It’s common for players to announce they are heading to the pros from college — not the other way around.

But a recent report in basketball has fans baffled after Nigerian center James Nnaji, the 31st overall pick of the 2023 NBA Draft, has committed to play at Baylor.

The 7-foot center will be able to play the second half of the Bears’ season, according to On3 Sports, and will be granted four years of NCAA eligibility.

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How is this possible for someone who not only declared for the NBA Draft but was taken in the first round in 2023?

Well, Nnaji never signed an NBA contract. When he was drafted by the Detroit Pistons, Nnaji had his rights moved to the Charlotte Hornets. Then, in the three-team deal for Karl-Anthony Towns, his rights moved to the New York Knicks.

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Nnaji never appeared in a regular-season NBA game and decided to go overseas to continue his pro career. He played for FC Barcelona in Liga ACB in Spain. They mutually parted ways in August.

Then, Nnaji returned to the Knicks to play in the Summer League in Las Vegas, where he averaged 3.2 points and 3.6 rebounds over five games.

James Nnaji poses during the 2023-2024 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Media Day FC Barcelona Sept. 20, 2023, in Sant Joan Despi, Spain. (Pau Barrena/Euroleague Basketball)

With the Bears thin in the front court — Maikcol Perez and Justin Bodo Bodo are both dealing with injuries — Nnaji will come in and should play significant minutes for Scott Drew’s team at Baylor.

Nnaji was just 18 years old when he was drafted, and teams liked his measurables with the hopes of developing his talent in the league.

James Nnaji of Barcelona takes a shot during the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague regular-season round 34 match against LDLC Asvel Villeurbanne at LDLC Arena on April 12, 2024, in Lyon, France. (Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)

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“Nnaji’s measurables in terms of his size and length are impressive, and he’s a big leaper who can finish above the rim, though he does present as something of a project for the Hornets,” CBS Sports’ Kyle Boone wrote about Nnaji when he was taken in 2023.

Baylor is 9-2 to start the 2025-26 season.

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The Baltimore Ravens’ season is on the brink with their playoff hopes dwindling heading into Week 17 of the season, and substantial change could be coming to the offense in 2026.

Lamar Jackson, the two-time NFL MVP and four-time Pro Bowler, was mentioned in a report as a possible trade candidate before the 2026 season begins. 

Jackson, who has missed time with injuries at multiple points this season, left Sunday night’s game against the New England Patriots and watched his team fall in a crucial matchup, 28-24.

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In a column for The Baltimore Sun on Wednesday, columnist Mike Preston wrote that Jackson has “already become a central figure in possible trade talks.” He suggested that the Ravens should look at potentially trading the star quarterback and named two potential landing spots.

The Miami Dolphins and Las Vegas Raiders.

The column said Jackson “would love to play in Miami,” while Tom Brady had shown a “fondness” for the player in the past, which would make Las Vegas a good destination.

There’s been no public indication that the Ravens have made Jackson available. The team signed Jackson to a massive five-year deal worth $260 million before the 2023 season after a standoff between the two sides.

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson throws a pass against the Cincinnati Bengals in the first half at Paycor Stadium Dec. 14, 2025.  (Katie Stratman/Imagn Images)

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He’s owed $51.25 million in 2026 and 2027 and has a full no-trade clause, according to Spotrac.

The column urged Jackson to start training better and get on a regimented program to prevent future injuries.

He’s played in 115 games for the Ravens since he entered the league in 2018. He has 22,370 passing yards and 184 touchdown passes to go along with 6,513 rushing yards and 35 rushing touchdowns.

With all of his success in the regular season, the Ravens have only made it as far as the conference championship once.

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One thing is for sure. Drama is about to take over the organization in the coming weeks.

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A complete shutout from the Pro Bowl is an exclamation point on the Vikings’ expensive failure this season. The team committed nearly $350 million to its 2025 roster, hoping to support first-time starting quarterback J.J. McCarthy with experienced talent at nearly every position. But some of their top players dealt with injuries, including linebackers Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel and left tackle Christian Darrisaw. Receiver Justin Jefferson, meanwhile, is straining just to reach a 1,000-yard season amid McCarthy’s struggles. The only other time Jefferson missed the Pro Bowl was 2023, when he missed seven games because of a torn hamstring. Long-snapper Andrew DePaola, who won the fan voting and was elected to the previous three Pro Bowls, was the only obvious snub.

