Why ex-Alabama basketball player Charles Bediako was allowed to return from G League in latest NCAA controversy

Former Alabama basketball center Charles Bediako has been granted a temporary restraining order against the NCAA, making him immediately eligible to rejoin the Crimson Tide. Despite having spent the last three seasons in the NBA G League, a Tuscaloosa County judge ruled on Wednesday that the 7-footer can return to the college basketball court and play this Saturday against Tennessee.

This is not the first case of a player with pro experience coming back to college basketball, most notably James Nnaji, who joined Baylor in the middle of the season. Bediako’s legal team used the Nnaji precedent to argue a "double standard," claiming the NCAA unfairly favors international professionals over domestic G League players. While the NCAA maintains that Bediako’s three previous NBA-related contracts (including a two-way deal with the Spurs) make him ineligible, the court's intervention ensures that, at least for now, the Crimson Tide will have their rim protector back for the heat of SEC play.

Here's what to know about why the Alabama center is allowed to re-join the team.

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Who is Charles Bediako?

Bediako is a 7-foot Canadian center who became a household name for Alabama basketball fans during his two-season stint from 2021 to 2023.

Known as a rim-protecting specialist, he was a core piece of the 2023 team that earned the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament. He was named to the SEC All-Freshman Team in 2022 and the SEC All-Defensive Team in 2023, averaging 6.6 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game across 70 appearances. 

Despite having two years of eligibility left, Bediako declared for the 2023 NBA Draft. He went undrafted but signed a two-way contract with the San Antonio Spurs. Since leaving Alabama, Bediako has played for the Austin Spurs, Grand Rapids Gold, and most recently the Motor City Cruise.

While he signed three different professional contracts, Bediako has never appeared in a regular-season NBA game.

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Why is Charles Bediako returning to Alabama?

Bediako is attempting a return to Alabama because he wants to "right a wrong decision" and take advantage of a rapidly shifting legal landscape that has begun allowing professional players to return to college.

In his court filing, Bediako’s attorneys stated that he regretted his 2023 decision to leave Tuscaloosa after his sophomore year. They argued that if he had the "foresight" to see how much NIL compensation and eligibility rules would change, he never would have left.

Bediako’s legal team cited the case of James Nnaji, who was cleared to play for Baylor in December 2025 despite being a high NBA draft pick with years of European professional experience. Bediako is arguing that the NCAA is being "biased" by clearing international pros while blocking domestic G League players like himself.

The University of Alabama officially supports his return, stating they are backing his efforts to be reinstated while he "works to complete his degree."

Alabama has released a statement regarding Charles Bediako. pic.twitter.com/UYZ18sNRa8

He has already enrolled in classes for the Spring 2026 semester.

Charles Bediako hearing

Earlier in the week, a Tuscaloosa County Circuit judge ruled Bediako immediately eligible to suit up for the Crimson Tide.

The judge's loyalties came under scrutiny in the days following his hearing. Jim Roberts, the arbitrator who passed judgement on Bediako's status, is listed as an active donor to Alabama's athletic department, with him and his wife contributing between $100,000 and $249,000 to the program.

Roberts' wife, Mary Turner Roberts, is a lawyer on the defense team of former Crimson Tide player Darius Miles, who is standing trial for capital murder in a 2023 shooting.

The Roberts family's relationship to Alabama athletics could constitute a conflict of interest. Recently, North Carolina judge Michael O’Foghludha removed himself from Duke's lawsuit against former quarterback Darien Mensah over an NIL deal. O'Foghludha is a Duke men's basketball season ticketholder whose wife works at the university, according to Front Office Sports.

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Charles Bediako G League career

Bediako has played on three G League teams since signing his first contract with the Spurs. The first was with the Austin City Spurs, where he made 11 appearances, averaging 7.7 points and 6.9 rebounds in roughly 19 minutes per game. His rookie campaign was cut short in December 2023 when he suffered a torn meniscus, leading the Spurs to waive him so he could focus on recovery.

Following his recovery, Bediako joined the Denver Nuggets for Summer League and eventually landed with their affiliate, the Grand Rapids Gold. This was statistically his most productive professional season. In 16 games, he averaged 8.8 points and 7.1 rebounds while shooting a stellar 66.7% from the field. He recorded multiple double-doubles, including a dominant 16-point, 15-rebound performance against the Indiana Mad Ants.

Bediako signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the Detroit Pistons in late 2025 before being waived and joining the Motor City Cruise. Before his legal battle to return to Alabama, he appeared in 16 games this season, averaging 4.9 points, 5.6 rebounds, and nearly a block per game in a limited role.

His last professional appearance before the court ruling was on January 17, 2026, against the Birmingham Squadron, where he played 14 minutes.

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Charles Bediako college career

Charles Bediako’s college career at Alabama was defined by his elite rim protection and high-efficiency interior scoring. As a key starter for Nate Oats, he was the defensive anchor for the 2022–23 team that earned the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament and swept the SEC regular season and tournament titles.

Across 70 career games in Tuscaloosa, Bediako started nearly every game he played.

Bediako’s role on Nate Oats’ Alabama teams was as the ultimate defensive safety net. Often referred to by fans and coaches as "Angry Chuck," he provided a specific vertical presence for the Crimson Tide’s fast-paced system. He led the 2022-23 team in total dunks (43) and consistently shot over 65% from the field because nearly all of his attempts came in the immediate vicinity of the basket.

Bediako was named to the, SEC All-Freshman Team (2022), SEC All-Defensive Team (2023), and SEC All-Tournament Team (2023). With a 7-foot-3 wingspan, he was one of the nation's premier shot-blockers, ranking in the Top 10 in program history for blocks per game (1.7).

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