Former NBA draft pick James Nnaji makes controversial debut for Baylor

The player who was once part of theKarl Anthony-Townstrade to theNew York Knicksmade hiscollege basketballdebut to boos on Saturday, Jan. 3.

James Nnajidebuted for theBaylormen's basketball in its Big 12 opener. The 7-foot center – who was a second-round pick in the 2023 NBA Draft – had five points, four rebounds, two turnovers and picked up four fouls in 16 minutes a 69-63 loss to TCU.

REQUIRED READING:Notre Dame basketball coach Micah Shrewsberry apologizes for outburst

After Nnaji entered the game, he was booed and then was booed subauenrly every time he touched the ball. His first points came on a putback dunk with about nine minutes left in the first half.

James Nnaji is officially the first person to score points in a college basketball game after already being drafted in the NBApic.twitter.com/UjI0H9wEop

— College Basketball Content (@CBBcontent)January 3, 2026

"James did nothing wrong," Baylor coach Scott Drew said after the game. "Baylor did nothing wrong, and I know he's human and just making sure he doesn't feel that. If James was an NBA player today, he would be in the NBA."

Nnaji played four seasons professionally in Europe before theDetroit Pistonsdrafted him No. 31 overall as an 18-year-old in the 2023 NBA Draft. Since then, Nnaji's draft rights have been traded twice, but he has never signed an NBA contract.

Because he never attended an American college, Nnaji has four years of eligibility remaining.

"James is a great young man," Drew said. "Grew up playing piano in the church. Mom's most excited about his opportunity to get a degree. Brother's a mechanical engineer. Sister's trying to get a master's. I thought he did a great job in a short period of time. He hadn't played a competitive game in seven months, been recovering from an injury."

Magic Johnson
college dominance: Led Michigan State to the 1979 NCAA Championship, defeating Larry Bird's Indiana State.
NBA: 5× NBA champion in 1980, 1982, 1985, 1987 and 1988 with the Los Angeles Lakers. 3× NBA Finals MVP in 1980, 1982 and 1987. 3× NBA Most Valuable Player in 1987, 1989 and 1990. 12× NBA All-Star: 1980, 1982-1992. 2× NBA All-Star Game MVP in 1990 and 1992. Inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2002.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Carmelo Anthony college dominance: In his lone season (2003), led Syracuse to a national championship and earned Final Four Most Outstanding Player honors. Averaged 22.2 points and 10 rebounds per game as a freshman.
NBA: 10× NBA All-Star. 2012–13 NBA scoring champion, averaging 28.7 points per game.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />

Before NBA glory: How Jordan, Bird, Magic and Curry ruled in college

Magic Johnsoncollege dominance:Led Michigan State to the 1979 NCAA Championship, defeating Larry Bird's Indiana State.NBA:5× NBA champion in 1980, 1982, 1985, 1987 and 1988 with the Los Angeles Lakers. 3× NBA Finals MVP in 1980, 1982 and 1987. 3× NBA Most Valuable Player in 1987, 1989 and 1990. 12× NBA All-Star: 1980, 1982-1992. 2× NBA All-Star Game MVP in 1990 and 1992. Inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2002.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:James Nnaji makes controversial collegiate debut for Baylor vs TCU

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January 04, 2026

Former NBA draft pick James Nnaji makes controversial debut for Baylor

The player who was once part of theKarl Anthony-Townstrade to theNew York Knicksmade hiscollege basketballdebut to boos ...

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Philip Rivers expected to be a head-coaching candidate, could interview with teams after dramatic NFL return

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Philip Rivers' dramatic return to the NFL might not be temporary after all. While the 44-year-old isretiring from the game as a player... again ... he could remain in the league as a head coach.

Following Rivers' dramatic return to the NFL, the veteran has reportedly receivedhead-coaching interest around the league, per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. NFL teams have reportedly done research into Rivers and started making calls about him as a coach, per Rapoport. It's reached a point where Rivers could get at least one interview from an NFL team this offseason.

Entering Week 18, only two teams — the New York Giants and Tennessee Titans — have openings at head coach. That figure is expected to grow following Sunday's games. Some coaches could be dismissed before the day is done, while others will be let go Monday.

Rivers' resume as a player is pretty impressive. During his first stint in the NFL, Rivers passed for 63,440 yards and 421 touchdowns. Those figures rank eighth and sixth, respectively, in NFL history.

