Kansas basketball: Ochai Agbaji excelling for Jazz in Summer League
Kansas basketball national champion Ochai Agbaji is seeing an increased opportunity with the Utah Jazz in the Summer League.
Ochai Agbaji did not necessarily live up to the expectations of a lottery pick in his rookie year, struggling with efficiency and defense. But the former Kansas Jayhawks star has set the NBA Summer League on fire in his first three games.
Although a player who averaged nearly double digits in the points per game column does not usually play in the Summer League heading into his sophomore season, the Jazz wanted to give him a chance to showcase his talent. He has been given the keys to the offense, and Agbaji has made the most of it.
Across the first three contests, he’s averaged 19 points and 9 rebounds per game. In yesterday’s game against the Memphis Grizzlies, Agbaji recorded a double-double before the game clock hit halftime. Additionally, he has attempted 56 field goals thus far, proving that he is not shy to put up shots.
READ: Watch Agbaji get hilariously ejected from the game
The improvements Agbaji has shown in the first week have been extraordinary. He is finally starting to look like the player who led Kansas basketball to a national title in 2022. Speaking of which, this Big 12 connection — Keyonte George played for Baylor — sealed the game last night.
https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1677154108598362113
As a rookie, he averaged 7.9 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game on 42.7/35.5/81.2 shooting splits. He came into his own at the end of the season, starting in Utah’s final 20 games and averaging 13.6 points across that span. He’ll look to continue the same success when the NBA season begins in October.
His hard work in the offseason has been evident, and the sky is the limit for the Kansas City native. Agbaji is an integral component of the Jazz’s rebuild centered around Lauri Markkanen and other young talents.
Ochai’s next appearance will be tomorrow, July 8, when he and the Jazz face off against the Los Angeles Clippers.
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