Nwaba earning minutes for Nets

David Nwaba is giving Kenny Atkinson no choice.

When he plays — infrequently and inconsistently as that may be — he produces. Just look at his past two games — 10 points apiece against the Eastern Conferencecontending Celtics and Heat in limited action while playing his trademark physical defense.

“He’s earning himself more playing time,” said Atkinson, the Nets’ coach.

Oddly, after scoring 10 points in 19 minutes in Wednesday’s loss to the Celtics, Nwaba didn’t get off the bench in Friday’s rematch. But against the Heat on Sunday, he was part of Atkinson’s rotation and was productive again — Nwaba had a plus-two rating — with the coach later raving about his physicality and defensive acumen.

It has, unfortunately, followed a familiar pattern for the 26-year-old guard. On Nov. 10, in a blowout loss to the Suns, Nwaba had six points, four rebounds and two blocked shots in 16 minutes, but found himself buried until this past week.

“Just stay ready. That’s the biggest thing no matter what happens,” said Nwaba, who is with his fourth organization in as many years after going undrafted out of Cal Poly. “I just got to be ready and stay positive about the whole process. … It’s an opportunity every time I’m on the court, just to play hard. I think they see it. I just got to continue to be aggressive every opportunity I have and just play my game.”

These performances have come at the right time for Nwaba, who has appeared in only 12 of the Nets’ 20 games. The team will have to make a roster decision on Dec. 15, when Wilson Chandler’s 25-game suspension for using performanceenhancing drugs ends. It could come down to Nwaba and new addition Iman Shumpert. But he’s not focused on the near future, because he has to continue to prove he belongs in the present.

“I know what I bring to this team. Whatever happens, happens,” Nwaba said. “I’m not worried about that. I just play my game and worry about contributing.

“I’m just out there showing I deserve to be out there on the floor. I’m trying to help this team as much as I can.”