The NBA’s Summer League tournament is, among other things, a place in which newly minted draft picks can get their first taste of the pro game and learn a few lessons about what life in the league is all about.
Marvin Bagley III, the second overall pick in last month’s draft, got his first lesson Tuesday.
One night after a dominant debut in which he posted 18 points, six rebounds and three blocked shots while going 6 of 11 from the floor for the Sacramento Kings, the Duke one-and-done big man found out that things aren’t always going to be that easy in the NBA.
Playing his second game, Bagley made just three of his 16 field goal attempts and missed all five of his 3-pointers while being held to seven points in 26 minutes of the Kings’ 71-54 loss to the Golden State Warriors.
His Sacramento teammate and fellow former Blue Devil Harry Giles also struggled after a promising opener by going 2 of 9 and scoring just four points in 28 minutes.
The only real bright spot in the game for the Kings was UNC’s Justin Jackson, a 2017 first round draft pick who scored 20 on 7 of 11 shooting to go with five rebounds. Undrafted free agent Allerik Freeman of NC State saw his first summer league action in the game, going 0 for 4 with 1 rebound in 12 minutes.
Former UNC star J.P. Tokoto had three points and four rebounds in 15 minutes for the Warriors.
In Tuesday’s other game at the four-team California Classic in Sacramento, the Miami Heat beat the Los Angeles Lakers 89-74. Former Tar Heel Joel Berry is on the Lakers’ roster but didn’t play for the second straight day.
In Salt Lake City, recent first round pick Grayson Allen of Duke also took the night off after a strong debut performance Monday. Second year big man Tony Bradley of UNC had a strong performance with 18 points and 14 rebounds for the Jazz in their 95-92 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies.
Wake Forest’s John Collins, who like Bradley already has a season of NBA experience to his credit, also put up big numbers with 19 points and seven rebounds for the Atlanta Hawks in a 103-81 loss to the San Antonio Spurs. Maverick Rowan of NC State played just two minutes for the winning Spurs, but made his time count by making his only field goal attempt and scoring three points while his team was plus-six with him on the floor.
Play in both summer leagues wraps on Thursday before the more prestigious Vegas Summer League, in which all 30 teams are participating, begins on Friday. Games in all three leagues will be televised by NBA TV and ESPN.
Here are the cumulative stats for all state players participating in Sacramento and Salt Lake City:
Tony Bradley, UNC (Jazz): 2 games, 14.5 ppg, 12-23 FG, 5-11 FT, 12.5 rpg, 2.5 bpg
John Collins, Wake Forest (Hawks): 2 G, 14.0 ppg, 11-21 FG, 1-6 3PT, 5-9 FT, 6.5 rpg, 1.5 apg
Marvin Bagley III, Duke (Kings): 2 G, 12.5 ppg, 9-27 FG, 1-7 3PT, 6-9 FT, 6.5 rpg, 2.5 bpg
Justin Jackson, UNC (Kings): 2 G, 12.5 ppg, 9-17 FG, 3-9 3PT, 4-4 FT, 4.0 rpg
Grayson Allen, Duke (Jazz): 1 G, 11.0 ppg, 4-16 FG, 2-6 3PT, 1-2 FT, 8.0 rpg, 7.0 apg
Harry Giles, Duke (Kings): 2 G, 8.5 ppg, 8-19 FG, 1-5 3PT, 3.0 rpg, 2.5 spg
J.P. Tokoto, UNC (Warriors): 1 G, 3.0 ppg, 1-4 FG, 1-1 3PT, 4.0 rpg, 1.0 apg
Maverick Rowan, NC State (Jazz): 2 G, 1.5 ppg, 1-2 FG, 1-2 FT
Allerik Freeman, NC State (Kings): 1 G, 0.0 ppg, 0-4 FG, 1.0 rpg
Joel Berry, UNC (Lakers): DNP
