Zeke Nnaji is a big man that is well built for and his skill set fits the modern way that basketball is played. Nnaji is one of a few potential Arizona Wildcats players that are hoping to be drafted in the 2020 NBA draft.
Zeke Nnaji NBA Draft Profile
College Career
Nnaji in his time with Arizona played the role of a typical modern-day big man. He is a hybrid player who is comfortable playing both the power forward and the center position. Nnaji only played a single season with the Wildcats before declaring for the NBA draft.
In this season, he made the first-team All Pac-12 team, Pac-12 All-Freshman, and was named the Pac-12 Rookie of the Year. Nnaji became a very accomplished player in a competitive Pac-12 conference in only his freshman year.
Statistically, Nnaji dominated his competition as well. He averaged 16.1 points per game on a 57 percent shooting and a 29.4 success rate from three. Along with this, Nnaji is a monster in terms of rebounding. Despite being listed as a forward and playing with other NBA caliber talent at the University of Arizona, Nnaji still pulled down 8.6 rebounds per game. Impressively, an average of 3.1 of those rebounds was offensive rebounds, highlighting the hustle and grit that Nnaji plays with.
Strengths
First, Nnaji’s major strength is his versatility and fit in the modern NBA. He plays the forward position, however, it is possible to play him at the center position in the age of small ball basketball that is currently running the NBA. Along with this, fitting in with the stretch five role, Nnaji has a respectable enough jumper and three-point shot that forces his defender to step out and guard him instead of solely protecting the basket.
Next, tying into the previous point, Nnaji has the potential to be a quality level shooting big man. He shot 29.4 percent from three during his college career, however, it is likely that it will take some time for him to adjust to the NBA’s three-point line. However, once the adjustment is made, it is safe to say that Nnaji will be the model of a small-ball center.
The final major strength of Nnaji is his defensive ability and athleticism. These two traits go hand in hand in Nnaji’s game. Along with this, he is a high motor player who always gives it his all no matter the circumstances. This makes him an animal on defense. Playing the forward position, he averaged 0.7 steals and 0.9 blocks a game. If he spent more time playing the center spot as he more than likely would in the NBA, it is safe to assume that he would have much better defensive stats like blocks. However, a lot of what Nnaji brings defensively does not show up in the stat sheet. He has a defensive rating of 92.5, which is a stat that shows in 100 defensive possessions, Nnaji would only allow 92.5 points, which is incredible.
Weaknesses
One of the main weaknesses of Nnaji’s game is his lack of ball security. He averaged 2.2 turnovers a game while not being a primary ball-handler for his team. It can be argued that he is currently too slim for his position, only weighing 240 pounds and that if he bulks up once he is in the league the turnover problem would be solved. This could also cut into his athleticism but it may be a necessary sacrifice for the betterment of his game.
Second, he has very low assist numbers. Nnaji played on a very well rounded and talented Arizona Wildcat team. Also, while not being a primary ball-handler, he did benefit from many touches throughout the season. With that being taken into consideration, the fact that he would only go on to average only 0.8 assists per game shows that this is an area of his game that needs major work. Offensively, Nnaji would at times be a black hole as a result of his lack of playmaking, either he would shoot or turn the ball over. This lack of teammate involvement will not work well for him in the NBA. However, this is a facet of his game that he should and likely will once he gets into the NBA.
NBA Player Comparison
A player that is very comparable to Zeke Nnaji is P.J. Brown. Both are 6’11” and played their careers a bit underweight. It is safe to assume that Nnaji will be a better perimeter shooter than Brown who only had a career three-point percentage of 13.6 percent. Brown’s defensive stats are also similar to those of Nnaji’s. Brown went on to be a starter in almost every game that he participated in, which is a role that Nnaji is likely to see himself in as well.
Zeke Nnaji NBA Draft Projection
Nnaji is projected to be drafted anywhere from the middle to the end of the first round. It is likely that he goes to a team that ranges from borderline playoff team to championship contender. This means that production from him could be crucial as early as his rookie year.
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