Ochai Agbaji Finding His Place With Rebuilding Nets

Heading into his seventh season in the NBA, Ochai Agbaji is still trying to find a permanent spot on a roster. 

In the midst of the Brooklyn Nets’ rebuild, his height and athleticism could see him playing a bigger role in the future. 

Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Agbaji grew up surrounded by basketball. His parents, Olofu and Erica Abaji, both played college basketball at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, exposing Ochai to the game from a young age. When their son was invited to the green room ahead of the 2022 NBA Draft, the former players expressed undoubted excitement.

“Even as a child, he wanted to be an NBA player. I think this is a dream come true for him," said Erica Agbaji. "I know for all of us, his family, it's a dream come true for us. We are very excited and can't wait for this next adventure. We are loving every bit." 

Agbaji has been recognized for his skills on the basketball court since his days at Oak Park High School in Kansas City, Missouri. As a senior, he averaged 27.6 points and 8.6 rebounds per game, earning the Kansas City Star All-Metro Player of the Year and the Greater Kansas City Basketball Coaches Association Player of the Year.

The nine-inch growth spurt during this time was more than helpful for the 18-year-old, who committed to the University of Kansas in his senior year in 2018. He started as a redshirt but ended up playing in the second half of the season. In his first start against Texas, he recorded a career high of 24 points. 

This success continued throughout his next three years with the program. His average points increased each season, from 10 to 14.1 to 18.8 per game, while his rebounding numbers also improved. Agbaji also received All-Big 12 and Academic All-Big 12 accolades in each season. 

In his senior season, he helped lead Kansas to its first NCAA National Championship since 2008. Agbaji had 12 points in the game against North Carolina and received the prestigious Big 12 Male Athlete of the Year and the NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player awards in addition to making the NCAA Final Four All-Tournament First Team. 

He officially entered the 2022 NBA draft on April 24th.

Standing at 6’5, Agbaji has made an impact on all three teams he has played for over the last four years. Starting his journey with the Cleveland Cavaliers after being selected as the 14th overall pick, he was traded to the Utah Jazz after four Summer League games. This is where his NBA development began.

As a rookie, he played in 59 games, averaging 20.5 minutes a game and 7.9 points. He ended the season strong with a 3-point percentage of 35.5%, a statistic he’s only broken once more throughout his career. In his second season with the Jazz, Agbaji’s points per game went down to 5.4, along with eight fewer games, before being traded to the Toronto Raptors.

Going with Kelly Olynyk in exchange for Kira Lewis Jr., Otto Porter Jr., and a draft pick, he would go on to play two-plus seasons with the Raptors. Agbaji saw significantly higher minutes in his first full season. His average points reflected as such, with a career high of 10.4. The following season, however, he appeared in 22 fewer games, though, and averaged 4.3 points per game. 

He arrived in Brooklyn in 2025, and the Nets received a 2032 second-round pick from the Raptors as well as cash considerations from the Los Angeles Clippers. Competing for minutes against players like Drake Powell and Ben Saraf, the rookie guards selected in the 2025 NBA Draft. He played in just 20 games, averaging 16.2 minutes and 6.7 points. 

Throughout his NBA journey, Agbaji continues to compete for a consistent role in the league. He offers valuable experience from multiple different levels to a young Nets roster and is looking to prove his career is far from over.

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