James Nnaji
No. 23 – FC Barcelona
PositionCenter
LeagueLiga ACB
EuroLeague
Personal information
Born (2004-08-14) 14 August 2004
Makurdi, Nigeria
Listed height6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)
Listed weight250 lb (113 kg)
Career information
NBA draft2023: 2nd round, 31st overall pick
Selected by the Detroit Pistons
Playing career2019–present
Career history
2019–2020Rátgéber Akadémia
2020–presentFC Barcelona
2020–2021→FC Barcelona B
Stats  at NBA.com
Stats  at Basketball-Reference.com

James Nnaji (/ˈnɑːdʒi/ NAH-jee; born 14 August 2004) is a Nigerian professional basketball player for FC Barcelona of the Spanish Liga ACB and the EuroLeague. He was selected 31st overall in the 2023 NBA draft by the Detroit Pistons, but his rights were subsequently traded to the Charlotte Hornets.

Early life and youth career

Nnaji grew up in Makurdi, Nigeria where he started playing basketball. He is from the middle belt (central) region of Nigeria. In 2018, Nnaji moved to Ratgeber Basketball Academy in Hungary.[1]

Professional career

Nnaji started his career with Rátgéber Akadémia, a team in the Hungarian league. He moved from Hungary to Barcelona in 2020, joining FC Barcelona B in 2020. From there, he would move up to the A team of FC Barcelona in 2021, making thirteen appearances in the 2021–22 season.[1]

Nnaji declared for the 2023 NBA draft, where he was ranked as the 24th-best prospect in the ESPN Top 100.[2] On June 22, 2023, Nnaji was selected 31st overall in the 2023 NBA draft by the Detroit Pistons, which then traded him to the Charlotte Hornets.[3]

References

  1. 1 2 "Barcelona locks up teenage center Nnaji". euroleaguebasketball.net. 23 September 2022. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
  2. ↑ Givony, Jonathan (20 April 2023). "EuroLeague prospect James Nnaji, 18, submits paperwork to enter NBA draft". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
  3. ↑ Yeager, Jon (22 June 2023). "BREAKING: Hornets Draft James Nnaji". SI.com. Retrieved 22 June 2023.
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