Barcelona prospect James Nnaji moves from Girona to Merkezefendi

By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net

An eventful season for James Nnaji expanded to the Turkiye Sigorta Basketbol Super Ligi and Yukatel Merkezefendi.

Shortly following an early termination of a loan contract with Girona, FC Barcelona assigned the 20-year-old Nigerian center to the Turkish club for the remainder of the 2024-25 season, as announced on Friday. Meeting Merkezefendi at 6-16 in the BSL, the task at hand is to help in the battle to avoid relegation.

In August, the Makurdi native was loaned to the fellow ACB outfit. He averaged 5.3 points, 4.1 rebounds, 0.8 blocks, and 0.6 steals per game over 14 appearances in the Liga Endesa Regular Season. Combined with earlier experience in the top flight of Spain with Barca, he is a veteran of 87 appearances in the strongest domestic league of Europe, in addition to six games across other domestic competitions. He also logged 51 games played in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague with the Catalonia giant.

In October, his NBA rights were acquired by the New York Knicks via a three-team traded focused on Karl-Anthony Towns. Nnaji was originally drafted by the Detroit Pistons with the 31st pick of the 2023 NBA draft and then traded to the Charlotte Hornets. He went to play for the Hornets in the 2023 NBA2K24 Summer League, tallying 3.6 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks per contest over five appearances in Las Vegas.

He is under contract with his parent club, Barcelona, until the end of the 2026-27 season.

Photo Credit: EuroleagueBasketball.net

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