Center James Nnaji is leaving Barcelona in hopes of joining the New York Knicks for the upcoming season. Nnaji intends to join the Knicks for Summer League. He hopes that will land him a regular season roster spot for next season.
Nnaji was originally drafted by the Detroit Pistons with the 31st pick in the 2023 NBA Draft. His rights were traded to the Boston Celtics and then Charlotte Hornets as part of a pair of draft night swaps. Charlotte then traded Nnaji’s rights to New York as part of the Karl-Anthony Towns trade.
The 6-foot-11 center spent the 2024-25 season with Girona in Spain and Merkezefendi Belediyesi Basket in Turkey on a pair of loan deals from Barcelona. In 22 games across all competitions, Nnaji averaged 6.1 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.0 blocks in 16.3 minutes per game.
Nnaji will turn only 21 years of age in August, making him an intriguing young prospect for New York. The Knicks currently have Towns and Mitchell Robinson under contract at the center position. New York also holds a team option for Ariel Hukporti for the upcoming season.
