Former Los Angeles Lakers youngster David Nwaba has turned himself into a star in the Japanese B.League. The Lakers signed Nwaba back in 2016 after he went undrafted inthe 2016 NBA Draft. Nwaba was an older rookie, beginning his career at 24 years old after spending five years in college, including his final three at Cal Poly.
Nwaba enjoyed a six-year NBA career, though he only spent his first one with the Lakers. He signed two 10-day contracts with the Lakers before inking a multi-year deal with the club in March of his rookie campaign, though he only lasted until July of that same year before getting waived.
After that, Nwaba played one season with the Chicago Bulls, one with the Cleveland Cavaliers, one with the Brooklyn Nets, and two with the Houston Rockets before departing from the NBA.
Former Laker David Nwaba is now a star in Japan
Even though he wasn’t playing NBA basketball, Nwaba was still in the NBA stratosphere. Following his final NBA campaign (the 20212-22 season with the Rockets), Nwaba was traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder and waived less than a month after the deal went through.
However, instead of jumping ship to overseas ball right after that, Nwaba decided to stick around. He played two G League seasons, both with the Motor City Cruise (the affiliate of the Detroit Pistons), hence, staying in the stratosphere.
Once those two seasons wrapped up, Nwaba finally decided to take his talents to the international stage, ending his time around the NBA.
After a quick, one-year pitstop in England, playing for the London Lions of the British BBL, Nwaba inked a deal with the San-en NeoPhoenix, and he’s been there ever since.
He played well in his first season with the team, but this year, the 2025-26 campaign, has been different. Nwaba’s minutes have increased, and so has his production.
So far this year, Nwaba has appeared in 20 games (including 14 starts) and is playing 30.9 minutes per contest, which is the most on the team.
He is averaging 20.2 points, 7.9 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 2.0 steals, and 1.0 blocks while shooting 54.6% from the floor and 36.2% from deep on 3.5 three-point attempts per contest.
Nwaba didn’t end up becoming a long-term piece with the Lakers, but he did play 19.9 minutes per game in his 20 rookie-season appearances with the squad. He also played very well with the South Bay Lakers as a rookie, appearing in 41 G League games.
But now, almost a decade after his lone season in LA, Nwaba is a star in Japan.