Nate Oats confirmed on Friday during his press conference that he was planning to play Charles Bediako on Saturday against Tennessee, despite widespread backlash from all corners of the college basketball world.
Bediako, who left Alabama following the 2023 NCAA Tournament to enter the NBA Draft, was granted a temporary restraining order against the NCAA, making him immediately eligible to join the Crimson Tide.
Bediako is eligible to play against Tennessee, and a preliminary injunction hearing will be held on Tuesday that will determine whether he can finish out the season for Alabama.
Oats, who had voiced his displeasure to G-League players and European pros being granted eligibility in the past, explained what pushed him over the edge and led to his support of Bediako's return to Tuscaloosa:
"The James Nnaji situation is really what put it over the edge, in my opinion," Oats told reporters. "...And you see all these players in the EuroLeague being eligible to come play. They're pros. They're professionals. They played in the second-best league in the world behind the NBA."
Baylor's addition of former NBA Draft pick James Nnaji pushed Nate Oats over the edge
James Nnaji and Charles Bediako were in the same NBA Draft class in 2023. Nnaji was ultimately selected with the first pick of the 2nd round (31st overall) by the Detroit Pistons, while Bediako went undrafted.
The difference between the two, in the NCAA's eyes, at least, is that Nnaji never came over to the NBA and signed a contract. He elected to remain in Spain, playing for Barcelona's top team in the EuroLeague, which, as Oats described it, is the second-best league in the world behind the NBA.
Bediako never appeared in an NBA game, but he did sign multiple NBA contracts and played in the G-League. While he's still within his five-year window, Bediako's declaration for the NBA Draft terminated the remainder of his eligibility for college basketball in the NCAA's view.
You'll often hear the term "foregoing remaining eligibility" to describe early entrants to the NBA or NFL, and that's what Bediako did when he chose to leave following his sophomore season at Alabama.
Under normal circumstances, his eligibility wouldn't be a question. It would be a hard no from everyone involved. Under normal circumstances, Oats would have never pursued his return.
But these aren't normal circumstances. The NCAA opened the door by electing to grant eligibility to a player drafted into the NBA three years ago, along with allowing a massive influx of EuroLeague players into college basketball this season.
"The system is clearly broken," Oats said. "I'm all for figuring out a way to fix it. Since the NCAA has already allowed professionals to play ... you tell me how I'm supposed to not support Charles and the team when he's been told he's able to play?"