The Boston Celtics couldn’t land Giannis Antetokounmpo. So now they’re looking at the draft for frontcourt help, and a name that keeps coming up is St. John’s center Zuby Ejiofor.
According to ClutchPoints NBA insider Brett Siegel, the Celtics have been poking around the 17-to-22 range of the first round, trying to trade up. But if that doesn’t happen, Ejiofor at pick No. 27 is very much in play. And it’s not just Boston that’s interested. The Knicks and the Lakers have also shown some level of interest in the 6-foot-8 big man.
Ejiofor’s game draws comparisons to a certain Golden State warrior
Siegel wrote that Ejiofor is basically a workhorse. Relentless energy, high character, the kind of guy who fits anywhere. But the comparison that jumps out is Draymond Green. Undersized for a center, sure, but Ejiofor can pass, operate from the perimeter or the post, and play defense at a level that’s as good as anyone in this class.
“Ejiofor is a very solid passer, and he has no problem operating either on the perimeter or in the low post. Defensively, Ejiofor is as good as they get in this draft class, and he would provide immediate depth for the Celtics’ bench,” Siegel wrote.
That sounds like a plug-and-play bench piece. Which makes sense for a team like Boston that doesn’t really need a star right now — they need someone who can eat minutes, guard multiple positions, and not screw up the offense. Ejiofor fits that profile.
What this means for draft night
The Celtics could still move up and grab someone like Houston’s Chris Cenac Jr. But the chatter around Ejiofor suggests Boston’s front office is keeping options open. And with the Knicks and Lakers also in the mix, it’s not hard to imagine a scenario where Ejiofor goes a few picks earlier than expected.
None of this is confirmed, obviously. Draft rumors are like that. But the fact that three big-market teams are connected to the same mid-first-round prospect tells you something about how this draft class is shaping up. It’s deep enough that reliable role players are getting real buzz.
The 2026 NBA Draft tips off Tuesday night. We’ll see where Ejiofor ends up.
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