In order for Zeke Nnaji to be the next big man up behind Nikola Jokic, his current checklist features only two boxes: crash the glass, and don’t break like glass.
One requires increased physicality and aggression. The other is a matter of injury prevention.
After appearing in a career-high 53 games and five more during the playoffs last season, Nnaji is positioned to become even more of an everyday player in 2023-24 as the defending champion Nuggets seek frontcourt depth to support their two-time MVP after a short offseason.
Like last year, they don’t exactly have a surplus of it. Hence Nnaji’s continued inclusion in the effort to solidify a backup center, despite his 6-foot-9 height and skillset that makes him more natural at other positions.
“If he’s our backup five, that means we’re playing pretty small,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone said. “So that gives us a chance to be pretty versatile. Switch a lot more with Zeke.”
It’s he and veteran DeAndre Jordan, who played 39 games last season, battling for spare minutes at the five, and when it’s all said and done, possibly splitting those minutes. What makes them a fitting pair to share opportunities on the up-for-grabs second unit is their differences: in age and experience, in size, in style of play. Jordan, 35, is a more traditional center, and he’s listed as 2 inches taller and 25 pounds heavier than Nnaji.
“I think sometimes it will be dependent on who we’re playing,” Malone said. “There are a few teams in the Western Conference that play really big, and those could be great games for D.J. We love the defensive versatility that Zeke brings in terms of being able to switch one through five. So having the balance of using either one of those guys depending on who you’re playing I think is helpful for us.”
If the 22-year-old Nnaji is going to build on the first three seasons of his career, it starts with a clear message from Malone: “Stay healthy.” But beyond the collection of injuries he has navigated — ankle, knee, shoulder — there’s an element of Nnaji’s game that needs work. It’s contrary to his instincts as a forward.
“Zeke has been a monster on the offensive glass,” Malone said. “No one can block him out. I just need that same effort on the defensive glass.”
“I think the biggest thing is just rebounding,” Nnaji said. “They know what else I bring to the table. I can shoot it. I can be versatile on defense. I can go hard to the offensive glass. I run the floor, play with energy. So I think just adding that rebounding aspect for us, as we know we’re a little small on that unit, being able to step up and secure those rebounds on that end, will be huge for us.”
Nnaji’s profile is a catch-22 in that regard. His switchability as a defender makes it easy for him to stray from the paint, guarding guards, and not be ready to box out. “Sometimes I will switch out on the perimeter and then the shot will be taken, and I’m on the perimeter but I needed to be down low,” he said. Improving his readiness to crash the glass in those scenarios has been a priority at training camp.
Playing the five also constitutes more pick-and-roll than pick-and-pop at the offensive end, but the Nuggets aren’t going to discourage Nnaji from shooting. Although his 3-point shooting dipped from 43.9% in his first two seasons to 26.2% last year, he says it was because he was in the process of altering his shooting form in 2022-23. “It was obviously going to take some time,” Nnaji said. “That doesn’t happen overnight. But the progress has finally come together.”
As for Jordan, Denver continues to have a wise and reliable player who’s content to be playing for a champion regardless of his role.
“No, I’m too old for that (crap),” he said when asked if it’s challenging to deal with potentially being in and out of the lineup game-to-game. “I want to win basketball games. I want to win another championship. I want to win with this group of guys. And we all have different pieces that make this machine work. Whoever’s out there, they give us the best chance to win. … I think this group last year was big on being selfless. And if it’s Zeke’s night, I’m going to be the first one that’s cheering for him because I want him to be successful. Same with me. Zeke was out there doing that for me (last season).”
Denver’s plan for preseason opener
Michael Porter Jr., who sprained his left ankle last week in San Diego, still was not cleared to practice as of Monday. He’s a long shot to play in Denver’s preseason opener at Phoenix on Tuesday (8 p.m., TNT).
The team remains unconcerned by the injury, however. Swelling has gone down, and Porter was getting shots up with his teammates after Sunday’s practice.
“We’ll have four preseason games after (Phoenix), so hopefully we can get him back out there,” Malone said.
The Nuggets will likely only play their starters during the first half anyway, Malone said. Aside from Porter’s injury, Jamal Murray was limited Monday while still dealing with a mild hamstring tweak.
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