Featured Columnist IVJuly 11, 2024
Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images
It wasn’t a great night for rookies on the Philadelphia 76ers and Utah Jazz during Summer League Play on Wednesday.
The first-rounders, Philadelphia’s Jared McCain (1-of-9, two points) and Utah’s Cody Williams (0-of-8, two points), struggled mightily from the floor.
Second-rounders like Kyle Filipowski (two points, five rebounds, one block) and Adem Bona (four points, six rebounds, four steals, two blocks) fared a touch better. Only Utah’s Isaiah Collier (12 points, three assists, two steals) truly popped in Utah’s 93-85 win.
NBA @NBA
32nd pick Kyle Filipowski with the nice spin and finish for the Jazz 🌪️
Salt Lake City Summer League on ESPN2 pic.twitter.com/LTFAGVZtIk
Granted, the Jazz didn’t need their rookies to go off on a night that saw Keyonte George explode 31 points.
Utah Jazz @utahjazz
that walk and key connection 🔑🤠#TakeNote pic.twitter.com/Ox1t8KssZ3
It was George’s second 30-point game in the Summer League this week. The second-year guard has looked good thus far this summer.
As for the struggling rookies, both teams played three nights in a row, so McCain’s tough night after he was excellent in his first two Summer League games may have been somewhat impacted by a touch of fatigue. Ditto for his counterparts who played in all three games.
Either way, it wasn’t a banner night for the rookies not named Collier, and folks on social media noticed:
Paul Hudrick @PaulHudrick
Jared McCain is doing everything right except finishing. He’ll get there. Still very encouraged by his decision-making and ability to create space as an on-ball player.
Prison Mike (Bona Believer) @Big_Prison_Mike
Has McCain already forgotten how to shoot? He’s ahead of schedule it usually doesn’t happen to Sixers first round picks until after summer league
Jacob Moreno @jmoreno76ers
A very disheartening offensive performance from Jared McCain tonight, he’s truly out of rhythm
Sean Barnard @Sean_Barnard1
Has been by far Jared McCain’s worst performance of summer league tonight
Really struggled to find any sort of rhythm and remains scoreless early in in the 4th quarter
Nate Babcock NBA Draft @coachnatebdraft
Filipowski in the 2nd quarter of this game is struggling.
I remain bullish on him but the game is too fast for him right now. Definitely something he will adjust to.
Jerry Winchester @JerryWinches7er
Not gonna overreact to summer league, but Kyle Filipowski does not look the part. Not a great start to his pro career over the past week#NBASummerLeague
Professional Jazz Fan @jazzarenice
cody williams handle has been really impressive. his burst isn’t quite there but his self creation is really encouraging
David J. Smith @davidjsmith1232
Cody Williams is having a tough night, but I like the shots he is getting and taking for the most part. Trying make things happen.
YouTube: The Monty Show @TheMontyShow
Utah Jazz fans should be very worried about Cody Williams ability to shoot, another awful night. He was not a shooter at Colorado, and it will be difficult for him to develop that skill at the NBA level.
Austin Clayton @AustinClayton4
Utah Jazz Summer League Standouts:
– Keyonte, Kessler, Hendricks, Sensabaugh, Bazley, Collier.
I personally would love to see Keyonte & Kessler get more reps in Vegas with our young guys, but they both showed enough.
It will be interesting to track the development of these players as the summer progresses. There should be minutes to be had in Utah this season, especially if the team ultimately trades Lauri Markkanen or other veterans.
In Philly, meanwhile, Bona likely will be the third-string center and only see action if either Joel Embiid or Andre Drummond is injured. But McCain could earn a legitimate role off the bench, especially if the Sixers aren’t able to add more veteran facilitators on minimum contracts in free agency.
There will be some bad nights along the way. Wednesday was one of them.
