SAN FRANCISCO – Zeke Nnaji’s work is a little more public these days.

A majority of Nnaji’s work happened behind closed doors for portions of the season, but he’s returned to the rotation, playing 11 or more minutes in each of the three Nuggets games since the All-Star break. Prior to the break, Nnaji played in three straight games, and his 6.2 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game in February marks the best month of his fourth NBA season.

“I feel like I’m playing well,” Nnaji said after the Nuggets’ win Sunday in San Francisco. “Maybe (it’s) the work that I’m putting in, but I found a little rhythm.”

Nnaji hasn’t played in 13 of Denver’s first 58 games, and more than a few of his performances have been limited to the final minutes of already-decided outcomes. He started the season as Denver’s back-up center but ceded that role to veteran DeAndre Jordan.

“This hasn’t been an easy year for Zeke Nnaji, but (I’m) really proud of him for staying with it and playing at the level he’s played at in the last three games,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone said after Nnaji put up six points, three rebounds, one assist and one block against Golden State. “He’s only going to continue to get better for us.”

When he wasn’t in the rotation, Nnaji said he prioritized his shooting, ball handling and lifting. After making more than 40 percent of his 3-point shots in his first two NBA seasons, his shooting from deep has dipped below 30 percent in each of the last two seasons. Despite the dip, he still sees himself as a power forward capable of stretching defenses.

“I like playing on the perimeter. I think my natural position is a four,” Nnaji said. “Having another big out there allows me to be not just having to screen and roll to the basket every time and actually play a little more to my strengths.”

Recently, Malone has helped Nnaji by playing more size alongside him, whether it’s Michael Porter Jr., Aaron Gordon or Nikola Jokic, as was the case for a stretch Sunday. Both Nnaji and Malone admitted life is easier for anyone playing alongside Jokic.

“We went big tonight with that second unit, because we were getting our ass kicked on the glass,” Malone said.

While Nnaji was largely out of the rotation in the weeks leading up to the trade deadline, the four-year contract extension he signed just before the season started, worth a reported $32 million, complicated matters. It hasn’t been an easy season for the 23-year-old, but he’s maintained a steady mindset.

“Never get too high, never get too low,” Nnaji said of his approach while playing time has waxed and waned. “I have confidence in the practice and the work that I put in every day, whether it’s a game day or an off day. Whenever I get my opportunity, I just go out there and try to make the most (of it) and help the team win however I can.”