:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/45692250/usa-today-8115286.0.jpg)
Been a while since I've checked in on former Pitt center Talib Zanna. Zanna's trainer, Koran Godwin, who helped him prepare for the NBA Draft, mentioned recently that he's in the midst of a big season in his first year in the NBA's D-League. He's doing so well, in fact, that he was named to the All-Star Game this year. You can catch the game today at 2:30 p.m. on NBA TV.
Zanna is averaging 13.2 points and 10.9 rebounds while shooting a blistering 63% from the field playing for the Oklahoma City Blue this year. He ranks fourth in the league in rebounding and fifth in shooting.
He has yet to play in an NBA game but did play in the NBA summer leagues and got into seven preseason games with the Thunder. With the Blue in the D-League, however, he has started 23 of his 32 games.
Interestingly enough, he'll face of against former Pitt/UNLV player Khem Birch, who is on the team opposite his. Zanna is playing on the Futures team while Birch will suit up for the Prospects team. Here are the full rosters.
Really nice to see him playing at a high level in the league. Many of those guys aren't rookies (only about 1/3 were players drafted in 2014) and to be named an All-Star in his first season shows that he's doing more than holding his own. It's hardly a lock, but at 24, Zanna still has plenty of time to work towards his goal of playing in the NBA.
Be sure to join Cardiac Hill's Facebook page and follow us on Twitter @PittPantherBlog for our regular updates on Pitt athletics. Follow the author and founder/editor @AnsonWhaley.