After five years off, enough time to make Rivers a candidate for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, he shockingly returned to the NFL after Colts quarterback Daniel Jones went down with a season-ending injury.

Considering the circumstances,Rivers played surprisingly well down the stretch, completing 63% of his passes, with four touchdowns against three interceptions in three games. With the Colts eliminated from postseason contention, Rivers was benched in favor of rookie Riley Leonard in Week 18.

Following that announcement, Rivers made it clear his playing days are over. He implied he would go back to coaching high school football in Alabama. Shortly after his first retirement from the NFL, Rivers began coaching high school football.

But with Rivers returning to the NFL, there's some thought that maybe he would consider remaining in the league as a head coach, per Rapoport. That's been a barrier in the past, as teams reportedly considered Rivers last offseason, but were told he wasn't willing to consider making the jump to college or the pros.

When Rivers announced his return to the NFL after five years away, he instantly became one of the biggest stories of the 2025 NFL season. If that short stint as the Colts' quarterback leads to a head coaching position next year, it would be a fitting way for Rivers' improbable comeback to continue.

byAdministrator

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January 04, 2026

Philip Rivers expected to be a head-coaching candidate, could interview with teams after dramatic NFL return

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Philip Rivers' dramatic return to the NFL might not be temporary after all. While the...

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Brahim Díaz shoots Morocco into the Africa Cup of Nations quarterfinals with 1-0 win over Tanzania

RABAT, Morocco (AP) — Brahim Díaz kept Morocco on course for the Africa Cup of Nations title by shooting the team into the quarterfinals with a 1-0 win over Tanzania on Sunday.

Díaz, who has quickly emerged as the tournament host's star player, broke the deadlock in the 64th minute. He beat Hussein Masalanga at his near post when the Taifa Stars' goalkeeper probably expected a cross.

It was Díaz's fourth goal in four games and it set off celebrations of relief around Rabat's near 70,000-capacity Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, where the home team will play all its games as long as it keeps winning through to the final on Jan. 18.

The Atlas Lions had dominated possession but were largely frustrated by Tanzania's disciplined and committed defense.

Morocco will next play either South Africa or Cameroon, which meet later Sunday in the much smaller Rabat stadium of El Barid.

Morocco captain Achraf Hakimi made his first start of the tournament after recovering from an ankle injury and played the whole game.

Ayoub El Kaabi should have scored from Hakimi's cross in the 55th but he headed the ball just wide.

Then Mohamed Hussein had Tanzania's first shot on target with Fei Toto sending the rebound over.

Hakimi struck the crossbar with a free kick before the hour mark, and was involved again when sending Díaz through to break the deadlock.

Senegal and Malibooked their places in the quarterfinalson Saturday.

AP at the Africa Cup:https://apnews.com/hub/africa-cup-of-nations

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January 04, 2026

Brahim Díaz shoots Morocco into the Africa Cup of Nations quarterfinals with 1-0 win over Tanzania

RABAT, Morocco (AP) — Brahim Díaz kept Morocco on course for the Africa Cup of Nations title by shooting the team into t...

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As Olympics loom, Summer Britcher wins another World Cup gold for USA Luge

USA Luge's Summer Britcher is flying into the Olympics.

Britcher got her second women's singles luge win of the season on Sunday, moving her atop the World Cup standings and further cementing her status as a medal contender for theMilan Cortina Olympicsnext month.

She prevailed in Sigulda, Latvia, rallying in the second heat to top Lisa Schulte of Austria and Julia Taubitz of Germany. Britcher's two-run time was 1 minute, 23.840 seconds, while Schulte finished in 1:23.877 and Taubitz in 1:23.931.

It was Britcher's seventh career singles win, extending her all-time record for USA Luge sliders.

"Very, very happy," Britcher said after her third medal — two golds and a bronze — in three singles races this season. "I've had a lot of ups and downs here in Sigulda, but a long time ago it was like my favorite track and I really loved it. ... It was a lot of fun to feel that joy again on the track here."

Britcher has a chance to become the first American to win a World Cup overall singles crown. USA Luge has had four World Cup season-long champions — all in men's doubles. Chris Thorpe and Gordy Sheer were the first and then Mark Grimmette and Brian Martin did it three times, the last of those coming in 2002-03.

And — somewhat remarkably — Britcher leads the points standings despite missing a race. USA Luge skipped the season-opening World Cup competition in Winterberg, Germany, because it wasn't factoring into the Olympic qualifying formula.

