It\u2019s a question that would have seemed absurd a year ago: \u201cShould professional basketball players be allowed to return to college to play basketball?\u201d<\/p>\n
But that very question is currently being debated across the college and NBA \u2014 and being litigated in court \u2014 after several athletes who played in the G League or were drafted by NBA teams applied for and received, at least temporarily, approval to play in college. That includes Charles Bediako<\/a>, who after playing for Alabama for two seasons, opted to declare for the NBA Draft. After toiling in the G League for three years, Bediako returned to the Crimson Tide for five games before a temporary restraining order allowing him to play was overruled.<\/p>\n Former UCLA one-and-done Amari Bailey played 10 games in the NBA<\/a> and is trying to go back to play in college. James Nnaji, who plays for Baylor, began his professional career in Europe and was drafted in the 2023 NBA Draft, although he never played in the NBA or collegiately before joining Baylor. Louisville\u2019s London Johnson competed in the G League before heading to college for the first time last fall.<\/p>\n During All-Star Weekend, The Athletic polled players on whether pros should be allowed to return to the college ranks.<\/p>\n That\u2019s a firm \u201cno,\u201d according to 10 of the 12 players who responded.<\/p>\n \u201cI think there should be boundaries for sure,\u201d said the Brooklyn Nets\u2019 Egor Demin, who played at BYU after playing professionally in Spain. \u201cI think if you play the game in the NBA, that probably makes no sense to let a player go back to college. It\u2019s kinda unfair to the other guys, right?\u201d<\/p>\n Demin\u2019s opinion carries weight because he is an example of the loophole that players like Bailey and Bediako are saying is unfair to them. Current rules allow players such as Demin, who played professionally in Europe for Real Madrid, to come to the U.S. and play in college. Franz and Moritz Wagner both played for Alba Berlin before playing collegiately at Michigan.<\/p>\n The same opportunity has not, traditionally, been afforded to American players who played in the NBA or G League.<\/p>\n \u201cI just feel like there\u2019s a reason why they call you a pro,\u201d said the Grizzlies\u2019 Jaylen Wells, who played at both Sonoma State and Washington State. \u201cAnd when you\u2019re in college, you\u2019re not a pro.\u201d<\/p>\n Jalen Johnson, an All-Star with the Atlanta Hawks, said, \u201cIf you declare for the draft, I think that\u2019s kinda your way of saying like I\u2019m ready to be a pro. And I also feel like it kind of takes away opportunities from other kids who are looking to get discovered and other kids who are looking for a chance.\u201d<\/p>\n Added Jase Richardson, the Orlando Magic rookie who played one year at Michigan State: \u201cAbsolutely not. I think as soon as you declare, honestly, when the deadline hits and you declare, you should not be able to go back.\u201d<\/p>\n The two players we spoke to who offered any support to the idea were Kyshawn George of the Washington Wizards, who simply said, \u201cWhy not?\u201d and Toronto rookie Alijah Martin, who said, \u201cTo each his own.\u201d<\/p>\n Alabama and coach Nate Oats have drawn criticism<\/a> from other coaches, administrators and college basketball personalities for recruiting and playing Bediako, and his return to college basketball seemed to spark continued eligibility efforts<\/a> by other athletes who had left college and played in the NBA.<\/p>\n