#27: New York Knicks: Zeke Nnaji | Center | Arizona
At 6’11”, 240 lbs, Zene Nnaji already has an NBA body. If nothing else he looks the part. On top of that, he also possesses great touch and ability to finish around the rim. For his size, he runs the floor exceedingly well, has great hands, and shoots a smooth mid-range jumper.
I want to call him an athletic big, but the problem is most people in the “athletic” category can jump, and Nnaji, well, can’t.
I mean, he can. He’s no Dario Saric or anything. But you look at this frame and the way he moves around the court and you think he could posterize an unwitting defender at any minute, but instead, he is always one second away making a clever post-move layup.
Essentially, he a 6’11” center (with a 7’1″ wingspan) who is more of a below-the-rim player. To be fair, though, he is a very good below-the-rim player. He averaged over 16 efficient points per game with the Arizona Wildcats on 57% shooting from the field.
As he gets older, his range will likely expand, but his ceiling will be capped because his lack of hops doesn’t translate to the best defensive skills. He averages less than one block per game and is not known to hold opposing big men in check.
Still, he is a very solid player and one that could pair well with the Knicks, who will likely have many gaps to fill.