Amari Bailey was picked 41st in the 2023 draft and played 10 games under a two-way contract with the Hornets this past season. He is now seeking to be the first player to return to college after participating in NBA games, according to Dan Murphy of ESPN.com.
At just 21 years old, Bailey played one year at UCLA before being drafted. The 6-foot-3 guard has engaged an agent and a lawyer to try and secure another season of college eligibility, Murphy reports.
“Right now I’d be a senior in college,” Bailey mentioned to ESPN. “I’m not trying to be 27 years old playing college athletics. No shade to the guys that do; that’s their journey. But I went to go play professionally and learned a lot, went through a lot. So like, why not me?”
Charles Bediako, who had a brief stint with the Spurs on a two-way deal but did not get any playing time in the NBA, is suing the NCAA for an extra year of college eligibility. He has received a temporary restraining order that allows him to participate in activities and games at Alabama while he waits for a hearing on a preliminary injunction about his eligibility.
The hearing for that injunction was postponed earlier this week due to weather conditions, and Bediako’s temporary restraining order has been extended for 10 more days, as reported by Jeff Borzello of ESPN. The NCAA has filed a motion for the judge, who is an Alabama booster, to recuse himself from the case.
“The NCAA has not and will not grant eligibility to any players who have signed an NBA contract,” stated Tim Buckley, NCAA senior vice president of external affairs, when asked about Bailey’s plan to return. “Congress can strengthen NCAA rules so professional athletes cannot sue their way back to competing against college students.”
Last season, Bailey played in the G League with the Long Island Nets and the Iowa Wolves, putting up averages of 13.1 points, 4.6 assists, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.0 steals with shooting stats of .434/.325/.714 over 25 games (26.2 MPG). He told Murphy he has been training in his home state of California and hopes to join a school that gives him a shot at reaching the Final Four in 2026-27.
“It’s not a stunt,” Bailey emphasized. “I’m really serious about going back. I just want to improve my game, change the perception of me and just show that I can win.”