Lakers would benefit from St. John’s big man’s energy, defensive versatility
Why LA Lakers should select Zuby Ejiofor in 2026 NBA Draft
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118+ best Amazon Prime Day deals, hand-picked and updated live for 2026 NBALakers would benefit from St. John’s big man’s energy, defensive versatility
By Khobi Price Published June 22, 2026, 8:00 a.m. ETSee more of our coverage in your search results.
Add The California Post on GoogleThe 2026 NBA Draft is on the horizon, bringing one of the most significant dates on the league’s calendar.
Childhood dreams of making it to the NBA will be achieved.
Teams will turn draft assets into tangible players who they hope will contribute to winning in the short- and long-term future.
And in the background, teams will continue to explore the options that’ll help them achieve their goals for 2026–27.
For the Lakers, who have a first-round pick in the draft (No. 25), the opportunity the draft presents as it pertains to roster building can’t be whiffed on.
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In their pursuit of assembling a roster that’ll be competitive against the 2026 Western Conference champion Spurs and 2025 NBA champion Thunder, the Lakers have two main options for their first-round pick: Trade it for a player who’s ready to compete for a title now alongside Luka Dončić or select a prospect whom they plan to develop and hope will help now and in the future.
If the Lakers choose the latter path, there isn’t a shortage of options of prospects who they should consider drafting.
Toward the top of that list should be St. John’s big man Zuby Ejiofor, whose hustle, defensive versatility and energetic style of play would be a welcome addition to the Lakers’ front court.
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Zuby Ejiofor, St. John’s big man
- 2025–26 stats (St. John’s): 16.3 points (53.6% shooting), 7.3 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 2.1 blocks, 1.2 steals, 30 minutes in 37 games
- 2024–25 stats (St. John’s): 14.7 points (57.7% shooting), 8.1 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.4 blocks, 31.8 minutes in 36 games
- 2023–24 stats (St. John’s): 4.3 points (48.9% shooting), 3.1 rebounds, 11.2 minutes in 33 games
- 202–23 stats (Kansas): 1.2 points (65% shooting), 1.7 rebounds, 5.1 minutes in 25 games
- Measurements: 6-foot-7 ½ (without shoes), 245 pounds, 7-foot-2 wingspan, 8-foot-11 standing reach
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Why draft Zuby Ejiofor?
Despite being an undersized big man, Ejiofor was an impactful defender throughout college because of his wingspan, instincts, strength and communication.
Ejiofor can switch onto perimeter ball handlers and contain them in isolations. And even if they get a step by him, he has the length and quickness to recover to either block or contest the shot.
And four years of college basketball helped showcase that he’s regularly in the right position defensively.
Ejiofor’s time in college allowed him to make significant strides as a passer/playmaker — which will be his strongest offensive skills in the NBA besides his reliable screening.
But his best attribute is how hard he plays — which has proven to be a skill.
It was evident in the 3.3 offensive rebounds he averaged in 2025–26 and the 4.4 offensive rebounds he averaged as a junior.
It was clear in the all-around growth he made as a player from his freshman year at Kansas to leading St. John’s to back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances.
A star-driven team like the Lakers could use more players like Ejiofor who give it their all on every possession, which raises the collective hustle and energy of the team.
Areas of improvement?
Ejiofor being undersized hurts him when it comes to scoring and finishing at the rim against bigger and longer players.
And if his 3-point shot isn’t going to be consistent (30.5% in 2025–26; 27.7% in college), then it’s going to be difficult for him to be viewed as an offensive threat outside of hustle plays because he’s limited in other areas since he isn’t an offensive creator.
If the shot doesn’t develop, Ejiofor’s ceiling likely would be as a change-of-pace energetic big man.
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Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
