While not being the seven-footer Hawks fans have been dreaming of holding down their interior for years, Zuby Ejiofor has everything teams look for in a modern big.
He put it all on display in Atlanta's summer league opener, recording eight points, 11 rebounds and three steals in 28 minutes. He was able to impact the game in all areas, proving that he's unable to be put in a box. His versatility has gotten him this far, and it'll surely help him succeed at the next level.
One solid outing in the summer isn't usually enough for an unproven late first-round pick, so if he really wants to win over the fanbase - and the staff who decides rotation minutes with the main ball club - he would be doing himself a favor by following it up with an even better performance against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
OKC presents quite the challenge for the undersized Ejiofor
Again, it's summer league, so overreactions are bound to happen regardless of the true weight these games carry. Considering the matchup at hand, though, there wouldn't be much denying of Ejiofor if he's able to dominate against a frontcourt as big as this one.
They're being anchored by none other than Aday Mara, the 7'3" big man out of Michigan who was heavily linked to the Atlanta Hawks for much of the pre-draft process.
Fans and personnel alike fell in love with the idea of such a rim-protector leading the way down low for years to come.
He wasn't at the top of their "best player available" board when they made their first selection at pick eight, though, which ultimately helped them land on Kingston Flemings instead.
It didn't lock them into not drafting a big, as they later landed on both Ejiofor and North Carolina's Henri Veesaar. Now, both bigs - especially Ejiofor - get to prove that the Hawks made the correct choice.
Standing out against the giant would instill plenty of confidence
Despite their undeniable difference in size, there's a legitimate argument to be made that Ejiofor is a better rebounding prospect than Mara. A double-double, even against the tallest center in the draft, is absolutely in play in their second summer league matchup.
The most impressive quality about Ejiofor, among many others, is his motor. There are some things that coaches simply cannot teach.
Even though it's this early into the summer, another quality night would go a long way for Ejiofor in determining his immediate place in the priority list.
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