While initially joining Hawaii Pacific, Nwaba redshirted the 2011-12 season and transferred to Santa Monica College in 2012. In 2012–13, he was named Western State Conference South Division Player of the Year and to the All-California Community College Athletic Association state first team after averaging 20.5 points, 8.8 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game. In 2013, Nwaba transferred again, this time to Cal Poly. As a sophomore in 2013–14, he appeared in all 34 games with 30 starts and finished eighth among Big West Conference players and 59th among NCAA Division I players with a team-leading 52.6 percent field goal mark. He also finished second in the lineup with 11.7 points and 4.8 rebounds per game and 21 blocks. He was named to Big West All-Tournament Team after averaging 14.0 points and shooting 72.7 percent from the floor in three contests. On December 14, 2013, he scored a career-high 22 points on 11-for-13 shooting against Cal State Dominguez Hills. As a junior in 2014–15, Nwaba finished second in Cal Poly's lineup and 15th among Big West Conference players with 11.4 points per game. He also averaged 4.7 rebounds and had 31 steals at 1.3 per game. He recorded 16 double-digit scoring games, including a season-high 21 points against Gonzaga on December 20, 2014. As a senior in 2015–16, Nwaba earned All-Big West Honorable Mention selection after averaging 12.5 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.2 steals in 30 games. At the end of his Cal Poly career, Nwaba ranked 15th in program history in rebounds with a total of 465 and was one of 23 players to score more than 1,000 career points.
After graduating from Cal Poly in Spring 2016 with a sociology degree, Nwaba headed to Reno, Nevada to tryout for the NBA Development League's Reno Bighorns. The Bighorns were awarded his rights but later traded those rights to the Los Angeles D-Fenders on October 30, 2016. Nwaba joined the D-Fenders for training camp and made the opening-night roster.
On February 28, 2017, Nwaba signed a 10-day contract with the Los Angeles Lakers. That night, Nwaba made his NBA debut in a 109–104 loss to the Charlotte Hornets, playing six minutes of fourth-quarter action. On March 11, 2017, he signed a second 10-day contract with the Lakers. He made his first start for the Lakers a day later, scoring six points in a 118–116 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers. On March 21, 2017, he signed a multi-year contract with the Lakers. On April 1, 2017, he scored 19 points in a 115–104 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers. During his rookie season with the Lakers, Nwaba was assigned back down to the D-Fenders four times. On July 12, 2017, he was waived by the Lakers.
On July 14, 2017, Nwaba was claimed off waivers by the Chicago Bulls. Early in the 2017 season, Nwaba entered the starting lineup multiple times and was lauded by his teammates for his ability to contest shots. On February 22, 2018, Nwaba scored a career-high 21 points against the Philadelphia 76ers.
On September 8, 2018, Nwaba signed with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Brooklyn Nets (2019–2020)
On July 17, 2019, Nwaba signed with the Brooklyn Nets. On December 19, Nwaba suffered a season-ending Achilles tear in a game against the San Antonio Spurs. On January 3, 2020, Nwaba was waived by the Nets.
Houston Rockets (2020–present)
On June 23, 2020, Nwaba signed with the Houston Rockets.
NBA career statistics
Regular season
Personal life
Nwaba is the son of Theodore and Blessing Nwaba, both of whom are Nigerian of Igbo origin. He has 5 siblings: two brothers Victor and Alex, and 3 sisters Jane, Precious, and Barbara. Nwaba's sister, Barbara, is a professional heptathlete who competed at UC Santa Barbara, won the 2015 and 2016 National Championships title and competed in the 2016 Olympics.
