The preseason is almost over, meaning the 2026-27 NBA regular season is right around the corner.
It's entirely unclear what role Zuby Ejiofor - Atlanta's late first-round selection in the 2026 NBA Draft - will carry during his rookie season. For now, though, he's gradually earning more and more trust from the coaching staff.
Every preseason matchup has given him a differing look on the end he shines the most. Being a rookie, he's yet to become familiar with many of his frontcourt opponents. After one summer league, he's at least been able to defend some of the league's best first and second-year centers.
Aday Mara - Oklahoma City's first selection in the 2026 NBA Draft - was someone Ejiofor saw before. His offensive focus is different now, though, and it forced Atlanta's big man to adjust.
Mara is now a priority in OKC's offensive scheme - resulting in higher responsibility for Ejiofor
Of course, it's still preseason, and the Thunder certainly won't run the bulk of their offense through a rookie once the regular season gets going, but the trust they already have in him is notable.
The idea of Mara eventually developing into a reliable generator of offense was one of his biggest advantages in the pre-draft process. At 7'3", anything he adds that isn't protecting the paint is a bonus.
"They utilized [Mara] a lot more as an offensive hub this time around," Ejiofor said after Atlanta's win.
In the modern NBA, bigs are relied upon as initiators of quality offense more than ever.
Take Nikola Jokic, Donovan Clingan and even Onyeka Okongwu as examples. When a center has an underrated ability to make the right read, particularly outside of the paint, teams can lean into it and expose the defensive gaps.
"He was able to make some reads at the top of the key. We found ourselves in some miscommunication early on, but we were able to clean it up towards the end and come out with a victory," Ejiofor said.
I asked Zuby Ejiofor if he noticed anything different defending Aday Mara now compared to their summer league battle
— Zach Langley (@ZachLangleyNBA) October 13, 2026
He said he definitely feels they run more through him with the main ball club
“[Mara] was able to make some reads at the top of the key … we found ourselves in…
Even with the added pressure to execute defensively, Ejiofor put together an impressive evening.
His aggressiveness has helped him make an impact, for better or for worse
There's no questioning Ejiofor's motor.
Sometimes, his contagious energy puts him in foul trouble. The rookie whistle is a real problem.
When Atlanta would overcommit, Mara, among others, would take advantage. He still put together a series of stops on his fellow rookie - coming through for his team when it mattered most.
His offensive output was impressive, as well. In 23 minutes, he recorded 15 points, nine rebounds and three assists, leading Atlanta to their third-consecutive preseason victory.
With one more win, the Hawks can enter the 2026-27 NBA regular season with some real momentum. Ejiofor will have been a key reason for it, too.
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