Ranking the 5 best rebounders in the 2023 NBA Draft

GREENSBORO, NORTH CAROLINA - MARCH 17: Oscar Tshiebwe #34 of the Kentucky Wildcats protects the lane form Ed Croswell #5 of the Providence Friars during the first round of the 2023 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament game at Greensboro Coliseum on March 17, 2023 in Greensboro, North Carolina. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /

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James Nnaji, Barcelona – Photo by Vicente Vidal Fernandez ATPImages/Getty Images) /

2. C James Nnaji, Nigeria

James Nnaji is already one of the most polarizing prospects in this year’s draft class. The Nigerian big man has the size and strength to be a major factor in the NBA. What he lacks is the actual game experience to show success.

The 18-year old’s best asset is his build. He’s 6-foot-10 and 225 pounds, but the arms are where the real intrigue exists. His wingspan easily overshadows his height, measuring at 7-foot-7.

His frame does him plenty of favors on the rebounding end, but so does his intellect. Nnaji is good at calculating the trajectory of a miss and getting himself in position to grab it. He can outphysical many on the inside, but he doesn’t always have to and risk a loose ball foul.

The biggest issue is that he hasn’t really shown how these skills will translate to the pros. Nnaji spent this year with Barcelona in the Spanish league. Adhering to league standards, Nnaji didn’t get a lot of time on the court as a teenager.

In 19 EuroLeague games, for instance, Nnaji took the court for an average of less than six minutes per contest. As a result, the counting stats aren’t pretty: 2.0 points and 1.3 rebounds per game.

That lack of experience suggests Nnaji is not going to come in on Day 1 and be someone who can hold his own against opposing NBA big men. There’s probably going to be a development curve for the 18-year-old, perhaps even a year in the G League.

Nevertheless, the combination of size and raw potential has NBA front offices salivating. Where Nnaji once seemed destined for the second round, many mock drafts and big boards now have him going in the back end of the first.