The New York Knicks have invited the enormous James Nnaji to take part in the Summer League due to start on 10 July. The Knicks have had a season that could be defined as, so close, yet so far. The Knicks are looking to continue the strong showing they had last season into the new year fast approaching. Their methods and decisions have led some in the NBA to question the thinking of those in charge in New York. They had a spectacular season that saw their two stars, Jalen Brunson and Karl Anthony-Towns, shine on the court. Following some recent developments, they are aiming to rebuild in some areas.
The New York Knicks are aiming to continue the trend of success that has emerged
Five or six years ago, we never would have envisioned the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference Finals, yet they managed in a relatively short amount of time to reshape the organization to such a point that a title is now expected in Madison Square Garden as opposed to just hoping for one. Brunson and Towns were two of the best players in the NBA this season and led the Knicks to the Eastern Conference Finals, only to lose to the Pacers.
Having reached the Conference Finals for the first time in nearly three decades, many were shocked to learn that the Knicks opted to fire head coach Tom Thibodeau following their loss in the Conference Finals. This raised many eyebrows in the NBA inner circles as Thibodeau reinvigorated the city of New York by building a strong foundation over his time with the Knicks.
What are the details about the 7-foot center, James Nnaji?
The Knicks have been keeping an eye on James Nnaji since they acquired him from the Charlotte Hornets as part of the three-team Karl-Anthony Towns trade last offseason. He chose to play in Europe for several teams for the past few years. Last season, while playing for Girona, he averaged 5.3 points and 4.1 rebounds. Nnaji is a Nigerian native and will surely be looking to another Nigerian NBA star, Giannis Antetokounmpo, for some guidance.
Reports have emerged that the Knicks have invited Nnaji to take part in the Summer League, due to start in July, and according to his agent, Gerard Raventos, he’s already in New York and working out with the Knicks. The New York Post reported that James Nnaji informed Barcelona that he intends to pursue a career in the U.S. with the Knicks, which would start in the Summer League.
The Knicks need some good news, and James Nnaji has the potential to make a huge splash in the NBA. His 7-foot-7 wingspan and 9-foot-4 standing reach enable him to be a beast in the paint, whether it be on offense or defense. He currently stands at 7 feet and 251 pounds, which means he will be a challenge for any center in the NBA to contend with. His agent, Gerard Raventos, had the following to say:
“Hopefully, after [the Summer League], we can reach an agreement. That’s the plan, from both sides. It’s 50/50; it depends how he does. He’s coming in great shape. … Everything will be based on his performances in the Summer League.”
Can the Knicks make a success of this season and go all the way?
With the NBA and the sports world intensely focused on the West Coast of the United States at the moment, the Knicks have made a significant move towards ensuring they continue to compete this year. Bringing James Nnaji in is a positive sign for the Knicks; he is a young player with mountains of potential. If Nnaji can perform well at the Summer League event in Las Vegas, we might just get to see him playing in the regular season for the Knicks. We eagerly await the beginning of the Summer League on 10 July.
