NBA champ pokes fun at basketball players trying to return to school

Marreese Speights, a erstwhile NBA subordinate who won a rubric with the Golden State Warriors and a nationalist title with the Florida Gators, poked amusive astatine hoops players trying to instrumentality to schoolhouse connected Wednesday.

Speights, 38, facetiously announced helium was returning to the Gators astir 20 years aft helium near the schoolhouse to prosecute a pro career. He played 2 years astatine Florida earlier declaring for the NBA successful 2008.

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Golden State Warriors halfway Marreese Speights reacts aft being called for a foul against the Utah Jazz during the 4th fourth astatine Oracle Arena successful Oakland, Calif., connected March 9, 2016. The Warriors defeated the Jazz 115-94. (Kelley L Cox/USA TODAY Sports)

"After 18 seasons, I volition beryllium returning to Florida with 2 years near to play," helium wrote connected X with a photograph of himself successful a Gators uniform. "Man, aft having a large speech with @CoachToddGolden , I’m excited to beryllium backmost and person the accidental to play again for the Florida Gators.

"After a agelong NBA career, with the caller rules successful place, I’ll beryllium backmost connected the tribunal for the adjacent 2 years."

Speights was intelligibly poking amusive astatine erstwhile assemblage hoops players trying to instrumentality to schoolhouse aft having been connected G League rosters.

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Orlando Magic guardant Marreese Speights reacts during a crippled against the Atlanta Hawks astatine Amway Center successful Orlando, Fla., connected Feb. 8, 2018. (Aaron Doster/USA TODAY Sports)

LSU Tigers caput manager Will Wade was reportedly successful the process of signing erstwhile G League subordinate and St. John’s Red Storm prima R.J. Luis. The determination is expected to travel a petition to the NCAA to reconstruct Luis’ eligibility. Luis played 3 seasons successful assemblage earlier helium signed a two-way declaration with the Utah Jazz and aboriginal traded to the Boston Celtics.

He ne'er played successful the NBA oregon the G League.

The NCAA has antecedently granted eligibility to planetary students who person played nonrecreational overseas. However, the NCAA past play denied erstwhile G League subordinate Charles Bediako’s effort to resume his assemblage vocation astatine Alabama.

St. John's defender RJ Luis Jr. and defender Kadary Richmond beryllium connected the seat during the 2nd fractional of a second-round NCAA Tournament crippled against Arkansas astatine Amica Mutual Pavilion connected March 22, 2025. (Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images)

Bediako sued to person his eligibility restored and was capable to play 5 games for the Crimson Tide portion a impermanent restraining bid was successful effect. However, helium was barred from finishing the play erstwhile a justice denied his petition for injunctive relief.

Nigerian halfway James Nnaji, who was an NBA draught pick, was granted 4 years of NCAA eligibility past year. He ne'er appeared successful an NBA crippled arsenic his draught rights were traded. He played for FC Barcelona successful Liga ACB successful Spain. They mutually parted ways past August.

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"As schools are progressively recruiting individuals with planetary league experience, the NCAA is exercising discretion successful applying the existent and indispensable expenses bylaw to guarantee that prospective student-athletes with acquisition successful American hoops leagues are not astatine a disadvantage compared to their planetary counterparts," NCAA President Charlie Baker said successful a connection astatine the time. "Rules person agelong permitted schools to enroll and play individuals with nary anterior collegiate acquisition midyear."

Fox News’ Scott Thompson and the Associated Press contributed to this report.