Zeke Nnaji has been playing as a power forward for the Denver Nuggets since they picked him in the 2020 NBA draft.
Nnaji inked a four-year rookie contract worth $11.8 million with the Nuggets that averts him from being a restricted free agent until the completion of the 2023-24 season.
He made his NBA debut on December 28, 2020, in a game against the Houston Rockets, which the Nuggets won 124-111.
Born to a Nigerian father and an American mother, he comes from a mixed ethnicity.
He was born into a basketball-loving family, with his younger sisters already being hooked on hoops.
Off the court, Nnaji has established a foundation that has constructed a basketball court in Nigeria.
This article will explore Nnaji’s family background, high school and college basketball journey, NBA career, charitable work, net worth, and contracts.
Facts About Zeke Nnaji
| Full Name | Ezekiel Tobechukwu Nnaji |
| Known As | Zeke Nnaji |
| Date of Birth | January 9, 2001 |
| Age | 22 Years Old |
| Birth Place | Minneapolis, Minnesota |
| Nationality | American |
| Father’s Name | Apham Nnaji |
| Mother’s Name | Janel Nnaji |
| Siblings | Two |
| Zodiac Sign | Capricorn |
| Height | 6 feet 9 inches/ 206 cm/ 2.06 m |
| Weight | 240 lbs/ 108 kg |
| Education | High School: Lakeville, HopkinsCollege: Arizona (2019-2020) |
| NBA Draft | 2020/ Round:1/ Pick: 22nd Overall |
| Playing Career | 2020-Present |
| Current Team | Denver Nuggets (2020- Present) |
| Awards & Achievements | First-team All-Pac-12 (2020)Pac-12 Freshman of the Year (2020)Pac-12 All-Freshman team (2020) |
| Position | Power Forward |
| Jersey Number | 22 |
| Base Salary for 2022-23 | $2.9 Million |
| Net Worth | $2.5 Million-$3 Million |
Zeke Nnaji’s Family Details!
Zeke Nnaji was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on January 9, 2001. He comes from a multicultural background, with his father, Apham Nnaji, being from Nigeria and his mother, Janel Nnaji, hailing from Minnesota.
Apham Nnaji moved to Germany after a career in journalism as a newscaster and reporter in Nigeria before eventually settling in the United States.
He completed his MBA from the University of Wales in England.
On the other hand, Janel Nnaji completed her bachelor’s degree in retail merchandising from the University of Minnesota.
She has more than 20 years of corporate experience in product development, brand development, and strategic and financial planning and currently works as the executive director of the Nnaji Family Foundation.
Siblings
Nnaji is the eldest of three siblings, with two younger sisters named Maya (born on October 29, 2003) and Josie (born on April 23, 2007).
Maya played her high school basketball at Hopkins High School and averaged 19.5 points and 8.5 rebounds per game as a sophomore.
She was a five-star recruit and now currently plays collegiate basketball for the Arizona Wildcats.
Meanwhile, Josie, the youngest of the three siblings, also attended Hopkins High School and played basketball there, just like Maya and Zeke.
In addition, Zeke’s uncle, Obiora Nnaji, also played basketball as a center at the University of Florida from 1997 to 1999.
Age, Height & Body Measurements
Nnaji is currently 22 years old.
The basketball player stands 2.06 m (6 feet 9 inches) tall and weighs 240 lbs (108 kg).
The black-haired and dark brown-eyed player has a standing reach of 2.67 m (8 feet 9.50 inches) and a wingspan of 2.18 m (7 feet 2 inches).
High School & Collegiate Basketball
Nnaji began his high school basketball career at Lakeville North High School before transferring to Hopkins High School.
In his senior year, he led his team to a Minnesota 4A state title by averaging 24.1 points and 9.4 rebounds per game.
After considering offers from Kansas, Kentucky, North Carolina, and UCLA, he decided to play collegiate basketball for Arizona.
The Minnesota-born player averaged 16.1 points and 8.4 rebounds per game in his freshman year.
He then declared for the 2020 NBA Draft after the end of his freshman year.
NBA Career
Zeke Nnaji made his NBA debut on December 28, 2020, against the Houston Rockets.
During his first rookie season, Nnaji played in 42 games, in which he started one of the games.
In the subsequent 2021-22 season, he played in 41 games, starting in one of them, and averaged 6.6 points per game.
On December 4, 2021, Zeke Nnaji recorded his career-high of 21 points against the New York Knicks, while Nikola Jokic scored a game-high of 32 points.
Nnaji Family Foundation
Founded shortly after Zeke Nnaji’s selection in the NBA draft in 2020, the Nnaji Family Foundation aims to positively impact the lives of young people in Africa and the United States through education and sports.
It plans to construct five basketball courts and educational centers throughout Nigeria and organize basketball camps across the U.S., with one scheduled to take place in Fort Collins, Colo.
The foundation has already completed the construction of a basketball court in Enugu, Nigeria.
Net Worth & Contracts
The Nuggets power forward holds an estimated net worth between $2.5 million-$3 million as of 2023.
Upon the draft’s conclusion, he signed a four-year rookie scale contract with the Nuggets joining Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray & Aaron Gordon.
The contract, which was signed on November 30, 2020, is worth $11.80 million, with an average annual salary of $2.9 million.
On October 8, 2021, the Nuggets exercised a $2.62 million option for the 2022-23 season.
The Nuggets again exercised a $4.3 million option for the 2023-24 season on October 3, 2022.
He will be a restricted free agent at the end of the 2023-24 season with a qualifying offer of $6.2 million.
Relationship & Social Media Presence
The Nuggets’ power forward is an active user of social media platforms such as Instagram and Twitter.
As of this writing, he has a significant following of 36.9k and 8.6k on Instagram and Twitter, respectively.
Nnaji frequently shares his basketball-related content on both platforms, including pictures and video clips of himself practicing and playing games.
Despite being active on social media, Zeke Nnaji has been quite private about his dating life and has not publicly shared any information about his relationships.
According to sources, Nnaji is allegedly single and not dating anyone.
Interesting Facts
- Before starting basketball, he played baseball and soccer, but his height ultimately led him to pursue basketball.
- In addition to his athletic talents, he has been playing the piano since first grade and even composes his own music.
Popularity Graph
In 2022, Zeke Nnaji was named to the First-team All-Pac 12, Pac-12 Freshman of the Year, and Pac-12 All-Freshman team.
The graph above illustrates the search interests of Zeke Nnaji over the past year and indicates that the peak occurred in January 2023.
What are the contract details of Zeke Nnaji?
The Nuggets signed Zeke Nnaji to a rookie scale contract worth $11.80 million over four years, with an annual average salary of $2.9 million.
What jersey number does Nnaji wear?
Nnaji wears number 22 for the Denver Nuggets.
