David Nwaba coming alive for the Chicago Bulls after injury

After missing 12 games with an ankle injury, Cal Poly graduate and Chicago Bulls guard David Nwaba is healthy and playing well for his new team.

Nwaba scored 15 points along with five rebounds and two blocks for the Bulls in a win over the New York Knicks on Saturday and followed that with a 13-point, six-rebound performance in a win over Boston on Monday. He has scored in double figures his last four games in a row and helped Chicago to a three-game winning streak, its longest of the season.

After going undrafted, Nwaba played with the D-Fenders of the NBA’s D League and was eventually called up to join the Los Angeles Lakers last season. He was cut by the Lakers in the offseason and signed with the Bulls.

This season he is averaging 17.5 points, 1.8 blocks and 11 rebounds per 48 minutes this season with the Bulls (6-20) and has been an occasional starter sometimes filling in for Denzel Valentine. Known for his defense, he also has six blocks in his last four games.

“Guys feed off his energy,” Bulls head coach Fred Hoiberg told the Chicago Tribune. “His skill is he goes out and plays harder than everybody else on the floor. That’s a great skill to have and a skill that we need.”

Nwaba will likely come off the bench once starter Zach LaVine returns from injury next month, but expect the former Mustang to continue to be a spark off the bench for the rebuilding Bulls the rest of the season.

Nwaba and the Bulls will be back in action Wednesday at home against the Utah Jazz.

This story was originally published December 12, 2017 at 12:15 PM with the headline "David Nwaba coming alive for the Chicago Bulls after injury."