N'Faly Dante is a small center for the Houston Rockets and the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, the Rockets' NBA G League affiliate. He joined the team in a two-way contract in July 2024, after going undrafted in the 2024 NBA Draft. As a junior at Sunrise Christian Academy, he led his team to a 22-6 record and its first appearance at the GEICO Nationals with an average of 16 points, nine rebounds, and three assists per game. He graduated as a five-star recruit and committed to play for the Oregon Ducks in 2019. He represented Mali in the 2016 FIBA Under-17 World Championship, finishing 15th, and the 2017 FIBA Under-16 African Championship, winning gold.
Due to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) missing his clearance deadline, Dante was declared ineligible to begin the 2019–20 season. On December 14, he returned to the University of Oregon. He made his Ducks debut, scoring 11 points in an 81-48 victory over Montana. He defeated Florida A&M 87-66 in December 2020, scoring a career-high 22 points. Due to an ACL tear in December, he was declared out for the season. In his five seasons of college, he played in 103 games, starting 84, averaging 11.3 points, 1.0 assists, and 7.1 rebounds.
What is N'Faly Dante's Nationality?
N'Faly Dante is of Malian nationality. He was born and raised in Bamako, Mali. He averaged 2.8 points and 4.3 rebounds in 9.2 minutes per game while playing for Mali in the 2016 FIBA Under-17 World Championship in Zaragoza, Spain, where his team placed 15th. Although his team won the gold medal at the 2017 FIBA Under-16 African Championship in Mauritius, he was added to the Mali team but did not play any games.
Also Read About: N'Faly Dante Parents
N'Faly Dante's Hometown
N’Faly Dante’s hometown is Bamako, Mali, as per his Oregon athletic profile. He reclassified from 2020 to 2019. He was a five-star recruit with a 91 scout grade on ESPN, ranked 13th in the 2020 class by Scout.com, and 17th among ESPN's top 60. ESPN ranked him as the top Kansas recruit in 2020, while 247Sports.com ranked him as the second-best center in his class.
Dante averaged 16.5 points per game on 85.2% shooting in the Nike EYBL circuit and was named All-Indianapolis MVP. He also led his high school team to the Geico Nationals quarterfinals, where he averaged 14.7 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks as a junior.
N'Faly Dante's Birthplace
N’Faly Dante was born on October 19, 2001, in Bamako, the capital of Mali, a nation in West Africa, according to ESPN.
FAQs on N'Faly Dante
A. N'Faly Dante attended the University of Oregon from 2019 to 2024.
A. N'Faly Dante is of Mali nationality. He was born and raised in Bamako, Mali.
A. N'Faly Dante stands 7 feet or 213 cm tall.
A. No, N'Faly Dante went undrafted in the 2024 NBA Draft. He signed a two-way contract with the Houston Rockets in July 2024.
A. N'Faly Dante is 23 years old as of April 2025. He was born on October 19, 2001.
