[The following scouting report is part of a series on potential 2023 draft prospects from Sports Business Classroom alumni.]

James Nnaji
Frame: 6′ 10″, 225 lbs
Position: Center
Team: FC Barcelona Bàsquet
2023 draft age: 18
Stats via ProBallers.com, YouTube, RealGM, NBA.com, Basketball Reference, ESPN

Offense

Projected to be drafted as a late-first or early-second-round pick, Nnaji benefits from his potential, size, and athleticism. His offensive game needs refinement, similar to many young, athletic big men. Most of his scoring comes from lobs, rolls to the basket, and offensive rebounds. 

However, Nnaji has shown an ability to score one-on-one in the post, utilizing good footwork and elite athleticism to score against more experienced defenders. Nnaji doesn’t mess around when he has opportunities around the basket; he goes up strong and uses his elite athleticism to rise above defenders. 

  • At the 1:01 mark, we can see Nnaji being patient in the post, getting his defender up in the air, and finishing off the glass.
  • At 1:26, Nnaji sets a screen, utilizes good hands, catches a pass above the rim, and finishes strong above a paint defender.

Additionally, Nnaji has good hands, highlighting his ability to be an elite lob threat at the next level. His 11.65  offensive rebound percentage would rank 27th in the NBA, just ahead of former international big men Ivica Zubac and Jacob Poeltl. 

While the framework is there for Nnaji to become an offensive threat, his touch around the rim is spotty, and he tends to force the issue, as evidenced by his 21.69 turnover percentage in 34 games, which would rank 511th of 522 qualified NBA players. Nnaji can be patient and calculated on his rolls and post-up opportunities, but relying strictly on raw athleticism will only carry his game so far at the next level. His physical presence and aggression are ideal attributes but against more polished, athletic defenders, Nnaji will need time to develop.

Defense 

Nnaji’s size and strength alone should enable him to become an elite defender at the next level and allow him to contribute early in his career. His defensive rating of 103.8 would rank fourth in the NBA of players who have played at least 15 games, and his block percentage of 5.18 would rank tenth, just ahead of Los Angeles Lakers big man Anthony Davis. 

Nnaji may be a raw prospect, but his long wingspan and NBA-ready body will allow him to contribute early in his career on the defensive end. He moves well for an 18-year-old big man and is willing to get back into plays when he is beaten along the perimeter by smaller guards/wings. While his footwork needs to improve, his raw athleticism, speed, and frame allow him to make plays when out of position. 

James Nnaji has shown the ability to be a capable weakside help defender, but his 40 fouls to 16 blocked shots in 34 games this season must improve. In perspective, Duke freshman and NBA prospect Dereck Lively II had 82 blocks to 92 fouls, and NBA rookie Walker Kessler had 161 to 164, respectively, through 70 career NBA games. This highlights Nnaji’s propensity for getting out of position and, in an attempt to make a play, fouling his opponents more often that not. 

In the second video above:

  • At 5:16, Nnaji defends the pick-and-roll, then switches back on to his man in the post, preventing the entry pass, and finally provides weakside help on the drive to the basket, blocking the shot. 
  • At the 5:33 mark, Nnaji gets beaten but stays with the driving player, swatting the shot from behind. 
  • At 6:30, Nnaji maintains his ground in a one-on-one post-play and blocks the shot.

As showcased in the above video, James Nnaji will make defensive highlights, and his size will prevent him from being easily backed down in the post. Still, his discipline, awareness, and footwork must improve before he can consistently impact his organization on the defensive end.  

Looking Ahead

Deemed a ‘project pick,’ Nnaji has much work to do upon entering the NBA. While his defense shows flashes, his rotations and lateral movements must improve. Aside from screen assists, and a threat to catch the lob pass, Nnajis’s offensive game is nonexistent. He averages just 0.79 offensive rebounds per game and 1.26 defensive rebounds, highlighting his low motor and susceptibility to being out-finessed by other big men.  

However, at 18 years old and one of the youngest players in the draft, Nnaji’s game will have time to improve and fully develop. He has shown patience on the defensive end, not biting on every pump fake the defense throws at him, but his tendency to reach and defend with his hands instead of his feet leaves the paint vulnerable and causes him to foul. 

Nnaji’s impressive size and athleticism are encouraging aspects of his game, providing a framework for coaches to build upon. However, he moves awkwardly up and down the court and lacks aggression on the glass.

Nnaji will likely be an end-of-bench player for much of his rookie season until he can prove to be a capable rebounder. A two-way contract is not out of the question for Nnaji; this way, he can compete amongst NBA-caliber bigs, improve his defense and rebounding, and adjust to the speed of the NBA game. Nnaji can become one of this class’s best defenders and steals of the draft, provided he upgrades his intensity, commits to rebounding, makes headway on his footwork, and enhances his offensive repertoire.