The Knicks Stash Heading to Class

Waco, Texas, Dec 25 – In the modern era of basketball, the path to the NBA is rarely a straight line. But for James Nnaji, the road has taken a turn so sharp it has left scouts and analysts double-checking the rulebook. The 21-year-old center, whose professional rights are currently held by the New York Knicks, has enrolled at Baylor University with immediate eligibility, flipping the traditional “college-to-pro” script on its head.

Usually, a player selected 31st overall in the NBA Draft as Nnaji was by the Detroit Pistons in 2023 is fighting for a roster spot or grinding in the G-League. Instead, Nnaji is trading the professional circuit for a dorm room and a spot in the Big 12.

Standing 6-foot-11 and weighing in at a bruising 250 pounds, Nnaji arrives in Waco not as a bright-eyed freshman, but as a seasoned traveler of the basketball world. The Makurdi, Nigeria, native has spent the last five years playing overseas, honing a physical style of play that the Knicks got a close look at this past summer. During the Las Vegas Summer League, Nnaji suited up for all five of New York’s games, averaging 3.2 points and 3.6 rebounds in roughly 13 minutes of action.

Now, he joins a Baylor squad that sits at 9-2, injecting professional-grade size and rim protection just as the Bears prepare to open conference play against TCU.

This move is a fascinating case study in asset management for the New York Knicks. After acquiring Nnaji’s rights in the blockbuster three-team trade involving Karl-Anthony Towns, the Knicks effectively control his NBA future while he develops in one of the NCAA’s premier programs.

For Baylor, the timing couldn’t be better. Adding a near seven-footer with professional experience right before the gauntlet of the Big 12 schedule is a luxury few college programs ever enjoy. It bridges the gap between a “developmental project” and an “instant impact” transfer. Nnaji isn’t just a prospect; he is a drafted asset with a physically mature frame that collegiate centers will struggle to move in the paint.

“Enrolled with immediate eligibility.” – Jonathan Givony, DraftExpress

The report, citing Nnaji’s agents at Gersh Sports, confirms that the red tape has been cut. This isn’t a “wait and see” situation for next year; Nnaji is cleared to play now. The immediacy of the move suggests that both Nnaji’s camp and Baylor see this as a sprint, not a marathon a chance to dominate the collegiate level before the Knicks come calling again.

As Baylor gears up for their January 3rd clash with TCU, all eyes will be on the big man in the middle. The Knicks will be watching from New York, monitoring their investment from afar, while the rest of the Big 12 tries to figure out how to box out a player who was already drafted to play against the best in the world.