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College hoops coaching fable Tom Izzo didn’t clasp backmost erstwhile asked astir James Nnaji returning to Baylor aft being selected successful nan NBA Draft but ne'er having played a crippled for a team.
Nnaji announced he would return to nan Bears aft a stint astatine FC Barcelona. He was selected by nan Detroit Pistons successful 2023 and was traded doubly during his career. He was a portion of nan waste and acquisition that sent Karl-Anthony Towns to nan New York Knicks earlier nan 2024-25 season.
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Michigan State Spartans caput coach Tom Izzo protests a telephone that benefitted nan Iowa Hawkeyes during nan first half astatine Jack Breslin Student Events Center connected Dec. 2, 2025. (Dale Young/Imagn Images)
But Nnaji is portion of a increasing inclination of erstwhile college basketball players, pinch NCAA eligibility remaining, returning to schoolhouse pursuing stints successful nan G League aliases elsewhere. Izzo suggested connected Saturday he’s had capable of it.
"Now we’re taking guys that were drafted successful nan NBA and everything," nan Michigan State men’s hoops coach said, via nan Detroit Free Press. "I said it to you a period and a half agone – c’mon Magic (Johnson) and Gary (Harris), let’s spell baby, let’s do it. Why not? I mean, if that’s what we’re going to (do), shame connected nan NCAA. Shame connected nan coaches, too. But shame connected nan NCAA, because coaches are gonna do what they gotta do, I guess. But nan NCAA is nan one. Those group connected those committees that are making those decisions to let thing truthful ridiculous and not deliberation of nan kid.
James Nnaji of Barcelona takes a changeable during nan Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season Round 34 lucifer betwixt LDLC Asvel Villeurbanne and FC Barcelona astatine LDLC Arena connected April 12, 2024, successful Lyon, France. (Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)
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"So everybody talks astir maine reasoning of my programme aliases I’m selfish. No. Get that straight, for each of you. I’m reasoning of, what is champion for my boy if he was successful that position? And I conscionable don’t work together pinch it."
Izzo maintained he wasn’t going to conflict nan increasing trend, but he besides wasn’t going to fto it walk him by without sharing his thoughts connected nan issue. He maintained that if assemblage hoops is going to beryllium much for illustration nan master ranks, past it should spell each successful alternatively of dipping a toed aliases 2 successful those waters.
James Nnaji of FC Barcelona successful action during lukewarm up anterior to nan 2023/2024 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Play Offs lucifer 1 betwixt FC Barcelona and Olympiacos Piraeus astatine Palau Blaugrana connected April 24, 2024, successful Barcelona, Spain. (Rodolfo Molina/Euroleague Basketball)
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He expressed akin sentiments in October erstwhile nan first harvest of G League players returned to school.
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Ryan Gaydos is simply a elder editor for Fox News Digital.
