Last Updated on April 14, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

N’Faly Dante is a Malian professional basketball player who currently plays as a center for the Rio Grande Valley Vipers in the NBA G League, under a two-way contract with the Houston Rockets.

Player Profile

Personal Information:

  • Full Name: N’Faly Dante
  • Nationality: Malian
  • Date of Birth: October 19, 2001
  • Age: January 15, 2025
  • Birthplace: Bamako, Mali
  • Height: 6 feet 11 inches (211 cm)
  • Weight: 230 pounds (105 kg)
  • Wingspan: 7 feet 0 inches
  • Shoe Size: Size 18 (US)

Basketball Career:

  • Position: Center
  • Jersey Number: 3
  • High School: Sunrise Christian Academy (Bel Aire, Kansas)
  • College: University of Oregon (2019–2024)
  • NBA Draft: Undrafted in 2024
  • Professional Teams:
    • Houston Rockets: Signed a two-way contract on July 9, 2024
    • Rio Grande Valley Vipers (NBA G League): 2024–present
  • Championship Rings: None to date

College Career:

Dante had a notable tenure at the University of Oregon, earning several accolades:

  • 2023–24 Season:
    • All-Pac-12 First Team: For the second consecutive season
    • Pac-12 Tournament Most Outstanding Player: Led the Ducks to the Pac-12 Tournament Championship
    • Averages: 17.0 points (69.5% FG), 9.2 rebounds, 1.7 steals, 1.9 blocks, and 1.6 assists per game
    • Highlights: Career-high 28 points and 20 rebounds in the NCAA Tournament against Creighton
  • 2022–23 Season:
    • All-Pac-12 First Team: Recognized for outstanding performance
    • Averages: Team highs in points (13.5), rebounds (8.2), blocks (1.4), and field goal percentage (64.2%)
    • Highlights: Nine double-doubles, including two 15-point, 15-rebound games

Throughout his college career, Dante demonstrated significant growth, particularly in scoring, rebounding, and defensive capabilities.

Professional Career:

After going undrafted in the 2024 NBA Draft, Dante signed a two-way contract with the Houston Rockets on July 9, 2024.

He has been playing for the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, the Rockets’ NBA G League affiliate, where he continues to develop his skills.

Personal Life:

  • Children: None
  • Siblings: Information not publicly available

Player Archetype / Play Style

N’Faly Dante profiles as an old-school interior big with modern defensive utility, the kind of center who makes his clearest impact around the basket as a finisher, rebounder and rim protector. Defensively, he is at his best anchoring the paint, contesting shots, cleaning the glass and using his length to erase mistakes near the rim, while also showing enough mobility to hold up briefly in space for a player his size. Offensively, his role is straightforward but useful: screen hard, dive to the rim, finish lobs and dump-offs, score on second chances and punish smaller defenders inside rather than create off the dribble. Physically, Dante brings a powerful frame at around 6-foot-10 to 6-foot-11, roughly 230 to 260 pounds depending on listing, plus a reported 7-foot-6 wingspan that gives him real reach and presence in traffic. Altogether, his style is built on size, strength, touch near the basket and defensive activity, making him the type of center who can help by doing the rugged interior work while keeping his game simple and efficient.

NBA.com — NBA 2024 Draft Prospects | N’Faly Dante
Sports Illustrated — NBA Draft Scouting Report: Oregon’s N’Faly Dante
NBA.com — Bleacher Report: Ranking Top 45 prospects entering Round 2 in 2024 NBA Draft