Cleveland Cavaliers: It’s easy to see why Drew said he always liked Nwaba

It took a while, and I’m not really sure why, but the Cleveland Cavaliers are now playing David Nwaba considerable minutes, and he’s delivered in a big way. It’s becoming more clear why head coach Larry Drew liked him before he was in Cleveland.

The Cleveland Cavaliers aren’t going to be winning much in 2018-19, but they are playing better lately, despite having a number of injuries to prominent players on their roster. Among the players who have impressed recently has been David Nwaba, who has done a really nice job as a reserve two guard this season for head coach Larry Drew. In 12.9 minutes per game, Nwaba is averaging 5.3 points on 51.5 percent shooting, 2.2 rebounds, 0.5 steals and 0.5 blocks. According to Basketball Insiders’ Spencer Davies, Drew has been fond of Nwaba even before he was on the Cavaliers.

Nwaba has been stepping up with a minutes uptick with reported injuries to key contributors for Cleveland. Kevin Love, Sam Dekker, Kyle Korver (who’s in the center of trade rumors anyhow, per Gery Woelfel of Woelfel’s Press Box), George Hill, and Cedi Osman (who did play in the last game, though) have all been on the sideline as of late, and Nwaba has been a player that has benefited with more minutes share. In the last five games, he has posted 9.3 points on 64.4 percent shooting, 3.8 rebounds, 1.3 steals and 0.8 blocks in 21.4 minutes per game, per NBA.com.

He’s given the Cavaliers’ bench efficient production, and his athleticism flies off the screen on multiple occasions throughout games. He can guard 1-3 (and even some 4’s) very effectively thanks to his explosive quickness, strength on the perimeter at 219 pounds, anticipatory movement to dictate to opposing ball-handlers and cutters, and his handle is good enough to take advantage in transition to draw fouls and get dunks.

Nwaba has been a nice fit alongside Collin Sexton at times, and with Jordan Clarkson, who are both ball-dominant lead guards. As has been demonstrated often here at KJG, Nwaba is an instinctive cutter that is a low-maintenance player on both ends of the floor. In many ways, he embodies the heart and gritty nature of Cleveland; he’s the Cavs’ best defender, and if there’s a loose ball or long rebound, you can rest assured that he’s getting it.

It’s pretty easy to see why Drew would have liked before, anyhow, considering he’s the epitome of a “glue guy,” and will always have an impact on the floor in some way when he’s in, as KJG co-editor Eli Mooneyham highlighted recently.

David Nwaba is (at least I would imagine) one of those players that everybody would love to have to play with. He’s as unselfish as it gets, he’s tough as nails, and he’s simply a grinder. As Vice Sports’ Louis Keene detailed in a 2017 interview, Nwaba has had to grind to get every single opportunity he’s had in his basketball career, and it’s had many twists and turns.

That’s why I love him already, and you can tell his coaches probably love him everywhere he goes, too. If the Cleveland Cavaliers don’t make him a part of their future after this season, I won’t be mad, I’ll just be monstrously disappointed.