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James Nnaji, a 2023 NBA Draft pick, was cleared by the NCAA to commit to Baylor to play the second half of this season — an unprecedented move that shocked many in the basketball world.
Among those confused by Nnaji’s commitment was Arkansas head coach John Calipari, who didn’t mince words when discussing the state of college basketball after the Razorbacks’ 103-74 win over James Madison on Monday.
Calipari, who won a national championship during his time as coach at Kentucky, went nearly seven minutes into his postgame press conference talking about today’s game after a reporter asked his thoughts on the Nnaji move.
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Arkansas Razorbacks head coach John Calipari reacts during the second half against the Texas Tech Red Raiders at the American Airlines Center on December 13, 2025 in Dallas, Texas. (Sam Hodde/Getty Images)
“I have friends who play with 27-year-olds and they feel bad, and I said, ‘Don’t feel bad. We don’t have any rules. Why should you feel bad?'” Calipari said, according to Awful Announcing. “But let me give you this. Real simple: The rules bee the rules. So if you put your name in the draft, I don’t care if you’re from Russia, and you stay in the draft, you can’t play college basketball. ‘Well, it’s only for American kids.’ What? If your name is in that draft and you got drafted, you can’t play college because that’s our rule. “Yes, but it’s only for American kids.” OK. OK.”
Nnaji may have started a trend that Calipari, and likely others, won’t like to see come to fruition.
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Trentyn Flowers, currently on a two-way contract with the Chicago Bulls after going undrafted in 2024, is reportedly drawing interest from the Michigan Wolverines. Flowers was a member of the National Basketball League as a member of the Next Stars program and played for the Adelaide 36ers in Australia instead of attending college.
If Flowers is allowed to play anywhere in college basketball this season, the NCAA will likely face some vitriol given that it could open a large portal of fringe NBA players looking to restart.
Arkansas Razorbacks head coach John Calipari looks on after the game against the Miami Hurricanes at the Watsco Center in Coral Gables, Florida on Dec. 3, 2024. (Sam Navarro/Imagn Images)
“Does anyone care what this is doing to 17- and 18-year-old American kids?” Calipari asked in his monologue. “You know what this opportunity has done for them and their families? There won’t be any high school kids. Who, besides stupid people like me, is going to recruit high school kids? I get so much satisfaction out of coaching young kids and watching them grow and make it and their family’s lives change that I keep doing it. But why would anyone else get NBA players if you guys are players, 28-year-old guys from Europe – we really know their transcript. Do we know really their birth certificate?
In Flowers’ case, Calipari was wise to say the NCAA needs to stop allowing players to join programs mid-season.
While he said he feels selfish with his proposals to the NCAA, Calipari also knows there are rules that are clearly very different than anywhere else in college sports. He believes some of his proposals, particularly not allowing players to participate in midseason programs, would benefit the game immediately.
Head coach John Calipari of the Arkansas Razorbacks watches play during the second half against the Texas Tech Red Raiders at the American Airlines Center on December 13, 2025 in Dallas, Texas. (Sam Hodde/Getty Images)
“We can do it without having Congress and the Senate get 60 votes,” Calipari added. “We can do that. Let them sue us for that.”
Calipari’s Razorbacks are currently ranked No. 18 in the AP Top 25, with Arizona sitting at No. 1 overall with a 13-0 record. Arkansas is 10-3 on the season.
