Day two of the Utah and Sacramento NBA Summer League provided less enticing basketball. The first night brought excitement in Sacramento with the Kings playing what will actually be their NBA lineup competing in front of a packed Golden One Center. Night one was also the debuts of many high-profile rookies including Jaren Jackson Jr., Trae Young, Marvin Bagley III, Lonnie Walker IV, Grayson Allen, and more. However, night two saw some players take a rest. De’Aaron Fox, Lonnie Walker IV, and Grayson Allen were all among the players who didn’t play in the second night of the Summer League. Teams were being cautious as they don’t want to overwork the young players and cause an injury early in their career. But, there were players that did play. Let’s get into the studs and duds from day two of the NBA Summer League.
Studs:
Justin Jackson – Sacramento Kings
The second year player out of UNC showed out against the Golden State Warriors. The Kings team managed to score just 54 points, but 20 of those points were recorded by Jackson. The forward shot 7-11 from the field, including 2-5 from three-point range. In addition to his scoring, Jackson managed 5 rebounds and limited his turnovers to just one. It was a solid performance for Jackson one night after scoring just five points.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qhl678dsrjQ]Deyonta Davis – Memphis Grizzlies
Deyonta Davis is looking to make a big jump for the Grizzlies this upcoming season. Davis appeared in 62 games for Memphis last season recording 5.8 points per game playing just 15.2 minutes per night. Davis dominated the Utah Jazz in night two of the Utah Summer League. Solidifying himself with 17 points, Davis shot 8-9 from the field while playing just 23 minutes. Davis also grabbed 6 rebounds and was a game-high +18 when he was on the court. If Davis can continue to prove himself in the Summer League and the NBA, it won’t be long before Davis becomes a household rotational player in the league.
Tony Bradley – Utah Jazz
Tony Bradley had himself a game against the Memphis Grizzlies. The 2017 first-round pick was projected to be a project, and he was just that in his first season with the Jazz. Bradley appeared in eight games with Utah and it was clear he needed to mature his basketball skills. Well, if his second game in the 2018 NBA Summer League is any indication, Bradley did just that. Posting 18 points and 14 rebounds in 23 minutes was single-handedly the best performance by any Jazz player. In addition, Bradley was a +16 in the game, one that the Jazz lost by three. The rest of the Summer League will be big for Bradley as he continues his development as an NBA center.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-F2SxpRlILQ]Derrick Jones Jr. – Miami Heat
The high-flying Derrick Jones Jr. did it all for the Miami Heat on Tuesday night against the Los Angeles Lakers. The high-flyer finished with 21 points, 5 rebounds, 4 blocks and 3 steals. Jones didn’t have his three-point shot falling, but it didn’t matter. He got looks at the rim with ease, and he looked too good to be playing in the Summer League. If DJJ can continue his development, he can turn into a solid rotational player for the Heat this upcoming season.
Duds:
Josh Hart – Los Angeles Lakers
Josh Hart should be dominating Summer League action, plain and simple. After logging meaningful minutes with the Lakers last season, there is no reason Hart shouldn’t be killing the competition. However, Tuesday night, Hart recorded just one point on 0-4 shooting from the field. He only played 14 minutes, but Hart needs to be better, especially when he’s been talked about as an asset in a Kawhi Leonard trade package.
Marvin Bagley III – Sacramento Kings
One night after electrifying the hometown Kings crowd, Bagley laid an egg. Was it because De’Aaron Fox wasn’t getting him easy looks? Was it because he was playing in a back-to-back? Who knows, but it was not a good game for Bagley in his second pro outing. Bagley shot 3-16 from the field and 0-5 from three recording a lackluster 7 points. While Bagley had a rough night, it was his second pro game, no need to worry in Summer League.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jns4eaQXbwY]Trae Young – Atlanta Hawks
Another game, another rough Trae Young experience. For the second night in a row, Young struggled, especially shooting the ball. Connecting on just 5-16 shots from the field, and just 1-5 from three, Young is looking like the guard from the second half of the Oklahoma season, not the first half. On a positive note, Young played better in the fourth quarter getting to the basket and finishing in the lane. He also made some nice passes to teammates, who didn’t convert their shots. With it being just his second pro game, give Young some time Atlanta.
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