LAS VEGAS — The curtain fell on Victor Wembanyama’s Summer League after a a lot better closing act.
The towering Frenchman placed on a formidable present Sunday on the Thomas & Mack Center, dropping 27 factors with 12 rebounds and three blocks in San Antonio’s 85-80 defeat to the Blazers.
The 19-year-old, who has been by way of a rollercoaster the previous few weeks with the draft, media scrutiny and a beef with Britney Spears, was then shut down for the remainder of the event, the Spurs introduced.
He will miss at the least two video games.
“In the past month, I think basketball wasn’t even 50 percent of my schedule,” Wembanyama mentioned. “I can’t stand it. I know it’s a special moment in my life, but I’m glad it’s over. Honestly, I just want to hoop.”
Sunday was fairly the turnaround efficiency from Wembanyama, who struggled mightily in his debut two days prior and acknowledged feeling misplaced/overwhelmed.
He lasted another Summer League recreation than Zion Williamson in 2019, the final super-hyped prospect who left Vegas with a sore knee.
The subsequent time Wembanyama will play on TV would be the NBA preseason in October.
“It’s just me getting comfortable with myself and my body on the court,” Wembanyama mentioned. “Before (Sunday), I had like two practices and one game. I was just getting going.”
TOUGH PATH FOR KEELS
Over a yr after he was drafted, Trevor Keels’ path to a Knicks profession stays muddled. There are not any roster spots. No openings within the rotation. No present contract.
For these causes, the Summer League – which is already about midway completed – is important.
“It’s super important,” Keels mentioned after he scored eight factors in Sunday’s blowout defeat to the Nets. “I want to show my skills, show what I got, show how I can help the Knicks, show I’m a great fit for the Knicks.”
As the forty second decide in 2022, Keels, nonetheless solely 19, represents the Knicks solely draft selection during the last two years. They’ve traded the others. But Keels, in contrast to the franchise’s earlier second-round picks (Miles McBride and Jericho Sims), hasn’t gained traction.
Part of that could be a numbers crunch. New York’s roster has been crammed to the brim since Keels was drafted. Another half is Keels failing to tell apart himself. On the latter, the opening two video games of Summer League weren’t useful.
He began at level guard in each contests however was held to a median of 5 factors on 4-of-14 taking pictures. The Knicks have been outscored by 52 factors in Keels’ 25 mixed minutes.
For the glass half-full crowd, Keels’ finest minutes have been within the first half Sunday – when his aggressiveness ratcheted up. He has at the least two extra video games to construct off that and generate some momentum earlier than coaching camp.
“Just show who I am, show that I’m a dog,” Keels mentioned. “Show that I can play both ends, that I can defend and also that I can run a team. Let out who I am, that I’m a competitor, that I’m all about winning.”
ROBY’S RECOVERY
After a greater displaying in Game 2 of Summer League – albeit in a lopsided defeat – Isaiah Roby revealed that he was solely cleared to play two weeks prior due to a lingering ankle damage.
Roby, who’s a candidate to crack the Knicks rotation as a backup energy ahead, first suffered an ankle damage in February. He was then lower by the Spurs and signed by the Knicks with $400,000 assured up entrance.
His wage for the 2023-24 season is non assured.
“I feel a little slow right now, but overall I feel strong. I just feel like a step slow. I haven’t played live basketball in a long time,” mentioned Roby, including that he initially pushed too laborious to return from the ankle sprain. “I’ve been playing a lot of one-on-one, three-on-three. This Summer League is a test for me right now.”
Roby, 25, is among the many most skilled gamers at Summer League with 151 NBA appearances beneath his belt. But he additionally pushed to play in Vegas due to the lengthy damage hiatus.
“It wasn’t like a make or break thing for me, but I wanted to be able to play in this, and test my limit and see where I’m at physically,” Roby mentioned.
The Knicks are additionally monitoring the free-agent marketplace for a veteran backup energy ahead, a supply mentioned. Available gamers embrace Gorgui Dieng and Derrick Jones Jr.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com