Nnaji (back) is available for Tuesday's Summer League game against the Nets, Stefan Bondy of The New York Post reports.
Nnaji exited Sunday's game against the Celtics in the third quarter due to back tightness but is healthy enough to play Tuesday against the Nets. The big man was selected No. 31 overall by the Timberwolves in the 2023 NBA Draft and was traded to the Knicks alongside Karl-Anthony Towns in October 2024, though he has yet to leave Europe and make his regular-season NBA debut.
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Knicks' James Nnaji: Won't return Sunday
Rotowire
Nnaji is out for the remainder of Sunday's Summer League game against the Celtics due to lower back tightness, James L. Edwards III of The Athletic reports.
Nnaji exited the game in the third quarter and will not be able to return. He concludes the contest with two points and a rebound in nine minutes of action. His status for Tuesday's game against the Nets is now in question.
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James Nnaji: Rights traded to Knicks
Rotowire
The Knicks traded Charlie Brown, DaQuan Jeffries and Duane Washington along with three second-round picks to the Hornets in exchange for Nnaji to help complete the three-team trade that sent Karl-Anthony Towns to New York and Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo to Minnesota, Shams Charania of The Athletic reports.
Nnaji is a project for the future who continued playing overseas for FC Barcelona after being selected with the No. 31 pick in the 2023 Draft. The 20-year-old could end up on the roster down the road, but the Knicks are not expected to bring Nnaji in anytime soon. Across 26 regular-season games for Barcelona in the 2023-24 season, Nnaji averaged 2.3 points and 2.2 rebounds across 8.3 minutes per game.
Nnaji was selected 31st in the 2023 NBA Draft by the Celtics, but he was quickly redirected to the Charlotte Hornets.
Nnaji is a project for the future, as he doesn't turn 19 until August. A 6-foot-11 center with a massive 7-foot-5 wingspan, Nnaji didn't play much for FC Barcelona last season, but he showed off his athleticism and touch around the rim. With Mark Williams and Nick Richards under contract for Charlotte, Nnaji will likely spend some time in the G League, at least in the early going.
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