Charles Bediako can keep playing college basketball at Alabama, for now. The former NBA G League professional had his temporary restraining order (TRO) extended by another 10 days due to weather.
In the meantime, you can have a direct impact on the most contentious eligibility case in NCAA history. Yes, you!
Bediako is eligible to play in the NBA G League Next Up Game at NBA All-Star Weekend in Los Angeles next month. He could be voted into the starting lineup for a league in which he no longer competes.
(UPDATE: The NBA has removed Bediako from the ballot since the original article was published. He is no longer eligible for the Next Up Game.)
Who is Charles Bediako?
If you are not a fan of college basketball, this may not make a lot of sense. Let me try to break it down as simply as possible.
Charles Bediako was the No. 4-ranked center in the recruiting Class of 2021 as a four-star prospect. He committed to Alabama over Duke, USC, Illinois, Baylor, Kentucky, and Louisville, among others.
The Canadian-born seven-footer played two full seasons with the Crimson Tide. Bediako averaged 17.8 minutes per game as a freshman and 20.8 minutes per game as a sophomore.
And then he decided to go pro.
Bediako ultimately joined the San Antonio Spurs for Summer League after he went undrafted in the 2023 NBA Draft and later signed with the organization in October. His deal was later converted into a two-way contract before he tore his meniscus and got waived. Although he never played a game for San Antonio, he made 11 appearances for the Austin Spurs of the NBA G League.
The 2024-25 season was similar. Bediako played Summer League with the Orlando Magic, signed with the Denver Nuggets, got waived and joined the Grand Rapids Gold of the NBA G League.
The 23-year-old ultimately signed on with the Motor City Cruise of the NBA G League for 2025-26. Bediako recorded a total of 94 minutes in six games with one start this season.
And then he went back to school.
Bediako returned to the University of Alabama earlier this month. A (potentially bias) judge in Tuscaloosa granted him with a TRO, which allowed him to get back on the court against Tennessee three days later.
Former NBA G League player Charles Bediako subs in for Alabama.
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) January 25, 2026
Bediako is the first player with collegiate experience to sign an NBA contract and return to college basketball. pic.twitter.com/a6nJFv8bVG
The first player with collegiate experience to sign an NBA contract and return to college basketball scored 13 points with three rebounds, two blocks and two steals.
CHARLES BEDIAKO THROWS IT DOWN 😤 @AlabamaMBB pic.twitter.com/zhvFlRrSHr
— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) January 25, 2026
The Crimson Tide lost.
You can vote him into the NBA G League All-Star Game.
As you could imagine, the return of Charles Bediako has been met with widespread backlash.
Nate Oats stands by the decision.
"I will stand by our guys every single time, no matter what the outside says, when they've done nothing wrong. Charles has done everything right. He's eligible to play and he's going to continue to play as long as he's eligible to play." – Nate Oats on Charles Bediako pic.twitter.com/gixgzr0ugB
— The Next Round (@NextRoundLive) January 26, 2026
The hearing on Bediako’s request for a preliminary injunction has been delayed because of weather. His temporary restraining order was extended by another 10 days on Monday. The NCAA is asking the judge, who is a booster for the Crimson Tide, to recuse himself from the case. That’s the latest.
To reiterate, a full timeline is as follows:
- 2021/22 — Alabama Crimson Tide — NCAA Freshman Season
- 2022/23 — Alabama Crimson Tide — NCAA Sophomore Season
- 2023 — 2023 NBA Draft — Undrafted
- 2023 — San Antonio Spurs — Two-Way Contract
- 2023/24 — Austin Spurs — NBA G League
- 2024 — Orlando Magic — NBA Summer League
- Oct. 2024 — Denver Nuggets — Training Camp
- 2024/25 — Grand Rapids Gold — NBA G League
- Oct. 2025 — Detroit Pistons — Training Camp
- 2025/26 — Motor City Cruise — NBA G League (through Jan 2026)
- Jan. 21, 2026 — NCAA Lawsuit — TRO Granted
- Jan. 24, 2026 — Alabama Crimson Tide — NCAA Junior Season
- Jan. 26, 2026 — NCAA Lawsuit — TRO Extended
Charles Bediako will play against Missouri on Tuesday night. Meanwhile, you can still vote him into the NBA G League Next Up Game at NBA All-Star Weekend in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 15.
Voting is open right now! You can vote HERE— as many times per day as you want.
The rules are as follow:
Voting Rules: 2026 NBA G League Next Up Game
For the 2026 NBA G League Next Up Game at NBA All-Star Weekend in Los Angeles, fans can
cast ballots online during a set voting window (January 9, 2026 through January 30, 2026). Ten
players are chosen directly by fan vote, while the remaining 18 are selected by the NBA G
League.
- Voting Window:
- January 9, 2026 until 12a EST January 30, 2026.
- Votes must be submitted within this period to count.
- Selection Process:
- The Next Up Game will features 28 players total.
- 10 players selected by fan vote.
- The remaining 18 players to be chosen by the NBA G League itself.
- Format of the Game:
- Four teams of seven players each.
- Teams will be drafted by NBA G League coaches assigned to teams.
- The event uses a tournament-style format: two semifinals followed by championship game.
- Legal Conditions:
- No purchase necessary to vote or participate.
- Purchases do not increase chances of influencing results.
- The NBA and NBA G League reserve the right to modify, cancel, or postpone voting due to unforeseen circumstances.
The G League will likely intervene to deem all votes for Bediako invalid. could potentially be voted into the G League All-Star Game while actively playing college basketball at Alabama because of a temporary restraining order. Unfortunately, the G League will likely intervene to deem all of his votes invalid.