Wetzel: How college basketball ended up signing NBA draft picks
ESPN••general
Key Points:
- College basketball currently allows players like James Nnaji, a 21-year-old European pro and 2023 NBA draft pick, to join college teams midseason with remaining eligibility, raising questions about roster stability and fairness.
- The NCAA's outdated amateurism rules and resistance to change have led to legal defeats and confusion, as players earning a living professionally can still compete in college basketball.
- Attempts by the NCAA to maintain control through legal battles and lobbying efforts have failed, with courts ruling against their restrictive policies and Congress refusing to grant antitrust exemptions.
- Experts argue that recognizing college athletes as employees and establishing collective bargaining could create a more structured and fair system, preventing situations like midseason signings of professional players.
- The
