RJ Luis Cleared To Play For LSU After Judge's Ruling
A judge granted RJ Luis a temporary injunction, allowing him to potentially play for LSU in 2026/27 despite NCAA opposition. The 23-year-old former two-way player for the Jazz and Celtics missed last season due to injury and never played in the NBA or G League.
A Louisiana judge has granted former Utah Jazz and Boston Celtics two-way player RJ Luis a temporary injunction, allowing him to potentially play for LSU in the upcoming 2026/27 season. The ruling comes despite expected opposition from the NCAA, which may challenge his eligibility.
Legal Battle Over Eligibility
The 6’7″ guard/forward, who was named Big East Player of the Year in 2024/25 while playing for St. John’s, declared for the 2025 NBA Draft but went undrafted. He signed a two-way contract with the Jazz in July 2025 before being traded to the Celtics a month later. Luis appeared in three preseason games for Boston but was cut in October 2025.
He later re-signed with the Celtics on an Exhibit 10 contract, which would have secured him a bonus for playing with their G League affiliate in Maine. However, an injury sidelined him for the entire season, preventing him from appearing in any regular-season games for the NBA or G League.
East Baton Rouge Parish District Court Judge Ronald R. Johnson ruled in Luis’ favor, stating that ‘In the court’s mind, (Luis) did not actually play professional basketball’ and that questions about whether he was properly advised when leaving college ‘lingers heavily before this court.’
The NCAA is expected to fight the ruling, as it did in a similar case involving Charles Bediako (Alabama), whose temporary restraining order was eventually overturned. The organization has also opposed the return of former Missouri star Mark Mitchell, who committed to Kentucky after going undrafted and signing a tentative Exhibit 10 deal with the Nuggets.
Other Players Seeking College Returns
Mitchell is among several undrafted free agents granted a fifth year of college eligibility. Like Luis, he faced NCAA resistance but secured a temporary restraining order from a Kentucky judge.
The NCAA’s stance on players like Luis and Mitchell remains a contentious issue, particularly for those who signed NBA contracts but never played in a regular-season game. The outcome of Luis’ case could set a precedent for future disputes over eligibility.
For now, Luis remains eligible to suit up for LSU, though the NCAA’s potential appeal could still impact his status. The standings for the upcoming season will likely depend on how these legal battles unfold.
Source: Hoops Rumors