Knicks' Dink Pate Reportedly 'Exploring College Options' After James Nnaji to Baylor
Dink Pate, who plays for the Westchester Knicks in the NBA G League, "is increasingly exploring college options," according to NBA draft expert Jonathan Givony.
Givony reported that Pate has declined "multiple" two-way contract offers from NBA teams so that he might be able to play college basketball.
The 19-year-old would be following the same path as James Nnaji, a 2023 draft pick who had suited up in the NBA Summer League before enrolling at Baylor this year.
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Givony followed up to explain how Pate may differ from Nnaji, however:
More players were bound to emulate Nnaji once the NCAA deemed him eligible to suit up for the Bears.
Charles Bediako, who spent two years at Alabama before heading to the pros in 2023, filed suit against the NCAA in the hope he can rejoin the Crimson Tide. He went undrafted and has played for the Austin Spurs, Grand Rapids Gold and Motor City Cruise in the G League without debuting in the NBA.
Pate was the No. 29 player in 247Sports' composite rankings for the 2023 class. He eschewed the traditional college route and signed with the G League Ignite, which was a finishing school for NBA prospects until the league shuttered the initiative.
With the Ignite no longer an option, Pate spent the 2024-25 season in Mexico before declaring for the 2025 draft. He eventually signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the New York Knicks this past September.
Givony posited the Exhibit 10 deal could be a sticking point for the NCAA. Even though Pate hasn't played in the NBA, he signed an NBA contract.
In 13 appearances with Westchester, the 6'8" guard has averaged 18.8 points on 41.0 percent shooting along with 6.8 rebounds and 3.9 assists.
Multiple college coaches have sounded off on the shifting paradigms in the sport. At the end of the day, they typically don't let their principles stand in the way of making a big addition to their roster.
If Pate were allowed to play in college, he'd presumably have multiple offers on the table.
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