What’s the secret to Zeke Nnaji finally securing a spot in the Nuggets’ rotation?
Maybe it’s the shoes.
Nnaji started wearing Nikola Jokic’s old Nike sneakers this year and has rocked them in every game this season. Jokic hooked Nnaji up with several of his old pairs months ago. He’s the only Nuggets player who wears Jokic’s kicks, although DeAndre Jordan says he also has a pair of Jokic’s Player Edition sneakers tucked away in his locker.
“I’ve got a lot of different colors,” Nnaji told DNVR.
Nnaji likes the ankle support that Jokic’s old sneakers provide. He says they’re comfortable and keep his feet safe. They also used to belong to the back-to-back MVP. That doesn’t hurt.
“I saw Jok wearing them. He’s been going off in them. He has triple-doubles every game,” Nnaji said. “So I’m like, let me see if it’s the shoes. I want to be like Jok.”
In Jokic’s former kicks, Nnaji has found consistent minutes in Denver’s rotation over the last couple of weeks. Nnaji logged minutes as the backup center in nine of the Nuggets’ last 10 games, and Denver has gone 7-2 with Nnaji in the rotation with wins over the Grizzlies, Trail Blazers, Suns, Kings, Celtics and Clippers in that span.
After a busy offseason where the 21-year-old lived on Denver’s practice court and in the Nuggets’ weight room — Nnaji put on 10 pounds of muscle and added four inches to his vertical jump — he’s now getting the chance to play consistently. The Nuggets have a strong 107.3 Defensive Rating with Nnaji on the floor over his last nine games. He’s helped anchor a bench defense that’s struggled to defend with consistency all season. Against the Clippers, Nnaji flashed his entire defensive skill set.
He defended the perimeter. He switched out onto smaller guards. He protected the rim. He looked mobile.
Right now, the Nuggets are committed to Nnaji at backup center. Michael Malone wants to see what he has in the third-year forward. It’s a big season for Nnaji, who’s extension-eligible next summer, and the Nuggets need to figure out sooner rather than later (ideally before the trade deadline) if he’s going to be a part of their long-term plans. Right now, it still feels like that question doesn’t have a final answer.
Malone has communicated to Jordan, who opened the year at backup center, that right now it’s Nnaji’s time. But Denver’s coach also told Jordan to stay ready — for nights like Friday when the Nuggets needed his size against the Cleveland Cavaliers’ big front line. Jordan took over Nnaji’s minutes in the second half, blocked two shots and registered two rebounds in six productive minutes. The Nuggets beat the Cavs 121-108 to move to 26-13 on the season and stayed atop the Western Conference.
With Nnaji, Bones Hyland, Vlatko Cancar and Bruce Brown forming a second unit rotation over the last several games, it feels like you can somewhat trust Denver’s bench for the first time all year. You don’t tense up to the same levels that you did earlier this season when the back-to-back MVP leaves the court.
Jokic can’t be on the floor for the entire 48 minutes, but his shoes can.
“If the two-time can wear them,” Nnaji told DNVR. “Then they’re good enough for me.
