After 10 games played in the NBA, Amari Bailey is fighting to play again in the NCAA

Former UCLA glory and former high school teammate of Bronnie James, Amari Bailey he is only 21 years old and is looking to become the first player to return to the NCAA after playing in the NBA. To do this, he hired an agent and a lawyer to convince the university authorities of his eligibility.

Drafted in 2023, at age 18, Amari Bailey played 10 games with the Hornets, over ” two-way contract », and his horizons blocked in the pros, he wants to continue his university career. “Today I would be a senior at university”, he reminds. “I’m not 27 years old… Without criticizing those who do it because everyone has their own path, I went to the professionals, I learned a lot, went through many challenges. So why not me?”

His approach presents a major new legal test for the NCAA, which is trying to ban former professional players from returning to universities. The president of the NCAA, Charlie Baker, warned in December that authorities would not grant any eligibility to a player who signed an NBA contract. Except Charles Bediaco, who signed a “two-way contract” without playing in the NBA, challenged NCAA rules in state court and won an injunction allowing him to play with Alabama.

NCAA legal restrictions put to the test

“The NCAA has not and will not grant eligibility to players who have signed an NBA contract”warned Tim Buckley, vice president of the NCAA. “Congress can strengthen NCAA rules so that professionals cannot return to competition against college athletes through legal action.”

This same NCAA, however, is authorized James Nnajialso drafted in 2023, to return to the NCAA. He didn’t sign in the NBA, but in Europe. For Amari Bailey and his attorney, the fact that they played a few minutes in a limited number of NBA games at the end of his rookie season does not justify different treatment.

“We have a young person of university age who wants to go back to university and a system that tells him: “It’s a shame, you played in a different league, so it’s over for good,” said Elliott Abrams, Amari Bailey’s attorney. “I don’t see any real justification for this.”

Amari Bailey thinks the five-year limit is fair, but thinks it might be more realistic to ban players who signed a guaranteed NBA contract or were selected in the first round of the draft from returning. His only professional contract, a two-way contract, was worth $565,000, and he points out that many college players today make similar or even higher amounts.

Two-way contract : Designed to create a new bridge between the NBA and the G-League, this type of contract allows each team to secure the services of two or three additional players, to play with them mainly in their affiliate development league franchise, but also for up to 50 games in the NBA.