James Nnaji

19-Year-Old CenterC
 Free Agent  Foreign  
2023 Fantasy Outlook
There was no outlook written for James Nnaji in 2023. Check out the latest news below for more on his current fantasy value.
RANKS
Current Season
From Preseason
#140
ADP
Personal Bio/PreCareer Summary

James Nnaji, who turns 19 on Aug. 14, 2023, is among the youngest players in the top 80 prospects. Standing at 6-foot-11, 226 pounds with a 7-foot-5 wingspan, Nnaji is a rotational center for FC Barcelona. Nnaji averaged just 6.0 minutes per contest in EuroLeague play, but that is common for youth players. Barcelona finished as the second-best team in the EuroLeague standings and is amid a playoff run for the fifth consecutive season. Nnaji started playing basketball in July 2016 in his home country of Nigeria, prior to moving to Ratgeber Basketball Academy in Hungary after a 2018 Facebook reel of his camp highlights went viral. Across 43 total contests, Nnaji averaged 3.5 points, 2.3 rebounds and 0.5 blocks in 8.7 minutes per game. His 39 blocks in 284 minutes played equates to one block every 7.3 minutes, which is a prodigious rate. On offense, Nnaji profiles as a screener and paint-dwelling big. On defense, his agility pops, bringing rim protection and versatile, switchable upside. Nnaji is raw. When drafted, he'll have been playing basketball for only seven years, and his minutes in the EuroLeague were quite limited. But he has the size and instincts that create a quality foundation as a prospect. Success for Nnaji could be defined as landing a consistent backup center role as a rookie. He has similarities to paint-dominant big men like Clint Capela and Mitchell Robinson.

Staying overseas in 2023-24
CFree Agent
October 11, 2023
Nnaji, who was selected with the No. 31 overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, won't join the Hornets for the upcoming season and will instead continue playing for Spanish club FC Barcelona, Cesare Milanti of Eurohoops.net reports.
ANALYSIS
Though Charlotte may have a need for an extra body in the frontcourt after waiving Kai Jones on Wednesday, the 19-year-old Nnaji won't be asked to make the jump to the NBA to provide depth behind centers Mark Williams and Nick Richards. Instead, Nnaji will continue to develop overseas, and if he's able to take a leap forward in his third season with Barcelona in 2023-24, he could be a candidate to join the Hornets next offseason. After getting drafted, Nnaji joined the Hornets for the California Classic and Las Vegas Summer Leagues, appearing in six games while averaging 3.8 points, 6.3 boards and 2.0 blocks in 17.5 minutes per contest.
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Recent RotoWire Articles Featuring James Nnaji See More
NBA Draft 2023 - Final Mock and Top 60 Prospects
322 days ago
The top three picks are practically set with Victor Wembanyama, Scoot Henderson and Brandon Miller. After that, things start to get interesting.
Latest Fantasy Rumors
Solid debut
CCharlotte Hornets
July 19, 2023
Nnaji averaged 3.8 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.0 blocks in 17.5 minutes per game across six Summer League contests for the Hornets.
ANALYSIS
Nnaji was an impactful rebounder and shot blocker. His offensive role was limited, as Charlotte couldn't maximize Nnaji as a roll man with Nick Smith and Justin Robinson mostly running the offense. The preceding two sentences sum up Nnaji's abilities as a basketball player. He's almost certainly a draft-and-stash player for Charlotte at this time.
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More Fantasy News
Selected 31st by Charlotte
CCharlotte Hornets
June 22, 2023
Nnaji was selected 31st in the 2023 NBA Draft by the Celtics, but he was quickly redirected to the Charlotte Hornets.
ANALYSIS
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