Zeke Nnaji

skywalker33 · Post #41 » by **skywalker33** » Wed Feb 17, 2021 12:15 am

Definitely fun to consider, really think Nnaji has better potential than that of the 22nd pick. Dude came out after his freshman year, produced pretty well at AZ. If he stayed one more year and developed further I could easily see him a late lottery pick, remember he just turned 20yo

skywalker33 · Post #42 » by **skywalker33** » Sat Jun 19, 2021 10:10 pm

Found it interesting that TC proclaimed Nnaji as a 3&D guy, unusual for a 6-11 guy. For a 20-yr old, he'll be a strength off the bench as he was told he should see more mins this year. Easy to see especially if Millsap and/or Green aren't back. I can see him averaging 9ppg and 5-7rpgs depending on how many mins Malone gives him, but don't be surprised by a swift rise in his game.

TunaFish · Post #43 » by **TunaFish** » Sun Jun 20, 2021 12:14 am

skywalker33 wrote:Found it interesting that TC proclaimed Nnaji as a 3&D guy, unusual for a 6-11 guy. For a 20-yr old, he'll be a strength off the bench as he was told he should see more mins this year. Easy to see especially if Millsap and/or Green aren't back. I can see him averaging 9ppg and 5-7rpgs depending on how many mins Malone gives him, but don't be surprised by a swift rise in his game.

Good prospect with a lot of skills. Although he was on the draft board at 6-11, I think he is closer to 6-9. Has all the ingredients for a top flight stretch 4 and I think he will see more playing time next season. Excellent pick in the first round.

Post #44 » by **The Rebel** » Sun Jun 20, 2021 3:02 am

TunaFish wrote:
skywalker33 wrote:Found it interesting that TC proclaimed Nnaji as a 3&D guy, unusual for a 6-11 guy. For a 20-yr old, he'll be a strength off the bench as he was told he should see more mins this year. Easy to see especially if Millsap and/or Green aren't back. I can see him averaging 9ppg and 5-7rpgs depending on how many mins Malone gives him, but don't be surprised by a swift rise in his game.

Good prospect with a lot of skills. Although he was on the draft board at 6-11, I think he is closer to 6-9. Has all the ingredients for a top flight stretch 4 and I think he will see more playing time next season. Excellent pick in the first round.

He measured 6'9.25" barefoot at the combine, so 6'11" in NBA terms. I think Jokic is taller than the 7' he is listed at, and I know that MPJ actually measured 6'10.75" at the combine, so I would not be surprised if both had grown another inch or two since the combine. Especially live Jokic looks a lot bigger than Anthony Davis, KAT, and a lot of the bigs out there listed at 6'10-6'11". He looks like he is the same size as Gobert who measured over 7' without shoes and Embiid who I believed was measured at 6'11.75" without shoes. MPJ is taller than some of the bigs around the league that are listed at 7' but are obviously not that close.

I like the long term fit with NNaji off the bench at forward, I think he has shown enough flashes to think he deserves some minutes next year.

TunaFish · Post #45 » by **TunaFish** » Mon Jun 21, 2021 7:16 pm

Read on Twitter

skywalker33 · Post #46 » by **skywalker33** » Tue Aug 24, 2021 11:10 pm

Wonder how much the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions played into his sub-par Summer League performance ? When he was playing PF he didn't look great but had better performances when playing the pivot.

TunaFish · Post #47 » by **TunaFish** » Mon Aug 30, 2021 8:21 pm

skywalker33 wrote:Wonder how much the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions played into his sub-par Summer League performance ? When he was playing PF he didn't look great but had better performances when playing the pivot.

I think he had been ill from Covid. Although I don't know that but he was definitely out of sync.

DaFan334 · Post #48 » by **DaFan334** » Sat Sep 4, 2021 3:16 am

Really glad to see Zeke hitting up Red Rocks with Jokic today. He seemed to be the only other one there. I think it shows a bit about him working hard and hopefully developing some chemistry with Nikola and learning some things. Joker also looks like he is in the best shape of his career.

skywalker33 · Post #49 » by **skywalker33** » Fri Sep 17, 2021 5:42 pm

Going into his 2nd year, this will be a big development step in his growth with this team. We surely can use a guy with his skillset, hope DaFan is correct is observing his chemistry with the Joker, that will be awesome.

skywalker33 · Post #50 » by **skywalker33** » Wed Oct 6, 2021 2:25 am

Zeke didn't have a great scoring night last nite but at least he did put up 6rebs. Didn't have a great SL but I'd really like to see something more out of him this TC/preseason.

