If you’ve been clamoring to watch Chris Chiozza play again, well, you’re about to get your wish.
After going undrafted following his senior season at Florida, Chiozza went to the G League and had instant success as a floor general who could defend his position and knock down open shots. Starting in the Washington Wizards organization he got himself on the NBA radar which earned him a contract with the Brooklyn Nets. His grittiness and determination earned him a role in the rotation, but that role is about to get way, way bigger.
As you may know the NBA is planning on re-launching at the end of the month using Disney’s ESPN Wide World Of Sports in Orlando to play host. Instead of taking just the 16 teams (8 in the west and 8 in the east) currently in a playoff position the league decided to bring 22 teams, giving some teams on the outside looking in the chance to win their way into the postseason.
While the logic behind the move was to bring in more competition for the final playoff spots (but really, more accurately to have a big enough inventory of games to satisfy TV contracts) that hasn’t at all been the case. Teams at the bottom of each conference haven’t exactly been keen to play along with the bubble scenario for a few reasons. Whether it’s the quarantine period, the chance of getting the virus, or the risk of injury despite the fact even if they make it into the playoffs they’ll likely get hammered by the Milwaukee Bucks or Toronto Raptors in the first round, players haven’t been particularly interested in coming to the bubble.
One of the hardest hit teams from players bowing out is the Brooklyn Nets. Positive COVID tests, nagging injuries, and the threat of future injuries has resulted in nearly half of the Nets’ rotation pieces saying they won’t attend. Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, DeAndre Jordan, Spencer Dinwiddie, Taurean Prince, Wilson Chandler, and Nic Claxton are all on the non-competing list and if you don’t follow the NBA I’ll put it simply for you—that’s their regular starting five all sitting out.
Because of these players all being unable to suit up, Chiozza is almost certainly going to play a major role and even has a great opportunity to start. The Nets only have one other ball handler left on the roster in Caris LeVert who will definitely start but at 6’5” is likely going to be on the wing to help round out a skeleton crew of a Brooklyn team.
Chiozza inevitably getting huge minutes in the NBA restart isn’t just because of circumstance, however. Before the shutdown Chiozza had earned a legitimate role in the rotation, gaining the trust of his teammates and coaching staff with his understanding of both the offensive and defensive schemes. In the five games before the shutdown Chiozza averaged just under 20 minutes per game and in a couple of those contests he was on the floor in crunch time at the end of the fourth quarters.
The Nets will play 8 regular season games, and while they could hypothetically make the playoffs it’s quite unlikely with the squad they’ll be sending to Orlando. That still will mean 8 great opportunities for Chiozza to get experience and showcase himself on the NBA stage and considering the fact that he’s done so well in his time in the league already he could be someone who makes a name for himself in this setting.
Another Gator alumni that has a chance to get the call for the Nets is John Egbunu who played for their G League affiliate the Long Island Nets this past season. Egbnunu looked fantastic in limited minutes throughout the season as he continued to recover from a nasty knee injury but his shot blocking and ability to finish around the rim could have the Nets intrigued to call him up. They were a team that was already thin in the frontcourt and that was before DeAndre Jordan bowed out and for that reason they could use a big body inside. Additionally, because of the bubble city scenario the NBA is giving three more roster spots to each team and that could also open up space for the former Gator.
While Egbunu’s chance at playing in the NBA is far more unlikely, Gator fans will still get to see Chiozza play, and probably play a ton. Considering he was already at nearly 20 minutes when Brooklyn was at full health it’s entirely reasonable to think he could get upwards of 30 minutes and maybe even start and get up to 35+.
If you’ve been missing watching the speedy point guard play, be sure to tune into a Brooklyn Nets game when the league starts back up at the end of July.