Pope adding a 'veteran' PG😉
- Thread starter rick64
- Start date
Imagine if he really did. The players would have so much in common with his children.
While funny on the surface, anyone worried about the long-term future of collegiate sports should be paying attention. The sport is being made a mockery, deservedly so.
"Dad, pass the ball!"
You got my heart going. Don’t do that.
Tyler Ullis, Brandon Knight, Marquise Teague are all guys I’d be curious if they can come back to play. Seems like the Wild West with no rules
to me.
to me.
This is exactly why a GM is needed. Look for available players to improve the roster.
Exactly. There's at least one killer PG who would take a $3 million pay day for 3 months of work.
I guess most people don't know the details. Here is an AI summary of who can be picked up from the g league:
The rules for college teams taking players from the **NBA G League** have undergone a radical shift in 2024 and 2025. What was once a "hard no" for the NCAA is now a growing trend of midseason transfers and "returning pros."
Historically, playing for the G League meant you were a professional and had permanently forfeited your "amateur" status. However, a series of recent NCAA eligibility rulings (and legal pressures) have created a new pathway.
### **The Three Main "Loophole" Rules**
The NCAA has moved away from a strict "did you get paid?" rule and now looks at a combination of these factors:
* **The "Actual and Necessary Expenses" Rule:** The NCAA now argues that most G League salaries (averaging around \$40,000) essentially cover the costs of living and training. If a player made more than what the NCAA deems "necessary," they may be asked to pay back the difference to a charity, but they are no longer automatically banned.
* **The Five-Year Clock:** A player must still be within five years of their high school graduation to be eligible for NCAA play. This is why you see 21- or 22-year-olds returning, but not older veterans.
* **The NBA Draft Status:** This is the most critical hurdle. Generally, if a player **signed an actual NBA contract** or went through the NBA Draft and was signed, they are still considered ineligible. However, if they played in the G League (especially the now-defunct G League Ignite) without ever being drafted or signed to the "big league," the NCAA is increasingly granting them eligibility.
### **Midseason "Plucking" (A New Trend)**
In late 2025, we have seen a surge in "midseason additions" where college teams sign players directly from professional environments in December or January to help with injuries or roster depth.
* **Case Study (2025):** **James Nnaji**, a former NBA second-round pick, was recently granted four years of eligibility to play for **Baylor** midseason. Because he had played overseas and in the G League Summer League but never signed a formal NBA contract, he was cleared to play.
* **Case Study (2025):** **London Johnson** and **Thierry Darlan** (both G League Ignite alums) were cleared to play for Louisville and Santa Clara, respectively, because the NCAA determined their professional experience was "developmental" rather than purely professional.
### **Why Is This Happening Now?**
1. **NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness):** Since college players can now make millions, the NCAA can no longer argue that a G League player making \$40k is "more professional" than a college star making \$1M.
2. **Legal Threats:** The NCAA has lost several court cases regarding eligibility and transfers. They are currently hesitant to deny eligibility to G Leaguers for fear of being sued for "restraint of trade."
3. **The Death of G League Ignite:** When the NBA shut down the Ignite program (the specific team for high schoolers going pro), it left many young players in a "limbo" that the NCAA decided to fix by letting them into college.
---
### **Summary Table**
| Feature | Old Rule | New Rule (2025) |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| **Salary** | Any pay = Ineligible | Pay is okay if it covers "necessary expenses" |
| **G League Experience** | Permanent ban | Allowed (if within 5 years of HS) |
| **NBA Draft** | Usually ends eligibility | Still a barrier, but "draft-and-stash" players are being cleared |
| **Transfer Timing** | Must wait for the next season | Midseason additions are becoming common |
So if a player played an NBA game at all they aren't an option. Or if they made a considerable amount of money over expenses. So like Oscar made alot while he was playing g league games, none the less he is ineligible as he played a couple real NBA games. He had a 2 way contract.
The rules for college teams taking players from the **NBA G League** have undergone a radical shift in 2024 and 2025. What was once a "hard no" for the NCAA is now a growing trend of midseason transfers and "returning pros."
Historically, playing for the G League meant you were a professional and had permanently forfeited your "amateur" status. However, a series of recent NCAA eligibility rulings (and legal pressures) have created a new pathway.
### **The Three Main "Loophole" Rules**
The NCAA has moved away from a strict "did you get paid?" rule and now looks at a combination of these factors:
* **The "Actual and Necessary Expenses" Rule:** The NCAA now argues that most G League salaries (averaging around \$40,000) essentially cover the costs of living and training. If a player made more than what the NCAA deems "necessary," they may be asked to pay back the difference to a charity, but they are no longer automatically banned.
* **The Five-Year Clock:** A player must still be within five years of their high school graduation to be eligible for NCAA play. This is why you see 21- or 22-year-olds returning, but not older veterans.
* **The NBA Draft Status:** This is the most critical hurdle. Generally, if a player **signed an actual NBA contract** or went through the NBA Draft and was signed, they are still considered ineligible. However, if they played in the G League (especially the now-defunct G League Ignite) without ever being drafted or signed to the "big league," the NCAA is increasingly granting them eligibility.
### **Midseason "Plucking" (A New Trend)**
In late 2025, we have seen a surge in "midseason additions" where college teams sign players directly from professional environments in December or January to help with injuries or roster depth.
* **Case Study (2025):** **James Nnaji**, a former NBA second-round pick, was recently granted four years of eligibility to play for **Baylor** midseason. Because he had played overseas and in the G League Summer League but never signed a formal NBA contract, he was cleared to play.
* **Case Study (2025):** **London Johnson** and **Thierry Darlan** (both G League Ignite alums) were cleared to play for Louisville and Santa Clara, respectively, because the NCAA determined their professional experience was "developmental" rather than purely professional.
### **Why Is This Happening Now?**
1. **NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness):** Since college players can now make millions, the NCAA can no longer argue that a G League player making \$40k is "more professional" than a college star making \$1M.
2. **Legal Threats:** The NCAA has lost several court cases regarding eligibility and transfers. They are currently hesitant to deny eligibility to G Leaguers for fear of being sued for "restraint of trade."
3. **The Death of G League Ignite:** When the NBA shut down the Ignite program (the specific team for high schoolers going pro), it left many young players in a "limbo" that the NCAA decided to fix by letting them into college.
---
### **Summary Table**
| Feature | Old Rule | New Rule (2025) |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| **Salary** | Any pay = Ineligible | Pay is okay if it covers "necessary expenses" |
| **G League Experience** | Permanent ban | Allowed (if within 5 years of HS) |
| **NBA Draft** | Usually ends eligibility | Still a barrier, but "draft-and-stash" players are being cleared |
| **Transfer Timing** | Must wait for the next season | Midseason additions are becoming common |
So if a player played an NBA game at all they aren't an option. Or if they made a considerable amount of money over expenses. So like Oscar made alot while he was playing g league games, none the less he is ineligible as he played a couple real NBA games. He had a 2 way contract.
Yes, there are very few players like this actually available. This is why Kentucky was looking into a few foreign players, more availability but ran into a few hiccups along the way. It’s not as easy as finding someone, especially someone good enough to actually help. Definitely needs to be stricter rules and regulations though. I’ve talked with a lot of coaching staffs at high level schools who truly despise what’s currently going on. I don’t blame them either.