Kofi Inkoom
Denver Nuggets forward/center Zeke Nnaji has inked a four-year contract extension worth $32 million, according to a report by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Notably, this contract also grants Nnaji a player option.
Nnaji represents yet another success in player development for the reigning NBA champions and is anticipated to assume an increased and more significant role with the Denver Nuggets in the upcoming season.
In the 2022/23 season, his stats stood at an average of 5.2 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 0.3 assists per game.
As Wojnarowski pointed out, the Nuggets have a remarkable track record in nurturing their own talent during this era.
This successful player development has played a pivotal role in their status as the reigning NBA champions, as a significant portion of their roster consists of players they’ve cultivated themselves.
Unlike many other teams in the league, the Nuggets take great pride in their ability to identify and develop talent that can remain within their system for an extended period.
However, it’s important to recognize that the process of drafting and nurturing talent is just one part of the equation.
The challenging aspect often lies in securing these players and keeping them with a single team. In this context, the Nuggets have circumvented that challenge by extending Nnaji’s contract.
In their quest to defend their championship, the Nuggets will rely on players who didn’t play substantial roles last season to step up.
With some key departures in free agency [ Jeff Green and Thomas Bryant ] , Denver is placing its faith in internal options to make significant strides in the upcoming season, and Zeke Nnaji could very well be one of those players who takes a significant leap forward for the team.