Agbaji was ejected in the fourth quarter of Sunday's game against the Lakers after being assessed a pair of technical fouls, Eric Walden of The Salt Lake Tribune reports.
Prior to being tossed early in the fourth quarter of Sunday's matchup, Agbaji tallied eight points (4-13 FG, 0-3 3Pt), eight assists, a rebound and a steal in 27 minutes. The 22-year-old's ejection ends his rookie season in which he took on a starting role over his final 20 appearances. His role next season will likely depend on whether Jordan Clarkson (finger) exercises his player option for the 2023-24 campaign.
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Jazz's Ochai Agbaji: Pours in career-high 28 points
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Agbaji had 28 points (10-25 FG, 3-11 3Pt, 5-5 FT), three rebounds, three assists and one steal across 35 minutes during Saturday's 118-114 win over the Nuggets.
Agbaji led the Jazz in scoring Saturday, dropping a career-high 28 points. He has now scored in double-digits in six of the past seven games, making the most of his late-season opportunity. While he has proven he can score the basketball, his supporting stats remain quite underwhelming. The Jazz are building a nice young core, and although Agbaji is likely a piece of that, it's hard to see his role expanding too much next season once the team is fully healthy.
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Jazz's Ochai Agbaji: Pops for 22 points
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Agbaji totaled 22 points (7-15 FG, 4-8 3Pt, 4-4 FT), four rebounds, three assists and two blocks over 38 minutes during Tuesday's 135-133 overtime loss to the Lakers.
Agbaji recorded 20-plus points for the third time this season and notched his second-highest scoring outing of the campaign. Since being inserted into the starting lineup at the end of February (17 games), Agbaji has averaged 13.1 points, 2.8 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.1 steals-plus-blocks with 40/36/87 shooting splits.
Jazz's Ochai Agbaji: Contributes 20 points in loss
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Agbaji chipped in 20 points (8-15 FG, 3-7 3Pt, 1-2 FT), three rebounds, four assists and three blocks in 36 minutes during Saturday's 121-113 loss to the Kings.
Agbaji started off poorly in the contest, making just one of four shot attempts in the first quarter. He bounced back after that, however, and finished with a strong 8-for-15 shooting line that included a 3-for-7 mark from deep. Agbaji also swatted three shots in the contest to establish a new career-best mark.
Jazz's Ochai Agbaji: Blows up for career-high 27 points
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Agbaji poured in a career-high 27 points (8-14 FG, 6-10 3Pt, 5-5 FT), five rebounds, three assists and one block across 33 minutes in Monday's 128-120 win over the Kings.
While Agbaji had started each of the previous eight games and hit double figures in scoring in the last four, he shot just 39 percent from the field in those contests and offered little in the way of supporting statistics. His outputs in the non-points categories were similarly lacking Monday, but Agbaji combined a spike in usage (22.8 percent) with improved efficiency en route to a new personal best in scoring column. While Agbaji shouldn't be expected to regularly replicate this kind of performance, he'll likely have a clear path to a 30-plus-minute role for at least another game or two while the statuses of Jordan Clarkson (finger), Lauri Markkanen (back) and Collin Sexton (hamstring) remain up in the air. The rookie is still probably best viewed as a streaming option for points and three-pointers, and his upside in those categories will likely take a hit to some degree as soon as Utah gets one of the three injured players back.
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Jazz's Ochai Agbaji: Encouraging line in victory
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Agbaji notched 16 points (6-11 FG, 4-8 3Pt), one rebound and three assists over 36 minutes during Saturday's 118-117 victory over the Celtics.
Agbaji put together a sold shooting performance, which was sorely needed amid Jordan Clarkson's (finger) absence. The highly touted Kansas product started the past eight games with mixed results, but Saturday's effort was the best stat line of the group. The slashing sharpshooter depends on success beyond the arc to pad his scoring, and although he's shot only 32.1 percent from downtown during his starting stint, his overall three-point percentage in his rookie season is about four points higher.
