Baylor C James Nnaji made his debut with the team on Saturday to a “chorus of boos,” as the 2023 first round NBA draft pick’s signing “drew criticism from coaches across college basketball last month.” Though Nnaji never played in an official NBA game, he participated in the 2023 summer league. Now, after “playing the past four years in Europe,” Nnaji suited up for Baylor in the team’s loss to TCU, scoring five points in 16 minutes. Nnaji “received some cheers from a solid Baylor contingent” at TCU’s Schollmaier Arena. Baylor coach Scott Drew after the game said, “James did nothing wrong. Baylor did nothing wrong, and I know he’s human and just making sure he doesn’t feel that” (ESPN.com, 1/3).
In Fort Worth, Mac Engel wrote the “latest mockery of the college student-athlete made his debut Saturday.” Criticizers should “aim the anger at the adults in the room who mutilated college sports beyond recognition, but are still making bank despite the changes they loathe” (FORT WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 1/3).
