Denver Nuggets: 3 reasons Zeke Nnaji can be the backup center
By Carter Frye
Denver Nuggets: Why Zeke Nnaji can be the backup C – Using that athleticism
Just because he was primarily a shooter on offense last year doesn’t mean Nnaji can’t jump out of the gym. He owns a 38″ vertical leap and can throw down the occasional emphatic jam.
He didn’t get too many opportunities to show it off this last season, and that likely has to do with his aggressiveness in the paint.
Because he got so comfortable shooting jumpers this year, he wasn’t a very strong scoring threat inside and didn’t collect as many rebounds as I believe he is capable of. If he can show a little more confidence when driving to the basket and be more tenacious under the hoop, his game will take a jump to a new level.
The NBA lists Nnaji at 6’9″, however, in college he was listed at 6’11” and multiple other sources have said the same, so I think there’s a decent chance we have a Kevin Durant situation of sorts on our hands when it comes to his height.
He’s 240 pounds but moves quicker than that number suggests. His speed allows him to run with the fast break and score in transition off of turnovers. He has a good eye for passing lanes and can make high-rising blocks, defensive skills that were seen in flashes last year but were plenty on display during his one season as a Wildcat.