Agbaji had 14 points (5-10 FG, 4-8 3Pt), two rebounds and one block over 31 minutes during Thursday's 131-124 victory over the Magic.
With Jordan Clarkson (finger) and Collin Sexton (hamstring) sidelined, Agbaji has drawn five straight starts and is averaging 10.2 points, 1.6 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.2 steals-plus-blocks in 27.0 minutes per game. It's been an underwhelming rookie campaign for the lottery pick, but it's nice to see him playing well in an expanded role during the stretch run.
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Jazz's Ochai Agbaji: Set to play Friday
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Agbaji (lower leg) will be available for Friday's game against Oklahoma City, Andy Larsen of The Salt Lake Tribune reports.
Agbaji exited Tuesday's game against the Spurs due to a right lower leg contusion, but he went through practice without restrictions Thursday and should be able to suit up against the Thunder. The 22-year-old has started in three of his last seven appearances and has averaged 10.0 points and 2.1 rebounds in 25.4 minutes per game during that time. His role against Oklahoma City will likely depend on whether Jordan Clarkson (thumb) is cleared to return.
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Jazz's Ochai Agbaji: Won't return against San Antonio
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Agbaji is out for the remainder of Tuesday's game versus the Spurs due to a right lower leg contusion, Tony Jones of The Athletic reports.
Agbaji tallied nine points, one assist, one rebound, one steal and one block in 19 minutes before exiting Tuesday's game. Talen Horton-Tucker and Kris Dunn are candidates to see extended minutes in his absence. Agbaji's status for Friday's matchup with the Thunder is uncertain.
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Jazz's Ochai Agbaji: Draws the start
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Agbaji will start Tuesday against the Spurs, per Eric Walden of the Salt Lake Tribune.
Jordan Clarkson (right thumb sprain) is sitting this one out, allowing the rookie to make his third career start. Agbaji was trending up even before this news, scoring in double figures in three straight games.
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Jazz's Ochai Agbaji: Returns to bench
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Agbaji will come off the bench Thursday against the Thunder, Joe Mussatto of The Oklahoman reports.
Agbaji saw his second start of the season before the All-Star break, but he'll return to the bench with Lauri Markkanen (knee) available. The rookie is coming off a 17-point performance against the Grizzlies.
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Jazz's Ochai Agbaji: Shines offensively in starting role
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Agbaji produced 17 points (7-12 FG, 3-8 3Pt), one rebound, one assist and one steal over 39 minutes during Wednesday's 117-111 loss to Memphis.
Agbaji got his second start of the season with Lauri Markkanen missing the game due to a knee injury. The rookie produced his second-highest point total of the season, but he provided little support in other areas. The Kansas product has at least shown some potential as a perimeter sniper during his first NBA season, drilling 39.7 percent of his triples on the campaign.
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Jazz's Ochai Agbaji: Gets starting nod
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Agbaji is in the starting five for Wednesday's game versus Memphis.
Agbaji will replace Lauri Markkanen (knee) in the starting lineup Wednesday. The rookie forward will make just his second start of the season.
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Jazz's Ochai Agbaji: Returns to reserve role
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Agbaji will come off the bench Saturday against the Knicks.
Agbaji got the first start of his career Friday while Jordan Clarkson (illness) was out, but the rookie posted a quiet five points and one rebound in 19 minutes. With Clarkson available and starting Saturday, Agbaji will come off the bench.
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Jazz's Ochai Agbaji: Quiet in first start
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Agbaji totaled five points (2-3 FG, 1-2 3Pt) and one rebound in 19 minutes during Friday's 122-116 victory over the Raptors.
The Jazz are not as deep following the trade deadline, as Mike Conley is now with Minnesota. On top of that, Jordan Clarkson sat out with an illness Friday, which allowed Agbaji to earn the first start of his career. Agbaji should get plenty of chances down the stretch, but he's been a little underwhelming on the stat sheet lately, scoring in double digits just once in his last 10 games.
