Zeke Nnaji
The Denver Nuggets have continued to find creative ways to win basketball games. When you don’t have 3X MVP Nikola Jokic on the floor for games at a time, it’s never easy. This team has been continuing to prove all the naysayers wrong, though.
Jamal Murray has dished out a career-high number of assists in back-to-back appearances now. Peyton Watson dropped 30 points in the team’s victory over the Boston Celtics on National TV on Wednesday.
We’re here to talk about a specific player, though. The Nuggets selected Zeke Nnaji with the #22 pick in the 2020 NBA Draft. Since joining the team, he has struggled to find a consistent role.
Over the team’s last few games, as injuries have mounted, he’s finally been given a chance to show that he belongs.
Despite spending the last couple of seasons on the trading block. Nnaji is still here. And he’s proving that he has some serious value.
Zeke Nnaji Coming Around for Nuggets
When your top two starting centers aren’t available, somebody has to step up. Zeke Nnaji has now recorded two blocks in three consecutive games. Not only that, but he’s taken shots from the likes of Tyrese Maxey and Jaylen Brown, and pinned them off the backboard.
In a contest on Monday night where Denver didn’t have any of their starters available, the Ohio State product finished with 21 points, eight rebounds, and a pair of blocked shots. This is a performance that certainly was not expected from the big man.
As soon as Nikola Jokic went down, the team knew Jonas Valanciunas would have to play a huge role. But, 23 minutes into his starting opportunity, the Lithuanian got hurt. It was announced he would miss at least four weeks.
It was after this news that Nnaji would finally be re-entering the rotation. A few seasons have come and gone since he was a regular in there.
The role players up and down Denver’s lineup have been delivering, and #22 has been showing up as his number has been called.
Zeke Nnaji Reinvigorating Trade Value
The Nuggets roster improved greatly in the past offseason. Adding Tim Hardaway Jr., Cam Johnson, Bruce Brown, and Jonas Valanciunas improved the depth greatly.
It has been because of the players they added that they have been able to withstand some of the crazy injury luck they have endured. Zeke Nnaji has stuck here for six seasons now, but if the team does they want to move him, this stretch of play may well be sparking interest from teams around the league.
Nnaji is guaranteed to make $8 million for each of the next two seasons, with a player-option for the 2027-28 campaign. To acquire such a player that isn’t making too much is something plenty of other clubs can do if they so choose to. A player who certainly has had some shortcomings in the past, his energy has been contagious over the last few games.
The Nuggets also have DaRon Holmes II, who missed his entire rookie year, finally getting some run. Rookie Spencer Jones has also looked strong.
All of the above to say that the opportunities may drop when the team gets healthy again. Perhaps Denver may want to sell high, now that they finally can.
Big kudos to Nnaji, staying ready despite an inconsistent role over these past couple of campaigns.