The Nuggets have officially signed No. 22 overall draft pick Zeke Nnaji and No. 24 overall pick R.J. Hampton to their rookie contracts, the club announced today in a press release. Hampton’s signing was previously reported.
Nnaji was named the 2019/20 Pac-12 Freshman of the Year on the back of a strong collegiate campaign for Arizona. The 6’11” forward averaged 16.1 PPG, 8.6 RPG and 0.9 BPG across 32 games. Nnaji also converted 57% of his field goal attempts.
Nnaji’s old Arizona teammates Josh Green and Nico Mannion were also selected during the 2020 draft on November 18.
In lieu of a college career, Hampton went pro overseas for the 2019/20 season, averaging 8.8 PPG, 3.8 RPG and 2.4 APG in 15 games for the New Zealand Breakers of Australia’s NBL. The Nuggets acquired the rights to draft the 6’5″ guard as part of the Jrue Holiday–Steven Adams four-team trade with the Bucks, Pelicans and Thunder.
Assuming they agree to deals for 120% of the standard rookie scale amounts, which almost every first-round pick does, Nnaji will net $2,379,840 this year and Hampton will make $2,193,480. If their third- and fourth-year options are picked up by Denver, Nnaji will earn $11.8MM in total, while Hampton will receive $11.1MM over the lifetime of his rookie deal.
Hampton is solid.
Great, a prospect who is solid. At least until 9 other players take the court. If Morris doesn’t get pulled away, his best chance may be at 2G, but at any rate, he must be able to adjust. If someone else makes the play, it’s not a sign to make any other play besides finishing.
Very solid with a bigger ceiling. Watching him play for the Breakers, there were genuine flashes of his talent. The benefits of going to the ANBL and playing against grown men may not have helped his stat line, but he will be better off for it.
He will be a test case for that, as Ball has had other influences and has to get along to pass, his strength.
Denver being happy with Harris is hard to figure. They must see Hampton there.
I like RJ wonder how he’ll fit in if he makes it to 1st rotation