You may have missed it, but there was some notable college basketball news the other day, and Spartans head coach Tom Izzo wasn’t happy about it.
Baylor men’s basketball made some news the other day when they announced the signing of James Nnaji, a player that was selected in the NBA Draft in 2023. Nnaji will be joining the Bears’ roster immediately and be eligible to play games after the holiday break.
Advertisement
This news, of course, sent ripples through the college basketball world with many media, fans and coaches sharing their opinion on social media and through interviews. That included the Spartans head coach during his media availability on Saturday. As you would expect, Izzo was not happy about this unprecedented move by the Bears and yet another sign of the changing ways of college basketball.
“Now we’re taking guys that were drafted in the NBA and everything?,” Izzo said during the media session. “I said it to you a month and a half ago – c’mon Magic (Johnson) and Gary (Harris), let’s go baby, let’s do it. Why not? I mean, if that’s what we’re going to, shame on the NCAA. Shame on the coaches, too. But shame on the NCAA, because coaches are gonna do what they got to do. But the NCAA is the one. Those people on those committees that are making those decisions to allow something so ridiculous and not think of the kid(s).
“So everybody talks about me thinking of my program or I’m selfish. No. Get that straight, for all of you. I’m thinking of, what is best for my son if he was in that position? And I just don’t agree with it.”
Spartans Illustrated was on hand for the media session and recorded the full exchange from Izzo and other local reporters on the news of Nnaji joining the Baylor Bears. Click on the social media post below to see Izzo’s thoughts on this controversial subject:
Contact/Follow us @The SpartansWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Michigan State news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Robert Bondy on X @RobertBondy5.
Advertisement
This article originally appeared on Spartans Wire: Tom Izzo rips NCAA, Baylor’s loophole signing of NBA Draft pick James Nnaji