Did you know? This season was the third in team history without a single player chosen for the initial Pro Bowl season. The other two were in 1983 and 2014. — Kevin Seifert

NFC SOUTH

Pro Bowlers: OG Chris Lindstrom (4); RB Bijan Robinson (2)

Robinson was a no-brainer. He leads the league in yards from scrimmage (2,026) and is fifth in rushing yards (1,250). More than that, he has been the engine of an injury-plagued Falcons offense. In his third season, Robinson has become one of the top running backs in the league and among the most versatile with a career-high 776 receiving yards. If Robinson is the engine, Lindstrom is the conductor. He is the Falcons’ best run blocker, and his pass protection has improved every season. Lindstrom is also one of the team’s captains.

Did you know? Robinson is the first player with 1,000 rushing yards and 750 receiving yards in a season since Christian McCaffrey in 2019. McCaffrey also has accomplished that feat this season. — Marc Raimondi

Pro Bowlers: CB Jaycee Horn (2)

Horn became the first Carolina player since DE Brian Burns (2021-22) to make consecutive Pro Bowls, and deservedly so. He is tied for second in the NFL in interceptions with five and is a true shutdown corner. The surprise is that DL Derrick Brown didn’t make his second Pro Bowl. He has been a difference-maker as a run stopper, as has been his reputation, but also as a pass rusher.

Did you know? The Panthers still haven’t had multiple players selected to the Pro Bowl since 2022, but that comes with an asterisk. RB Christian McCaffrey and DE Brian Burns made it that year, but McCaffrey was traded to San Francisco in October, so he played only six of 17 games for Carolina. In ’21, Burns and cornerback Stephon Gilmore made the team, but Gilmore made it as an alternate. So you really have to go back to 2019 when LB Luke Kuechly and OG Trai Turner were initial selections. — David Newton

This is the second straight season the Saints have had no players on the initial Pro Bowl roster, although Erik McCoy and JT Gray made last year’s roster as alternates. It’s a sign of where the Saints (5-10) are as they try to emerge from a five-season streak of missing the postseason. The Saints would have to go back to the Pro Bowls for the 2015 and 2016 seasons to find a similar pattern, as neither of those teams had players initially named to the Pro Bowl. Later, Cam Jordan (2015) and Drew Brees (2016) would make the rosters as alternates.

Did you know? Juwan Johnson was briefly among the top 10 tight ends in the fan voting portion, but no Saints players made the top 10 at their position when the final fan votes were tallied. Former Saints wideout/kick returner Rashid Shaheed, who was sent to the Seahawks at the trade deadline this year, made the Pro Bowl as a return specialist after returning two kicks for TDs in Seattle. — Katherine Terrell

Pro Bowlers: FS Antoine Winfield Jr. (2); OT Tristan Wirfs (5)

This marks Wirfs’ fifth consecutive Pro Bowl selection in six seasons (2021-25) and Winfield’s second selection (2021). Both were members of the Bucs’ 2020 draft class, going 13th and 45th overall, respectively. In 11 games this season, Wirfs has posted a 95.2% pass block win rate — third best in the NFL for tackles, and he has surrendered just 3.0 sacks. Winfield is the only defensive back, and one of three players with at least 75 tackles, multiple interceptions, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery through Week 16 this season.

Did you know? Wirfs’ five Pro Bowl selections give him the third most in team history, behind only Mike Evans and Mike Alstott (6). Wirfs and Alstott are the only Bucs offensive players to earn five straight Pro Bowl selections. Wirfs becomes the first Buc to accomplish this feat since defensive tackle Gerald McCoy (2012-17). Winfield joins Pro Football Hall of Famer John Lynch (1997, 1999-2002, 2004-07) as just the second safety in team history to be named to multiple Pro Bowls. — Jenna Laine

NFC WEST

Pro Bowlers: SS Budda Baker (8); TE Trey McBride (2)

There may not have been a more obvious choice for the Pro Bowl than McBride. He is the NFL’s sixth-leading receiver. Not just among tight ends — among everyone. And the next closest tight end is Atlanta’s Kyle Pitts Sr., who ranks 22nd. McBride has established himself as the preeminent tight end in the NFL, which earned him his second straight Pro Bowl nod. Baker has been able to use a Sharpie, not a pencil, on his calendar to schedule a trip to the Pro Bowl. This is his eighth overall selection and seventh straight. He’s the only safety in the NFL to be named to the Pro Bowl in each of the past seven seasons. Linebacker Josh Sweat, who was named as an alternate, is sitting ninth in the NFL in sacks for a defense that has allowed the seventh-most yards this season.

