NBA Draft: Former NBA Scout Evaluates James Nnaji
After evaluating 2023 NBA Draft prospect James Nnaji, Jason Filippi shared his evaluation and scouting report with Draft Digest Pro.
Team: FC Barcelona (Spain) | Position: Center | Class: International
Height: 6-11 | Weight: 235
Potential NBA Roles: Rim Runner, Finisher, Defender, Rim Protector, Rebounder, Physicality
Comparisons: Jalen Duren
Draft Projection: Late First – Early Second Round
Javier Borrego/Europa Press via Getty Images
Strengths:
- Long arms and muscular body and frame
- Runs the court and shows mobility on both sides of the court
- Athletic finisher at the rim
- Defensive presence and rim protection
Concerns:
- Limited scoring ability
- Lacks a reliable low post game
- Average feel for the game
Questions:
- How old is he, really?
- How much upside does he have left?
- How will he fare against more polished big men with similar physical tools?
Bottom Line:
James Nnaji has established himself as one of the top international prospects for the 2023 NBA Draft. Although he only played limited minutes on a deep, veteran team, he did at least get some "real" minutes and often had a significant impact, even against Euroleague competition. His game may be limited but it should translate well to the NBA level.
Nnaji has NBA physical tools. Although he looks shorter than listed (more 6-foot-10 than 6-foot-11), he has a big strong mature body with long arms (7-foot-7 wingspan). He is one of the strongest players from a physical standpoint in the upcoming draft. He has decent mobility and runs the court quite well for size. He is a good athlete/leaper too and is very bouncy.
Nnaji is an old-school rim-running big man. He doesn't get many touches but doesn't complain and goes about his business. the big seems to understand his role and plays well within himself. I'm not sure how much margin for improvement he has, though. I don't ever see him being much of a scorer.
He is primarily an inside player but has an underdeveloped low post-game. He doesn't have much of a post-up game, offensive repertoire, or a go-to move. Nnaji tries to put the ball on deck with mixed results. He can score off drives from the foul line area but may also force some plays and turn the ball over.
He's an excellent screen and dive player – he can score on lobs and gets many points on alley-oop dunks. He finishes strong around the basket in general. He runs the court hard and can finish plays in transition.
Nnaji doesn't show much shooting range – although I have seen him knock down a couple high post shots, this is not a strength, and he doesn't have any three-point shooting ability. His shooting mechanics are rigid but not overly poor based on his free-throw shooting form.
He is a good offensive rebounder, follows his shots well, and scores on putbacks. However, sometimes he jumps out of sync with the ball and cannot corral the rebound, though he just has average hands.
I would rate his feel for the game as pretty average, but it has improved a lot since I first saw him three years ago.
Nnaji makes most of his contributions on the defensive end. He has an excellent defensive presence in general. He can defend the low post well and doesn't seem to mind physical play. He is active and contests shots aggressively. Nnaji has improved defensive footwork and has the mobility to contain a smaller player in open space but needs to improve his overall court sense. He has the bad habit of turning his back to the ball and may "lose" his man when helping defend the pick and roll. Nnaji still gets called for some "rookie" fouls due to his inexperience. He can rebound his area but doesn't always box out well.
I am not a huge fan, but I have to say he has proved to be better than expected at the pro level. His game is simple but effective, and despite his limitations, he should translate well to the pro level. I don't see him as ever being much of a factor on offense, but he can definitely be a factor on the defensive end. It will be interesting to see how he fares against other, even more, athletic players with comparable length at the NBA level. My biggest concern regards the rumors about his actual age, which likely limits his projected ceiling. Nevertheless, he is worth a look in the late first or early second round.
