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James Nnaji
| Column 1 |
|---|
| Nnaji with FC Barcelona in 2022 |
| Center |
| Big 12 Conference |
| (2004-08-14) 14 August 2004Makurdi, Nigeria |
| 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) |
| 250 lb (113 kg) |
| Baylor (2026–present) |
| 2023: 2nd round, 31st overall pick |
| Detroit Pistons |
| 2019–present |
| Rátgéber Akadémia |
| FC Barcelona |
| →FC Barcelona B |
| →Girona |
| →Merkezefendi |
| Liga ACB champion (2023) |
| Stats at NBA.com |
| Stats at Basketball Reference |
James Ugochukwu Nnaji (/ˈnɑːdʒi/ NAH-jee ⓘ; born 14 August 2004) is a Nigerian college basketball player for the Baylor Bears of the Big 12 Conference. He was selected 31st overall in the 2023 NBA draft by the Detroit Pistons, but his rights were traded to the Charlotte Hornets and later the New York Knicks.
Nnaji grew up in Makurdi, Middle Belt of Nigeria, where he started playing basketball. He is from the Eastern region of Nigeria. In 2018, Nnaji moved to Ratgeber Basketball Academy in Hungary.
On December 24, 2025, Nnaji enrolled to play in the Big 12 Conference for the Baylor Bears.
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.
On 4 August 2024, Nnaji was loaned to Girona of the Spanish Liga ACB. Nnaji's spell at Girona ended in March 2025 after a mutual agreement between the club and the player. On 28 March, FC Barcelona announced Nnaji would spend the remainder of the season on loan at Merkezefendi Belediyesi Denizli of the Basketbol Süper Ligi.
On 18 July 2025, Nnaji confirmed during an NBA Summer League interview that he and Barcelona would be mutually opting out of the two remaining years of their contract. Barcelona officially announced it was parting ways with Nnaji on 1 August.
Nnaji declared for the 2023 NBA draft, where he was ranked as the 24th-best prospect in the ESPN Top 100. On 22 June 2023, Nnaji was selected 31st overall in the 2023 NBA draft by the Detroit Pistons, who then traded him to the Charlotte Hornets. In 2024, his rights were traded to the New York Knicks along with Karl-Anthony Towns as a part of a 3-team trade.
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 | Column 4 | Column 5 | Column 6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
- Baylor Bears bio
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