The Hawks have stumbled onto a useful problem during their three-game winning streak: Zuby Ejiofor keeps making a case for more minutes.
With Atlanta’s frontcourt thinned out, the rookie has stepped into a bigger role and shown he can do more than just fill space. His latest burst came in the Hawks’ 139-132 win over the Washington Wizards, where he put up 10 points, five rebounds, five assists and a steal in fewer than 15 minutes. He hit five of six shots and kept the offense moving without needing the ball built around him.
That’s the part that should catch Quin Snyder’s attention. Ejiofor isn’t just finishing plays - he’s helping create them. A rookie center handing out five assists in limited run is no small thing, especially when he’s doing it by making quick reads, finding teammates in scoring spots and avoiding the kind of stalled possessions that can bog down a second unit.
The opportunity has opened because Atlanta is short-handed inside. Jock Landale is dealing with a left hip strain, Asa Newell has a hyperextended left big toe, and Mouhamed Gueye is still out while recovering from a foot injury.
Ejiofor has taken that chance and turned it into something real. The Hawks already knew about his motor and physicality, but his passing against Washington added another layer to his case.
He wasn’t forcing touches or trying to do too much. He worked within the offense, crashed the glass and finished efficiently.
That kind of play fits what Atlanta needs from a reserve big. The Hawks aren’t just looking for someone to stand in the paint and soak up minutes. They need a player who can keep the offense flowing, defend with energy and clean up possessions on the boards.
That’s where the decision gets tricky for Snyder. Landale began the season as the clear backup behind Onyeka Okongwu, and Ejiofor’s recent stretch doesn’t wipe away the veteran’s value. Landale brings shooting and a level of offensive comfort that can matter when Atlanta wants more spacing.
Still, Ejiofor is offering a different look. His activity, his passing and his willingness to handle the dirty work give Snyder another option depending on the matchup.
There’s also the possibility that Ejiofor returns to the College Park Skyhawks once the roster gets healthier. More developmental reps would make sense if the NBA rotation tightens up again.
But that shouldn’t automatically happen just because the injured bigs come back. If Ejiofor keeps producing in short stints, Atlanta will have a real reason to keep him in the mix.
Three games won’t decide a rotation battle. But they have changed the conversation.
It’s no longer about whether Ejiofor can help the Hawks. It’s about how often they can afford to use him.
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Mikel Brown Jr. is also expected to miss the matchup, this time because of a minutes restriction, keeping the Nets from leaning on another first-year option. Both rookies are viewed as possible return candidates for Brooklyns next game against the New Orleans Pelicans, but for now the team is still waiting for a clearer picture on how much of its youth can actually be available. [Read more 🡒]
Hawks Rookie Suddenly Faces A Bigger Role Than Anyone Expected
During Atlantas four-game winning streak, rookie Zuby Ejiofor has gone from a fringe piece to a real part of the rotation, and the timing has mattered as much as the production. With Jock Landale and Asa Newell sidelined, Ejiofor has been pressed into a bigger role and has responded with steady minutes, giving the Hawks another useful body in the frontcourt while the team has kept rolling.
What makes the stretch notable is that Ejiofor has stayed in the mix even after Jalen Johnson returned from injury, which says plenty about how the Hawks view his value right now. He has averaged more than seven points, four rebounds and two assists during the run, and for a rookie who was not expected to be this involved this soon, that kind of contribution has helped stabilize a rotation that suddenly needed answers. [Read more 🡒]
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The early-season production has fit neatly with what Daniels already brings as a two-time All-Defensive Team selection, but it has also shown how much more he can do beyond simply guarding at a high level. Atlanta has been looking for a player who can tilt possessions without needing the ball to dominate, and Daniels is giving the Hawks exactly that while leaving plenty of room for the story to keep developing. [Read more 🡒]