N’Faly Dante
N’Faly Dante was born on October 19, 2001, in Bamako, Mali. He is a Malian professional basketball player who plays as a center and shoots right-handed. He attended Sunrise Christian Academy in Bel Aire, Kansas, where he was a five-star recruit. In his junior season, he averaged 16 points, nine rebounds, and three assists per game, leading his team to a 22-6 record and their first appearance in the GEICO Nationals.
Dante played college basketball for the Oregon Ducks from 2019 to 2024. During his college career, he received numerous accolades, including being named to the First Team All-Pac-12 for two consecutive seasons (2023, 2024), the Pac-12 All-Defensive Team (2024), and the Pac-12 Tournament Most Valuable Player (2024). He also participated in the Nike Hoop Summit twice (2018, 2019). His college statistics show consistent improvement, with career averages of 11.3 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 1.0 assists per game, with a .654 field goal percentage.
After going undrafted in the 2024 NBA Draft, Dante signed a two-way contract with the Houston Rockets on July 9, 2024. He made his NBA debut on March 3, 2025, recording 10 points, nine rebounds, two blocks, and one assist in a 137-128 loss against the Oklahoma City Thunder. In August 2025, N’Faly Dante officially joined the Atlanta Hawks, as the Houston Rockets declined to match Atlanta’s offer in restricted free agency. This move was notable, as the Hawks signed Dante to an offer sheet despite him only having four career NBA games, demonstrating their faith in his potential. Dante is currently listed at 2.11 m (6 ft 11 in) tall and weighs 119 kg (262 lbs). He is preparing for his first legitimate chance to play in the NBA with the Atlanta Hawks.
