Unlike other seasons in which Several young players of the Basket in Barça They were transferred in search of more minutes and greater opportunities, this course has only carried out the loan exit of James respond.
The Nigerian pivot, which The summer of 2020 came to Barca discipline and that debuted with the first team in November 2021 Zalgiris Kaunas In a Euroleague match, he had opportunities with the first team progressively. Impressed in his first Endesa League match, in January 2022, signing 10 points, five rebounds and five caps ante Baxi Manresa.
Incredible debut in the Endesa League
He went to 19 Credits of assessment in what was the best debut of a young man under 18. Because nnaji, with One of the most impressive physicists who are reminded of a player out of the Barça quarry, His opportunity in the first team came early.
The NBA threw his eye in 2023
Saras made him debut, and was also part of the team led by Roger Grimau In the 23/24 season. A '5' of the old school, with privileged conditions and future possibilities that They did not go unnoticed in the NBA: it was selected in the 31st 2023 draft position for the Detroit Pistons, But he was transferred to the Charlotte Hornets. Indirectly, he entered last summer in the transfer of Karl-Anthony Towns To the New York Knicks, a franchise that currently owns its rights in the American League.
From more to less in Girona
With Grimau, a stagnation was found in his game, with excessive tactical lagoons that penalized him on the court. With the presence in the team of Willy Hernangome, Jan Vesely And the commitment to Youssoupha Fall, NNAJI had no place in Barça de Joan Peñarroya, and a transfer into the form of assignment was chosen Bàsquet Girona. There, its prominence was decreasing as the team was improving and obtaining victories. The reality of the Nigerian changed a lot with the arrival of a Moncho Fernández that he practically did not have him, partly also because of the positive arrival to the Lithuanian pivot gerunds Give Martinas.
James Nnaji completes a powerful mate before the Penya / ACB Photo – David Grau
Final course in Türkiye
On March 27, the end of the transfer to Girona was effective, and NNAJI chose to finish the campaign in the Merkezefendi Turco. There, in eight games he contributed 7.5 points and 4 rebounds By meeting, and after a balance of five wins and three losses, they managed to turn the situation to certify the permanence, an objective that seemed complicated with the arrival of the Barca pivot in Ottoman territory.
NNAJI's decision
Nnaji still has two more years left with Barça. But, about to comply 21 years, And after already accumulating two consecutive seasons in which he has not surrendered as expected, the player has decided to turn his career. According to Sport, James Nnaji and his surroundings have already let Barça know that the player's will is to leave the Barca club. They still think that future of the player is in USA, And that is why they explore all possible options for Nnaji to end up fulfilling his dream.
NNaji prefers to look for a departure from Barça, with which he has a contract until 2027 / ACB Photo – Sara Gordon
Barca interest in Makondou
Barça has assumed that Both Jan Vesely and Willy Hernangómez will continue on the team next season. With its continuity, as this newspaper explained, it is quite unlikely that the pivot trio is the same as that of this campaign, so Youssoupha Fall would be on the output ramp. In the last hours, the French media 'Ouest-France' has pointed a Barca interest in the Galo pivot Yoan Makoundou, Mónaco owned and that this course has played on the Turk Telekom averaging 11.2 points and 4.9 rebounds in Eurocup.
