Newly enrolled Baylor University undergraduate, James Nnaji got a barrage of jeers from angry spectators, who did not accept seeing a former National Basketball Association (NBA) drafted player in a college game.
Sports247 reports that there had been critical comments all along from basketball buffs, following the decision by Baylor University to enrol Nnaji, who was selected 31st overall by Detroit Pistons in the 2023 NBA Draft.
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However, after spending five seasons outside USA, playing for Barcelona of Spain, Nnaji signed with Baylor for four years of NCAA eligibility, due to the thin line now separating collegiate and professional levels.
Baylor signing the 21-year-old Nnaji has not been accepted by basketball buffs and the resentment came to the fore, as The Bears played away to TCU in his first game as a college player.
Wearing The Bears’ jersey number 50, which did not have his name on it, Nnaji was greeted with loud boos, which escalated each time he touched the ball and reached a crescendo when the 7-footer netted his first career points.
Nnaji romped in on a putback dunk midway through the first half and later finished the game with five points on 2-of-3 shooting with four rebounds, one assist and two turnovers in 16 minutes off the bench.
Despite Nnaji’s efforts, Baylor lost 69-63 and slumped to 10-3, thereby raising questions about the role of their new signing, who began his basketball career in Hungary before joining Barcelona in 2020.
Since being drafted by the NBA, but in which he never played a game, Nnaji has been loaned out twice to teams in Spain and Türkiye, while his rights were previously traded to Charlotte Hornets and New York Nets.