Britcher was third going into Sunday's second heat; the singles races at Sigulda this weekend used the two-runs-over-two-days format, a bit of preparation for the two-day, four-run event at the Olympics.

Schulte and Taubitz were the only sliders who had a chance to catch Britcher at the end. They came up short, which evidently caught Britcher by a bit of surprise.

"I really did not think it was going to happen," Britcher said. "I tried really hard to not think about the results. With the one run each day, you have so much time to think about possibilities, so I really was just thinking about, 'OK, what do I need to do on the track?' So, I think maybe I had a little anticlimactic smile at the end. I was so shocked."

Ashley Farquharson was fifth for the U.S. in the women's singles race. Emily Fischnaller, who was fourth entering the second heat, lost control toward the bottom of the track and came off her sled. She did not finish — but walked off appearing to have avoided injury.

The women's singles win was one of two medals on the day for Britcher, who also helped USA Luge capture the bronze in the team relay.

Schulte and Austria won the team relay, with host Latvia second and the American team of Britcher, Jonny Gustafson in men's singles, Zach DiGregorio and Sean Hollander on the men's doubles sled and Chevonne Forgan and Sophia Kirkby on the women's doubles sled finishing third.

In the men's singles race, two-time Olympic singles champion Felix Loch of Germany got his 55th career win — two away from the all-time record of 57 held by retired Italian great Armin Zöggeler. Jonas Müller of Austria was second and Max Langenhan of Germany was third.

USA Luge plans to announce its Olympic team around Jan. 12, and the U.S. bobsled and skeleton teams for the Milan Cortina Games are expected to be unveiled on Jan. 19.

At Winterberg, Germany, the host Germans swept a women's bobsled race Sunday while Kaillie Humphries Armbruster of the U.S. narrowly missed a medal spot.

Laura Nolte drove to the win for Germany, holding off teammates Lisa Buckwitz and Kim Kalicki. Nolte's two-run time was 1:53.63, which was 0.16 seconds better than Buckwitz and 0.66 seconds ahead of Kalicki.

Humphries Armbruster teamed with Sylvia Hoffman to finish fourth, 0.95 seconds back of Nolte. Elana Meyers Taylor drove to eighth place for the U.S., and Kaysha Love crossed the line 10th.

There was a four-man race later Sunday.

Bobsled: Women's monobob, two-man World Cup races Saturday at St. Moritz, Switzerland.

Skeleton: Men's World Cup race on Wednesday at St. Moritz.

Luge: Men's singles, women's singles World Cup races on Saturday at Winterberg.

AP Olympics:https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics

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January 04, 2026

As Olympics loom, Summer Britcher wins another World Cup gold for USA Luge

USA Luge's Summer Britcher is flying into the Olympics. Britcher got her second women's singles luge w...

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Anthony Joshua posts his first public update since the car crash that killed two of his friends

LONDON (AP) — Former world heavyweight championAnthony Joshuaissued his first public update on Sunday following the car crash that killed two of his friends in Nigeria.

Joshuaposted a pictureon his Instagram account of him sitting on a couch with his mother and three other women, one of whom is holding a photo on her lap. Joshua wrote "My Brothers Keeper" on the caption along with two hearts.

British media reported on Saturday that Joshua had returned to Britain ahead of the funerals of Sina Ghami and Latif "Latz" Ayodele, which were reportedly held on Sunday.

They died after the vehicle they were traveling in along with Joshua struck a stationary truck on a major road near Lagoson Monday.

Joshua sustained minor injuries and the two-time heavyweight champion was released from a hospital on Wednesday after being deemed fit to recover at home.

Ghami was Joshua's strength and conditioning coach while Ayodele was a trainer. Just hours before the crash, Joshua and Ayodele posted clips on social media of the pair playing table tennis together.

The driver of the car, Adeniyi Mobolaji Kayode,was chargedon Friday with dangerous and reckless driving, with the court case adjourned to Jan. 20 for trial.

Joshua has family roots in Nigeria and he briefly attended boarding school there as a child. He also holds Nigerian nationality.

On Sunday, former heavyweight world championTyson Furyannounced that he is coming out ofretirementamid speculation of a long-awaited fight with Joshua, who has yet to comment about his future in boxing.

AP sports:https://apnews.com/sports

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January 04, 2026

Anthony Joshua posts his first public update since the car crash that killed two of his friends

LONDON (AP) — Former world heavyweight championAnthony Joshuaissued his first public update on Sunday following the car ...

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