John Calipari blasts NCAA over NBA draft pick playing in college

James Nnaji, 2023 NBA Draft The NCAA allowed Baylor to play in the second half of this season, an unprecedented move that shocked many in the basketball world.

Among those confused by Nnaji's commitment was Arkansas head coach John Calipari didn't mince words when discussing the state of college basketball following the Razorbacks' 103-74 win over James Madison on Monday.

Calipari, who won a national championship during his time as Kentucky's coach, spent nearly seven minutes talking about tonight's game during his postgame press conference after a reporter asked his opinion on Nnaji's move.

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“I have friends who play with 27-year-old players and they feel bad, and I said, ‘Don’t feel bad. We don't have any rules. Why should you feel bad? Calipari said, according to The Horrible Announcement. “But let me tell you this. It's very simple: rules are rules. So, if you put your name in the draft, I don't care, if you're from Russia and you stay in the draft, you won't be able to play college basketball. “Well, it's only for American children.” What? If your name is in this draft and you get drafted, you can't play in college because that's our rule. “Yes, but it's only for American children.” OK. OK”.

Nnaji may have started a trend that Calipari and probably others wouldn't want to see if it came to fruition.

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Trentin Flowers, who is currently on a two-way contract with the Chicago Bulls after going undrafted in 2024, is reportedly drawing interest from the club. Michigan Wolverines. Flowers was a member of the National Basketball League's Next Stars program, playing for the Adelaide 36ers in Australia instead of attending college.

If Flowers is allowed to play anywhere in college basketball this season, there will likely be some acrimony from the NCAA, given that it could open a huge portal for NBA fringe players looking to restart.

Arkansas Razorbacks head coach John Calipari watches the game against the Miami Hurricanes at the Watsco Center in Coral Gables, Florida on December 3, 2024. (Sam Navarro/Imagn Images)

“Does anyone care what this does to 17-18 year old American kids?” – Calipari asked in his monologue. “Do you know what this opportunity did for them and their families? We won't have high school students. Who, besides stupid people like me, will recruit high school students? I get so much satisfaction from coaching young kids and watching them grow and succeed and their family's lives change that I will continue to do it. But why would anyone else when you can get NBA players, G League players, guys who are 28 years old, guys from Europe—do we really know their transcript?” Do we have anyone there? Do we really know his birth certificate? Or not?

In Flowers' case, Calipari was outspoken, saying the NCAA should stop allowing players to join programs midseason.

While he said he feels selfish making his proposals to the NCAA, Calipari also knows there are rules that are clearly very different from other rules in college sports. He believes some of his proposals, especially the proposal to not allow players to join programs mid-season, would immediately benefit the game.

Head coach John Calipari of the Arkansas Razorbacks watches the second half against the Texas Tech Red Raiders at the American Airlines Center on December 13, 2025 in Dallas, Texas. (Sam Hodd/Getty Images)

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“We can do this without Congress and the Senate getting 60 votes,” Calipari added. “We can do this. Let them sue us over this.”

Calipari's Razorbacks are currently ranked No. 18 in the AP Top 25, while Arizona is No. 1 overall with a 13-0 record. Arkansas is 10-3 on the season.

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