James Nnaji Enrolls at Baylor University
James Nnaji, a center whose NBA draft rights are currently held by the New York Knicks, is set to play college basketball after officially enrolling at Baylor University, as reported on Wednesday. Jonathan Givony from DraftExpress broke the news, providing updates from Nnaji’s representatives at Gersh Sports.
Career Overview
At 21 years old, Nnaji had a stint with the Knicks during the 2025 Summer League, appearing in all five of the team’s games where he posted averages of 3.2 points and 3.6 rebounds over approximately 12.9 minutes on the court.
Standing 6-foot-11 and weighing 250 pounds, Nnaji has spent over five years developing his skills overseas before returning to the United States. The center was originally drafted by the Detroit Pistons as the 31st overall pick in the second round of the 2023 NBA Draft, but his rights were swiftly traded to the Charlotte Hornets. The Knicks later secured his rights in October 2024 as part of a three-team trade that also involved the Minnesota Timberwolves, a deal famously linked to the acquisition of Karl-Anthony Towns for New York.
Baylor Bears Season Outlook
Currently, Nnaji joins a Baylor squad that boasts a record of 9-2 ahead of their upcoming matchup against Arlington Baptist. The Bears are set to kick off their Big 12 Conference season on January 3 against TCU.
