VIDEO: Mozgov has taken back the verb Mozgov, Mozgov's Gobert
At one point not too long ago, Timofey Mozgov was a punchline, courtesy of a nasty Blake Griffin jam and some slower-than-expected development.
Fast forward to the present day, and Mozgov is making the Denver Nuggets look intelligent for demanding him as part of the return package for Carmelo Anthony back in 2011. The 7-foot-1 Russian, now 27 years old, is averaging 9.3 points, 6.4 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in 21.4 minutes while shooting 52.1 percent from the floor.
He's also started dunking. A lot. According to Basketball Reference, Mozgov dunked just 28 times as a rookie, 39 times as a sophomore and just 14 times last season. This year? Try 92 dunks, more than one a game.
The latest came on Saturday, when he absolutely crowned fellow 7-footer Rudy Gobert.
The term Mozgov may still denote a massive poster, but it's Mozgov who is doing the posterizing these days.