Did you know? McBride is the second tight end in the Cardinals long history to be named to consecutive Pro Bowls. Jackie Smith, who went to five straight Pro Bowls from 1966 to 1970, was the first. — Josh Weinfuss

Pro Bowlers: WR Puka Nacua (2); QB Matthew Stafford (4); LB Jared Verse (2); LB Byron Young (1)

The Rams have four Pro Bowl selections: two on each side of the ball. Stafford is playing some of the best football of his career, leading the NFL in passing yards and touchdowns through Week 16. His top target has been Nacua, who ranks second in receiving yards this season despite missing a game (and nearly two more halves) due to injury. On defense, the Rams have been led by their pass rush, especially Verse and Young. Young leads the team with 11 sacks this season and has earned his first Pro Bowl selection.

Did you know? Verse has now made the Pro Bowl in his first two NFL seasons. He was the Rams’ lone initial selection last season. — Sarah Barshop

Pro Bowlers: OT Trent Williams (12); FB Kyle Juszczyk (10); TE George Kittle (7); RB Christian McCaffrey (4); LS Jon Weeks (2); ST Luke Gifford (1)

Williams and Juszczyk continue to be Pro Bowl mainstays. Williams has bounced back strong from an injury-plagued 2024 and Juszczyk’s 10 selections are the most ever for a fullback. Gifford’s and Weeks’ selections provide evidence of how far the Niners special teams have come from one of the worst units in the NFL in 2024 to one of the best in 2025, though kicker Eddy Piñeiro should have at least been an alternate. McCaffrey and Kittle continue to be standard-bearers at their positions with McCaffrey aiming for a second career season with 1,000 yards in both rushing and receiving.

Did you know? Williams’ 12th Pro Bowl selection ties him with Hall of Famers Randall McDaniel and Will Shields for the second most by an offensive lineman in league history. With two more nods, Williams can tie Bruce Matthews’ 14 for the most ever. — Nick Wagoner

Pro Bowlers: QB Sam Darnold (2); DE DeMarcus Lawrence (5); KR Rashid Shaheed (2); WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba (2); DL Leonard Williams (3); CB Devon Witherspoon (3)

The Seahawks’ breakthrough in Year 2 under Mike Macdonald yielded six Pro Bowl selections, tied with Baltimore, Denver and San Francsico for most in the NFL. Darnold hasn’t thrown as many touchdown passes as Jared Goff (32 to 24) nor does he have as good of a Total QBR as Jordan Love (72.8 to 60.8), but those two NFC quarterback counterparts don’t have their teams in the driver’s seat for the conference’s top playoff seed. After making the Pro Bowl as injury replacements last season, Smith-Njigba and Williams were easy choices on the original ballot. JSN has an NFL-high 1,637 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns while Williams is tied for second among defensive tackles with 7.0 sacks.

Did you know? Witherspoon is the fourth Seahawks player to be named to the Pro Bowl in each of his first three NFL seasons, joining linebackers Fredd Young and Lofa Tatupu and quarterback Russell Wilson. His latest selection is a testament to what Macdonald said recently about how well Witherspoon is playing despite not consistently filling up the stat sheet. — Brady Henderson

AFC roster

Quarterback: Josh Allen*, Buffalo Bills; Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers; Drake Maye, New England Patriots

Running back: De’Von Achane, Miami Dolphins; James Cook, Buffalo Bills; Jonathan Taylor*, Indianapolis Colts

Fullback: Patrick Ricard*, Baltimore Ravens

Wide receiver: Ja’Marr Chase*, Cincinnati Bengals; Nico Collins*, Houston Texans; Zay Flowers, Baltimore Ravens; Courtland Sutton, Denver Broncos

