Former Alabama center Charles Bediako, who declared for the 2023 NBA Draft and has spent time in the G League, has filed a lawsuit against the NCAA seeking immediate reinstatement so he can return to the Crimson Tide for the remainder of the 2025–26 season.
The legal action comes after Alabama’s appeal to have Bediako declared eligible was denied.
GettyDETROIT, MICHIGAN – SEPTEMBER 29: Charles Bediako #14 of the Detroit Pistons poses for a portrait during Media Day at Little Caesars Arena on September 29, 2025 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
Lawsuit cites alleged NCAA bias and recent eligibility decisions
Bediako’s complaint, filed Tuesday in Tuscaloosa Circuit Court, points to several recent cases in which players with professional experience were cleared by the NCAA, including Baylor center James Nnaji, the 31st overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft. Nnaji never signed an NBA contract and was reinstated in December, allowing him to play for the Bears .
The filing also argues the NCAA has shown preferential treatment toward international players with professional backgrounds.
“The NCAA’s recent reinstatement of James Nnaji, along with other European professional players, has shown that its current application of eligibility rules favor players who have competed internationally over athletes who have pursued domestic opportunities,” the complaint states. “Despite being selected 31st overall in the NBA Draft, Nnaji was recently reinstated and will have four seasons of NCAA eligibility. This, despite Nnaji playing professionally for at least three seasons in Europe, including two for powerhouse FC Barcelona. The NCAA’s rules also create an entirely arbitrary distinction between student athletes who go directly from high school to professional competition and those who initially enroll in college, later leave for the draft, and then seek to return.”
Bediako averaged 10.4 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks across 34 regular-season games with the Grand Rapids Gold, the G League affiliate of the Denver Nuggets , last season. He also appeared in six games for the Motor City Cruise (Detroit Pistons ) this season and played five games for the Austin Spurs (San Antonio Spurs ) during the 2023–24 campaign.
NCAA reiterates firm stance on NBA contracts
The case is largely unprecedented. Although Bediako went undrafted in 2023 and never appeared in an NBA game, he did sign a two-way contract with the San Antonio Spurs . No player who has signed a two-way NBA contract has ever been granted NCAA eligibility. NCAA president Charlie Baker emphasized last month that “the NCAA has not and will not grant eligibility to any prospective or returning student-athletes who have signed an NBA contract (including a two-way contract).”
The NCAA reaffirmed that position Tuesday.
“The NCAA is aware of media reports about a lawsuit filed against the NCAA by Charles Bediako,” the organization said in a statement. “Mr. Bediako signed three NBA contracts after competing in college for two seasons. The NCAA has not and will not grant eligibility to any prospective or returning student-athletes who have signed an NBA contract. Eligibility rules ensure high school students get a shot at earning scholarships, and we will continue to consistently apply and defend these rules.”
If a judge grants Bediako eligibility, the ruling could have wide-ranging implications, potentially opening the door for other former NBA or two-way players to challenge NCAA rules. Currently enrolled at Alabama, Bediako played two seasons for the Crimson Tide from 2021–22 through 2022–23, averaging 6.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks while helping the program reach the NCAA tournament. Because his college career began in 2021, he would likely have only the remainder of this season to complete his eligibility under the NCAA’s five-year clock.
Bediako’s lawsuit claims Alabama’s request for immediate eligibility was denied under what it calls the NCAA’s “Draconian” rules. The complaint also asserts he would not have entered the draft in 2023 had he known current NIL and revenue-sharing opportunities would later be available.
“The NCAA’s arbitrary and inconsistent enforcement of its eligibility standards is inflicting immediate and irreparable harm upon [Bediako],” said Darren Heitner, one of Bediako’s attorneys, in a statement on X . “This harm is particularly egregious given the NCAA’s recent decisions granting eligibility to athletes with far more extensive professional experience, revealing a pattern of selective and inequitable application of its own rules.”
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