Why former NBA G-league player Charles Bediako can no longer play for Alabama this season

The Charles Bediako-Alabama saga has taken yet another turn. 

The former G-League player returned to college basketball in January 2026, after playing professional basketball for two years. While he never played in an NBA game, he did play in the developmental G-League. 

Bediako wanted to return to Alabama in part because of the increase in NIL offerings, and he maintained that he wouldn't have left college when he did if the NIL situation was what it is now. He was granted a restraining order allowing him to return to Alabama.

Bediako played in five games, but then an Alabama judge denied the motion for injunction on Feb. 9 and the center is no longer eligible to play for the Crimson Tide this season.

Here is more on Bediako getting his preliminary injunction denied and his eligibility at Alabama. 

MORE: How good is Charles Bediako? 

Why Charles Bediako is ineligible to play for Alabama

Bediako was playing under a temporary restraining order. An Alabama circuit judge denied the motion for preliminary injunction on Monday, which ended his eligibility to continue playing for the Crimson Tide. The judge said that Bediako "failed to demonstrate that he is entitled to the injunctive relief that he seeks." 

NCAA Statement

Here is the statement about the ruling from NCAA president Charlie Baker.

NCAA President Charlie Baker statement:
“Common sense won a round today. The court saw this for what it is: an attempt by professionals to pivot back to college and crowd out the next generation of students. College sports are for students, not for people who already walked away…

Alabama statement

Alabama also weighed in with a statement on the latest ruling.

Alabama says in a statement they are "disappointed" in the ruling: "The NCAA has granted eligibility to over 100 current men’s basketball players with prior professional experience in the G League or overseas. Granting eligibility to some former professionals, and not to others,… https://t.co/uDrqZRKCaN

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.

He was a core piece of the 2023 team that earned the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament. Bediako 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 games. 

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.

MORE: NBA teammate of Nikola Jokic and Victor Wembanyama granted return

Charles Bediako eligibility timeline

Despite being out of college for two seasons, Bediako was granted a temporary injunction allowing him immediate eligibility on Jan. 21, 2026. He suited up for Alabama on Saturday, Jan. 24, making his return to college basketball.  

The following Wednesday, the judge that ordered the injunction recused himself because it turned out he was a Crimson Tide donor, creating a conflict of interest. It took until Feb. 9, but Tuscaloosa Circuit Court Judge Daniel Pruet denied the motion for the injunction and thus, Bediako is no longer eligible to play for Alabama. 

MORE: Syracuse 16.3 PPG scorer wants to return to college basketball 

Charles Bediako G league career

Bediako played 46 games in the G League between 2023 and 2025. In that span, he averaged 21.3 minutes per game with 8.4 points and 8.0 rebounds. Bediako played better in the G League than he did at Alabama during his first stint, but it remains to be seen how his game will translate back to college. 

Here is a look at Bediako's per-game G League stats.

Charles Bediako college career

Here is a look at Bediako's per-game college stats from his first stint with the Crimson Tide.

After a two-season hiatus, Bediako returned to Alabama for five games before his temporary injunction was denied and he was ruled ineligible once again. Here are his per game stats from his brief return.