_by_Sandro_Halank%25E2%2580%2593037.jpg) Nnaji withFC Barcelona in 2022 | |
| No. 46 – Yukatel Merkezefendi Basket | |
|---|---|
| Position | Center |
| League | Basketbol Süper Ligi |
| Personal information | |
| Born | (2004-08-14)14 August 2004 (age 20) Makurdi, Nigeria |
| Listed height | 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) |
| Listed weight | 250 lb (113 kg) |
| Career information | |
| NBA draft | 2023: 2nd round, 31st overall pick |
| Drafted by | Detroit Pistons |
| Playing career | 2019–present |
| Career history | |
| 2019–2020 | Rátgéber Akadémia |
| 2020–present | FC Barcelona |
| 2020–2021 | →FC Barcelona B |
| 2024–2025 | →Girona |
| 2025–present | →Merkezefendi Belediyesi Denizli |
Stats at NBA.com  | |
| Stats atBasketball Reference | |
James Ugochukwu Nnaji[1] (/ˈnɑːdʒi/NAH-jee; born 14 August 2004) is aNigerian professionalbasketball player forMerkezefendi Belediyesi Denizli of theBasketbol Süper Ligi (BSL), on loan fromFC Barcelona. He was selected 31st overall in the2023 NBA draft by theDetroit Pistons, but his rights were traded to theCharlotte Hornets and later theNew York Knicks.
Nnaji grew up inMakurdi,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.[2]
Nnaji started his career withRátgéber Akadémia, a team in the Hungarian league. He moved from Hungary to Barcelona in 2020, joiningFC Barcelona B in 2020. From there, he would move up to the A team ofFC Barcelona in 2021, making thirteen appearances in the 2021–22 season.[2]
On 4 August 2024, Nnaji was loaned toGirona of the SpanishLiga ACB.[3] Nnaji's spell at Girona ended in March 2025 after a mutual agreement between the club and the player.[4] On March 28,FC Barcelona announced Nnaji would spend the remainder of the season on loan atMerkezefendi Belediyesi Denizli of theBasketbol Süper Ligi.[5]
Nnaji declared for the2023 NBA draft, where he was ranked as the 24th-best prospect in the ESPN Top 100.[6] On June 22, 2023, Nnaji was selected 31st overall in the 2023 NBA draft by theDetroit Pistons, which then traded him to theCharlotte Hornets.[7] In 2024, his rights were traded to theNew York Knicks along withKarl-Anthony Towns as a part of a 3-team trade.[8]
| GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game |
| FG% | Field-goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field-goal percentage | FT% | Free-throw percentage |
| RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game |
| BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game | PIR | Performance Index Rating |
| Bold | Career high |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG | PIR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021–22 | Barcelona | 13 | 2 | 5.8 | .750 | — | .000 | 1.7 | .2 | — | .4 | 1.8 | 2.5 |
| 2022–23 | 19 | 0 | 6.4 | .762 | — | .462 | 1.3 | .4 | — | .5 | 2.0 | 2.7 | |
| 2023–24 | 19 | 0 | 5.6 | .720 | — | .419 | 1.4 | .2 | .2 | .3 | 2.6 | 3.0 | |
| Career | 51 | 2 | 6.0 | .742 | — | .396 | 1.5 | .2 | .1 | .4 | 2.2 | 2.8 | |
| Year | Team | League | GP | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020–21 |  Barcelona B | LEB Plata | 12 | 9.3 | .696 | — | .214 | 2.7 | .4 | .1 | 1.1 | 2.9 |
| 2021–22 | Barcelona | ACB | 12 | 6.8 | .786 | — | .444 | 1.4 | .2 | .1 | .7 | 2.2 |
| 2022–23 | Barcelona | ACB | 35 | 10.5 | .697 | — | .538 | 2.6 | .2 | .2 | .6 | 4.3 |
| 2023–24 | Barcelona | ACB | 26 | 8.3 | .649 | — | .647 | 2.2 | .1 | .1 | .5 | 2.3 |