{"id":573270,"date":"2026-01-31T17:01:18","date_gmt":"2026-01-31T17:01:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/573270\/"},"modified":"2026-01-31T17:01:18","modified_gmt":"2026-01-31T17:01:18","slug":"nate-oats-doubles-down-on-support-for-charles-bediakos-eligibility-case-vs-ncaa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/573270\/","title":{"rendered":"Nate Oats doubles down on support for Charles Bediako’s eligibility case vs. NCAA"},"content":{"rendered":"

After several delays and a change of judges, Charles Bediako<\/a> will finally get his day in court next Friday to make his case for why he deserves eligibility to finish out the 2025-26 season as a member of Alabama<\/a> men\u2019s basketball team. And Crimson Tide head coach Nate Oats<\/a> will be in his corner the whole time.<\/p>\n

During a press conference Friday ahead of Saturday\u2019s road game at No. 19 Florida, Oats doubled down on his unflinching support for the 7-foot former professional in his ongoing legal battle vs. the NCAA. Bediako is seeking a temporary injunction against the NCAA, which declared the 23-year-old center ineligible after signing multiple contracts with NBA teams and playing the last three years in the G League.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think Charles has a good case on why he should be eligible,\u201d Oats said Friday afternoon, according to BamaOnLine\u2019s Charlie Potter<\/a>. \u201cI\u2019m in 100% agreement with him and his attorneys on his case. We\u2019ll let the attorneys and judges decide on a final ruling, but for this game, we\u2019ve got him, and I think he helps us win.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nate Oats on Charles Bediako: “I think Charles has a good case on why he should be eligible. I’m in 100% agreement with him and his attorneys on his case. We’ll let the attorneys and judges decide on a final ruling, but for this game, we’ve got him, and I think he helps us win.”<\/p>\n

\u2014 Charlie Potter (@Charlie_Potter) January 30, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Newly-appointed<\/a> Tusaloosa County Circuit Court judge Daniel Pruet rescheduled Bediako\u2019s injunction hearing for Feb. 6 to address his request for a temporary injunction<\/a> that would effectively allow him to finish out the current season with the Crimson Tide. Bediako, who previously played 68 career games in two seasons (2021-22 and 2022-23) in Tuscaloosa before entering the 2023 NBA Draft, only has one semester remaining in his five-year eligibility window that began in 2021.<\/p>\n

After going undrafted, the 7-footer signed with the\u00a0San Antonio Spurs, including a two-way contract that would have made him eligible to play in the NBA if elevated. Of course, that never happened, and Bediako spent the next two years bouncing around the G-League, signing deals with the\u00a0Orlando Magic\u00a0and\u00a0Denver Nuggets.<\/p>\n

Bediako is averaging 13.5 points and 4.5 rebounds in 21.5 minutes per game in two games since returning to No. 23\u00a0Alabama\u00a0(14-6, 4-3 SEC) last week. After receiving a 10-day extension<\/a> to the original temporary restraining order on Jan. 20<\/a> that first made him eligible, Bediako will be available to play Saturday at No. 19\u00a0Florida<\/a> and against\u00a0Texas A&M<\/a>\u00a0on Feb. 4 before next Friday\u2019s hearing. Bediako\u2019s availability for the Feb. 7 game at rival Auburn<\/a>, and potentially the rest of Alabama\u2019s season, will depend on what happens in that Feb. 6 hearing inside Tuscaloosa County Circuit Court.<\/p>\n