TunaFish · Post #51 » by **TunaFish** » Sun Dec 5, 2021 6:40 pm

Career high (so far):

Watch on YouTube

skywalker33 · Post #52 » by **skywalker33** » Sun Dec 5, 2021 7:23 pm

At just 20yo, Zeke is already averaging 8.2ppg. With as few mins as he's getting, he could really be producing IMO, should be getting more PT. Jeff Green is a fine vet but if we're looking to the future, sure couldn't hurt to put Zeke in the starting lineup to develop this kid.

blahblah312 · Post #53 » by **blahblah312** » Sun Dec 5, 2021 9:20 pm

The guards like him on the court, since when he get def rebound they know they will bring it up the court.

Needs to be more consistent on shot release. when he is in a hurry his thumb is off to the side and it misses, but when he has time on 3pts the hand at release is the in the same position as when he is setting up the shot go thru the hoop.

skywalker33 · Post #54 » by **skywalker33** » Sun Dec 5, 2021 10:22 pm

blahblah312 wrote:The guards like him on the court, since when he get def rebound they know they will bring it up the court.

Yeah gotta agree with this, definitely some chemistry with Bones already. I'd love to see what he could do as a starter in the corner with Jokic at the elbow.

blahblah312 wrote:Needs to be more consistent on shot release. when he is in a hurry his thumb is off to the side and it misses, but when he has time on 3pts the hand at release is the in the same position as when he is setting up the shot go thru the hoop.

Sounds like his mechanics are off a bit, but he is only 20yo Very correctable IMO

Post #55 » by **The Rebel** » Mon Dec 6, 2021 4:06 pm

blahblah312 wrote:The guards like him on the court, since when he get def rebound they know they will bring it up the court.

Another thing the guards like about him is that along with Jokic, Zeke seems to be the only other big on the team that knows how to set a proper screen and hit someone.

skywalker33 · Post #56 » by **skywalker33** » Tue Jan 25, 2022 5:39 am

While I need to see more, gotta like the development of Nnaji, just need more consistent PT. He shows a nice shooting touch, can pick up rebounds, just what you need off the bench.

skywalker33 · Post #57 » by **skywalker33** » Wed Jan 26, 2022 3:34 am

Another decent game, still it was against DET but a bright spot.

skywalker33 · Post #58 » by **skywalker33** » Wed Feb 2, 2022 6:04 pm

Seems I'm not the only one who sees Zeke's potential

https://www.denverstiffs.com/2022/2/2/22913650/denver-nuggets-nba-nikola-jokic-mvp-zeke-nnaji-lebron-giannis-michael-malone

Post #59 » by **The Rebel** » Wed Feb 2, 2022 10:19 pm

skywalker33 wrote:Seems I'm not the only one who sees Zeke's potential

https://www.denverstiffs.com/2022/2/2/22913650/denver-nuggets-nba-nikola-jokic-mvp-zeke-nnaji-lebron-giannis-michael-malone

I think a lot of people forget how long it takes young players to develop into good players, we got spoiled by Jokic and Murray, both were showing what they could do by the end of their 1st year. Even guys force fed minutes on bad teams may put up numbers but it still takes a couple of years before they show how good they really are going to be. Usually it takes about 3 years before you know what you have with a player. Even with the growth so many of our guys show after 1 year it is unreasonable to write off guys after a year.

That is one reason I shake my head when I see someone talking about how Bones may be a good 6th man, when really we have no idea what his game can expand into.

Andrew McCeltic · Post #60 » by **Andrew McCeltic** » Fri Jan 13, 2023 5:59 pm

Anyone know what's up with Nnaji now? Liked him last year and thought he'd be an ideal add to the Celtics' frontcourt but wasn't unattainable. Doesn't look like he's in the 'doghouse' with Malone, but that there are no minutes with MPJ back?