‘It’s All A Process’: Zuby Ejiofor Embraces Learning Curve With Hawks

Zuby Ejiofor had 15 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 assists in 23 minutes off the bench Monday night in a 113-110 preseason victory for the Atlanta Hawks against the Oklahoma City Thunder at State Farm Arena. Five of his rebounds came on the offensive glass.

The rookie was minus-1 and committed 3 turnovers. He went 5-of-9 from the field, 1-of-2 from 3-point range, and 4-of-4 at the free-throw line. In the first quarter Monday, he scored on a cutting layup and an alley-oop, both from RayJ Dennis, and made two free throws with 20 seconds left that put Atlanta ahead 29-28.

He sat through the first half of the Oct. 5 opener against Memphis, according to SI's All Hawks. His lone 3-pointer Monday came off another Dennis pass and put Atlanta up 77-70 late in the third quarter.

Ejiofor spoke at the podium after the game about adjusting to the NBA.

"I think the biggest thing for me is learning," Ejiofor said. "It's all a process. The NBA is just all new to me. So I think I've done a decent job. I could do a little bit better."

"That's why I just rely on my teammates to teach me and tell me the ways of what to do and what not to do, coverage, offensive sets, and stuff of that nature," Ejiofor continued. "I think they've done a great job in making me feel comfortable and welcome here. And it was great to just cap it off with a great night tonight."

Atlanta drafted Ejiofor in June with the No. 23 pick, which it held via Cleveland, after a senior season at St. John's in which he averaged 16.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 2.1 blocks and shot 53.6% from the field. He spent his freshman season at Kansas before transferring.

The Garland, Texas, native led Division I in offensive rebounding in 2024-25 at 4.4 per game. The Hawks list him at 6-foot-9 and 240 pounds.

Ejiofor sees a path for himself as a two-way player who can impact games without needing the ball.

"I think a great person that I would like to model myself as would be like an Aaron Gordon or OG Anunoby type of player, two-way capable guys," Ejiofor explained. "Don't need the ball in your hands necessarily to be able to impact the game. But just specializing in their roles, and they know exactly what they bring to the table each and every night, and those are guys, again, that do it on both sides as well."

Onyeka Okongwu, Atlanta's starting center, rested Monday. Jock Landale started in his place and led the Hawks with 17 points.

Ejiofor said Okongwu and Landale have helped him learn the position.

"[Onyeka Okongwu], he's took me under his wing a little bit, and Jock as well, just sitting and just watching those guys, and obviously I'm playing their position," Ejiofor said. "Like I said again, it's all new to me. It's a learning process for me. I think it's important that I learn the game first and then go out there and capitalize when my moment is called."

"But I think O has done a great job in taking me under his wing and teaching me the ways," Ejiofor added.

Mouhamed Gueye is out after fracturing his left foot in July, and Henri Veesaar tore his right ACL in September. Veesaar came to Atlanta on draft night too, in a trade with the Los Angeles Clippers after they took him 52nd overall.

Ejiofor opened Summer League with 8 points, 11 rebounds, and 3 steals against Utah. On July 6 in Salt Lake City, he had 19 points and 15 rebounds in an 82-77 win over Oklahoma City. Against Brooklyn on July 11, he put up 13 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 blocks. Atlanta's Summer League coach, Sanjay Lumpkin, said the staff encouraged him to shoot 3-pointers.

Two of his offensive rebounds Monday became fourth-quarter putbacks, both inside the period's first three minutes. His rookie-scale contract runs four years and is worth about $17.3 million, according to Spotrac.

Atlanta plays its last preseason game Friday night against the Dallas Mavericks and starts the regular season Oct. 21 in Orlando.