Flory Bidunga NBA Draft: Why It’s Unlikely the Kansas Center Returns to KU

Going into the offseason, the Kansas player with the biggest decision to make was big man Flory Bidunga. The sophomore star was expected to weigh all of his options after concluding his second year in Lawrence.

On Thursday evening, the decision on his future was revealed. The Congo native will test the NBA Draft waters while entering the transfer portal to maintain his college eligibility.

NEWS: Kansas big man Flory Bidunga, the Big 12 Defensive POY, is entering the @TransferPortal, source tells @On3. Will also test the NBA Draft waters.⁰⁰The 6-10 sophomore averaged 13.3 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks per game this season. All-Big 12 First Team. Represented… https://t.co/WLw4n9Ue1i pic.twitter.com/5TZyGulu2O
— Joe Tipton (@JoeTipton) April 3, 2026

Bidunga, who won the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year award, had a breakout season at KU in 2025-26. He averaged 13.3 points, 9.0 rebounds, and a conference-high 2.6 blocks per game, a significant jump from what he posted as a freshman behind Hunter Dickinson.

Bidunga was always viewed as someone with NBA potential, but his undersized frame at 6-foot-9, 220 pounds makes him a difficult prospect for scouts to evaluate. He doesn't have much of an offensive game outside the paint and still has areas of his skill set he must refine.

While it was expected that Bidunga would at least enter the draft to gauge his stock, him also entering the portal adds another layer of complexity. Pairing that with his name now in the draft pool, it likely signals that Bidunga has played his final game in a crimson and blue uniform.

Flory Bidunga’s Kansas Career Is Likely Over

Fans can still hold out hope for Bidunga to return for his junior year, which remains a possibility. However, it isn't something to rely on long-term.

Bidunga already entered the transfer portal last offseason, where he was ultimately convinced by head coach Bill Self to return after weeks of weighing his options. He withdrew from the portal and secured a much larger NIL deal in the process, and while withdrawing from the portal once isn't unheard of, doing it twice is extremely unlikely.

Although Bidunga is an elite defender who offers rim protection, the reality is that he struggled against taller, more physical centers down low. Toward the latter stages of conference play, he often disappeared offensively and never truly emerged as a consistent No. 2 scoring option behind Darryn Peterson.

Another factor to consider is the timeline of his decision. Players have until May 27 to withdraw from the NBA Draft, while the transfer portal officially opens on Apr. 7.

There will be countless big men available who offer similar or even greater upside at a lower NIL cost than Bidunga. Kansas cannot afford to wait out the entire offseason hoping for him to return.

Ultimately, Bidunga coming back to Kansas isn't impossible, but it shouldn't be viewed as a strong possibility unless proven otherwise. Even if he does return to college, other top programs will have just as strong a chance to land him as KU.