John Calipari rips NCAA after NBA player enters college mid-season: 'We don't have any rules'

James Nnaji, a 2023 NBA Draft pick, was allowed by nan NCAA to perpetrate to Baylor to play nan 2nd half of this play — an unprecedented move that shocked galore successful nan hoops world.

Among those confused by Nnaji’s committedness was Arkansas caput coach John Calipari, who didn’t mince his words erstwhile discussing nan authorities of assemblage hoops pursuing nan Razorbacks’ 103-74 triumph complete James Madison connected Monday.

Calipari, who won a nationalist title during his clip coaching astatine Kentucky, went almost 7 minutes during his post-game property convention talking astir today’s crippled aft a newsman asked his thoughts connected nan Nnaji move.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Head coach John Calipari of nan Arkansas Razorbacks reacts during nan 2nd half against nan Texas Tech Red Raiders astatine American Airlines Center connected Dec. 13, 2025 successful Dallas, Texas. (Sam Hodde/Getty Images)

"I’ve sewage friends that are playing pinch 27-year-olds, and they consciousness bad, and I said, ‘Don’t consciousness bad. We don’t person immoderate rules. Why should you consciousness bad?'" Calipari said, per Awful Announcing. "But fto maine springiness you this. Real simple: nan rules bees nan rules. So, if you put your sanction successful nan draft, I don’t attraction if you’re from Russia and you enactment successful nan draft, you can’t play assemblage basketball. ‘Well, that’s only for American kids.’ What? If your sanction is successful that draft, and you sewage drafted, you can’t play assemblage because that’s our rule. ‘Yeah, but that’s only for American kids.’ OK. OK."

Nnaji whitethorn person started a inclination that Calipari, and apt others, won’t for illustration to spot if it comes to fruition.

LEGENDARY COLLEGE BASKETBALL COACH RIPS NCAA AS NBA DRAFT PICK IS ALLOWED TO PLAY FOR SCHOOL

Trentyn Flowers, who is presently connected a two-way statement pinch nan Chicago Bulls aft going undrafted successful 2024, is reportedly drafting liking from nan Michigan Wolverines. Flowers was a personnel of nan National Basketball League arsenic a personnel of nan Next Stars program, playing for nan Adelaide 36ers successful Australia alternatively of going to college.

If Flowers is allowed to play anyplace successful assemblage hoops this season, nan NCAA would apt look immoderate vitriol considering it could unfastened a immense portal of fringe NBA players looking to restart.

Arkansas Razorbacks caput coach John Calipari looks connected aft nan crippled against nan Miami Hurricanes astatine Watsco Center successful Coral Gables, Florida, connected Dec. 3, 2024. (Sam Navarro/Imagn Images)

"Does anybody attraction what this is doing for 17-and 18-year-old American kids?" Calipari questioned successful his monologue. "Do you cognize what this opportunity has done for them and their families? There aren’t gonna beryllium immoderate precocious schoolhouse kids. Who, different than dumb group for illustration me, are gonna enlistee precocious schoolhouse kids? I get truthful overmuch restitution retired of coaching young kids and seeing them turn and make it and their family’s life changes that I’m gonna support doing it. But why would anybody else, if you tin get NBA players, G-League players, guys that are 28 years old, guys from Europe — do we really cognize their transcript? Do we person personification complete there? Do we really cognize their commencement certificate? Or don’t we?"

In Flowers’ case, Calipari was blunt, saying nan NCAA has to extremity allowing players to subordinate programs mid-season.

While he did opportunity that he feels selfish pinch his suggestions to nan NCAA, Calipari besides knows that location are rules that are intelligibly overmuch different than anyplace other successful assemblage sports. He believes immoderate of his suggestions, particularly that of not allowing players to subordinate programs mid-season, would use nan crippled immediately.

Head coach John Calipari of nan Arkansas Razorbacks watches play during nan 2nd half against nan Texas Tech Red Raiders astatine American Airlines Center connected Dec. 13, 2025 successful Dallas, Texas. (Sam Hodde/Getty Images)

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

"We tin do it without having Congress and nan Senate getting 60 votes," Calipari added. "We tin do that. Let them writer america connected that stuff."

Calipari’s Razorbacks are presently classed No. 18 successful nan AP Top 25, pinch Arizona sitting astatine No. 1 wide pinch a 13-0 record. Arkansas is 10-3 connected nan season.

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports sum connected X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.