Longtime Michigan State coach Tom Izzo has been outspoken about the recent trend of former NBA G League and international players being allowed to participate in college basketball.

On Christmas Eve, Baylor secured a commitment from James Nnaji, the 31st overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft. This 21-year-old center from Nigeria is now eligible to play immediately, retaining four years of eligibility.

“I thought I’d seen the worst — then Christmas came,” Izzo remarked, according to USA Today. “What happened just topped it. … Now we’re allowing players who have been drafted in the NBA? … If that’s the direction we’re heading, shame on the NCAA. Shame on the coaches too, but ultimately it’s the NCAA’s responsibility.”

“The individuals on those committees making such ludicrous decisions are the ones to blame. I simply don’t agree with it.”

Although Nnaji did not play in the NBA or the G League, he participated in five NBA Summer League games with the New York Knicks in July and played professionally in Spain and Türkiye last season.

This is not a unique occurrence, as in October, the NCAA allowed guard London Johnson to join Louisville next season, despite his three years in the G League, providing him with two seasons of eligibility.

Izzo shared that he received a text from “a very famous, great coach” who also criticized these changing eligibility rules, stating that what the NCAA has implemented has been an absolute travesty.

He speculated that perhaps only “5-10%” of Division I coaches would support these changes. “If this is the new norm, then let’s embrace it, but let’s not only go halfway. Because there’s no such thing as that.”

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