo and I are friends. I’ve got a lot of respect for him. Great conversation. As he said, most coaches are 99% aligned on things.”
The Nnaji signing represents an unprecedented escalation in a trend that has been building. Over the past year, several players with professional experience have joined college rosters. For instance, former G League players like London Johnson (Louisville) and Thierry Darlan (Santa Clara) received eligibility rulings earlier in 2025, sparking initial backlash. Numerous international prospects, such as Virginia’s Thijs De Ridder and Texas A&M’s Rubén Dominguez, have also transitioned from paid European leagues to NCAA play without prior college enrollment.
Critics like Izzo argue these rulings erode the developmental essence of college basketball, turning it into a quasi-professional league influenced by NIL deals, revenue sharing, and the transfer portal. “What we’ve done in the NCAA has been an absolute travesty to me,” Izzo said. “We’re just worried about getting sued and we’re not gonna fight anybody.” He predicted that if polled, only 5-10% of Division I coaches would support the current eligibility fluidity.
Other prominent voices echoed Izzo’s sentiments. UConn’s Dan Hurley posted on social media about “Santa Claus delivering midseason acquisitions,” calling the situation “crazy.” St. John’s Rick Pitino lamented that college basketball is becoming “professional basketball with budgets that rival the Euroleague.”
On December 30, NCAA President Charlie Baker issued a statement clarifying boundaries: “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).” This directly addressed reports of interest in players like Chicago Bulls two-way guard Trentyn Flowers, who had explored college options despite NBA appearances. Baker noted the NCAA’s discretion in applying rules to international pros to avoid disadvantaging American players, but warned of “wildly destabilizing” court decisions forcing changes.
The controversy underscores deeper issues in college athletics. Lawsuits have repeatedly challenged NCAA restrictions on transfers, NIL compensation, and eligibility, often resulting in injunctions that expand player rights. Without congressional intervention or a collective bargaining agreement, coaches fear further erosion of traditional structures.
For Baylor, ranked in the top 15 entering Big 12 play, Nnaji provides immediate frontcourt depth. He could debut as early as January 3, 2026, against TCU. Drew has emphasized long-term development over short-term fixes, but the move has intensified calls for reform.
Izzo, meanwhile, remains adamant. “I’m not gonna fight city hall,” he said, “but I’m just not gonna stick up for it, either.” As conference play ramps up in 2026, the debate over who belongs in college basketball shows no signs of cooling. With revenue sharing set to begin in fall 2025 and more pros eyeing lucrative college opportunities, the sport’s identity hangs in the balance.
This episode highlights a pivotal moment: Is college basketball still a stepping stone for amateurs, or has it become another professional avenue? Veteran coaches like Izzo believe the NCAA’s reluctance to “fight” lawsuits has led to this point, prioritizing legal avoidance over preserving the game’s core. As one anonymous high-major assistant told reporters, “If it’s legal, why wouldn’t we do it?” But for purists, the cost is the soul of the college game.
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