The men’s college basketball world has been buzzing in recent weeks over an unexpected topic: the idea of G-League players being able to enroll and play for college basketball teams. These athletes include Thierry Darlan for the Santa Clara Broncos and London Johnson for the University of Louisville Cardinals, as well as a few others. The consensus among fans and coaches is that this is a bad idea and a horrible precedent to set.
Rick Pitino and Giannis Antetokounmpo have offered humorous proposals regarding the matter.
Giannis Antetokounmpo Seemingly Responds to Rick Pitino’s Pitch
In September, St. John’s head coach Rick Pitino added his own humorous take to the situation. He proposed the idea of a star NBA player joining him on the Red Storm.
“So let me get this straight, we can now recruit G league players? Is the NBA next? I have first dibs on @Giannis_An34 (Giannis Antetokounmpo’s X handle),” Pitino tweeted.
So far this season, Antetokounmpo is averaging 32.3 points per game, 12.6 rebounds, 6.3 assists, and about one steal and one block per game. He’s doing that against NBA competition, so imagine what he would do against a bunch of 18-22-year-olds in college basketball. His stats could double. Beyond stats, his size and athleticism would make him virtually unstoppable. A single game with him on the floor would be the most-viewed St. John’s game ever, and social media would be filled with him dunking on teenagers.
Tonight, the Southern Jaguars take on the Marquette Golden Eagles in their home state of Wisconsin. Ironically, the men’s basketball team plays in the Fiserv Forum, which is also home to the Milwaukee Bucks.
Realizing this, Antetokounmpo posted:
“Random thoughts as I sit in my living room…do I have college eligibility??? Can I suit up for Marquette tonight? 🤔💭”
Random thoughts as I sit in my living room…do I have college eligibility??? Can I suit up for Marquette tonight? 🤔💭
— Giannis Antetokounmpo (@Giannis_An34) November 5, 2025
The person most likely to be jokingly “upset” by the tweet is Pitino, after all, he did call dibs. If Antetokounmpo were to suit up for Marquette, the team would instantly become favorites to win the national championship, essentially adding a walking double-double machine to its roster.
More seriously, allowing G-League players to gain college eligibility presents a significant issue that could alter NCAA rules. It could set a troubling precedent, and the matter should be addressed sooner rather than later, as it’s likely other G-Leaguers will try to follow in the footsteps of Darlan and Johnson.