Tight end: Brock Bowers, Las Vegas Raiders*; Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs

Offensive tackle: Joe Alt*, Los Angeles Chargers; Garett Bolles*, Denver Broncos; Dion Dawkins, Buffalo Bills

Offensive guard: Quinn Meinerz*, Denver Broncos; Quenton Nelson*, Indianapolis Colts; Trey Smith, Kansas City Chiefs

Center: Creed Humphrey*, Kansas City Chiefs; Tyler Linderbaum, Baltimore Ravens

Defensive end: Will Anderson Jr.*, Houston Texans; Maxx Crosby, Las Vegas Raiders; Myles Garrett*, Cleveland Browns

Interior linemen: Zach Allen, Denver Broncos; Chris Jones*, Kansas City Chiefs; Jeffery Simmons*, Tennessee Titans

Outside linebacker: Nik Bonitto*, Denver Broncos; Tuli Tuipulotu, Los Angeles Chargers; T.J. Watt*, Pittsburgh Steelers

Inside/middle linebacker: Azeez Al-Shaair, Houston Texans; Roquan Smith*, Baltimore Ravens

Cornerback: Christian Gonzalez, New England Patriots; Derek Stingley Jr.*, Houston Texans; Pat Surtain II*, Denver Broncos; Denzel Ward, Cleveland Browns

Free safety: Jalen Ramsey*, Pittsburgh Steelers

Strong safety: Kyle Hamilton*, Baltimore Ravens; Derwin James Jr., Los Angeles Chargers

Long-snapper: Ross Matiscik*, Jacksonville Jaguars

Punter: Jordan Stout*, Baltimore Ravens

Place-kicker: Cameron Dicker*, Los Angeles Chargers

Return specialist: Chimere Dike*, Tennessee Titans

Special-teamer: Ben Skowronek*, Pittsburgh

NFC roster

Quarterback (3): Matthew Stafford*, Los Angeles Rams; Sam Darnold, Seattle Seahawks; Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys

Running back (3): Jahmyr Gibbs*, Detroit Lions; Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco 49ers; Bijan Robinson, Atlanta Falcons

Fullback (1): Kyle Juszczyk*, San Francisco 49ers

Wide receiver (4): Puka Nacua*, Los Angeles Rams; Jaxon Smith-Njigba*, Seattle Seahawks; George Pickens, Dallas Cowboys; Amon-Ra St. Brown, Detroit Lions

Tight end (2): Trey McBride*, Arizona Cardinals; George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers

Offensive tackle (3): Penei Sewell*, Detroit Lions; Tristan Wirfs* Tampa Bay Buccaneers; Trent Williams, San Francisco 49ers

Offensive guard (3): Tyler Smith*, Dallas Cowboys; Joe Thuney*, Chicago Bears; Chris Lindstrom, Atlanta Falcons

Center (2): Drew Dalman*, Chicago Bears; Cam Jurgens, Philadelphia Eagles

Defensive end (3): Aidan Hutchinson*, Detroit Lions; Micah Parsons*, Green Bay Packers; DeMarcus Lawrence, Seattle Seahawks

Interior linemen (3): Jalen Carter*, Philadelphia Eagles; Leonard Williams*, Seattle Seahawks, Quinnen Williams, Dallas Cowboys

Outside linebacker (3): Brian Burns*, New York Giants, Jared Verse*, Los Angeles Rams; Byron Young, Los Angeles Rams

Inside/middle linebacker (2): Jack Campbell*, Detroit Lions; Zack Baun, Philadelphia Eagles

Cornerback (2): Jaycee Horn*, Carolina Panthers; Devon Witherspoon, Seattle Seahawks

Free safety (2): Kevin Byard III*, Chicago Bears; Antoine Winfield Jr., Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Strong safety (1): Budda Baker*, Arizona Cardinals

Long-snapper (1): Jon Weeks*, San Francisco 49ers

Punter (1): Tress Way*, Washington Commanders

Placekicker (1): Brandon Aubrey*, Dallas Cowboys

Return specialist (1): Rashid Shaheed*, Seattle Seahawks

Special-teamer (1): Luke Gifford*, San Francisco 49ers

* indicates starter