CU Buffs in the NBA: Summer league roundup
Colorado Buffaloes fans saw quite a few familiar names make their way to the Las Vegas Summer League.
All eyes were on Portland Trail Blazers rookie Jabari Walker, the most recent Buff playing in the circuit. Walker not only went home as a summer league champ, but he also signed a three-year contract in the process.
But, there were a few other notable players that also used to play college basketball at the CU Events Center. There were a total of six former Buffs who earned NBA summer league roster spots.
Let’s check in on them and recap how each of them performed:
JABARI WALKER, PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS
(AP Photo/John Locher)
Let’s start with Walker, shall we? Walker was more than impressive during his time in Sin City. He posted a couple of double-doubles, dropped a wonderful debut and left everybody impressed by the end of it all. So much for him being the second-to-last choice in the NBA draft.
Clearly, that was a mistake by a ton of teams.
Jabari Walker @jabari521 finishes summer league having averaged 12.4 points on 63 percent shooting from the field, 43 percent shooting from three and 80 percent shooting from the line, 9.8 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1.0 blocks and 1.0 steals in 22.0 minutes per game.
— Casey Holdahl (@CHold) July 17, 2022
TYLER BEY, PHILADELPHIA 76ERS
Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports
Tyler Bey appeared in three games for the Philadelphia 76ers as they went 3-2 in Las Vegas. Bey finished with an average of 4.7 points and 3.3 rebounds. We’ll see if that’s enough for Bey to earn a training camp invite with the Sixers.
MCKINLEY WRIGHT IV, PHOENIX SUNS
Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports
McKinley Wright IV, normally of the Minnesota Timberwolves, played for the Phoenix Suns this summer. Wright played in all five summer league contests for Phoenix.
He finished averaging 8.4 points with 4.6 rebounds and 5.6 assists during his run with the Suns.
McKinley Wright IV comes off the handoff and attacks the lane strong and finishes with his left pic.twitter.com/1Eeowi7FZn
— Aram Cannuscio (@AC__Hoops) July 9, 2022
JERIAH HORNE, SACRAMENTO KINGS
Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports
Jeriah Horne joined the Sacramento Kings in a terrific situation for him. Horne played in four games and averaged 7.8 points with 3.5 rebounds and just over an assist per game.
The Kings are a young, rebuilding team, but Horne has an uphill battle to earn a roster spot.
GEORGE KING, PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS
Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports
George King has been around a little bit during his NBA journey and joined Jabari Walker on the Blazers. So, he is also a summer league champ!
However, King played in just three games for Portland, averaging two points in a touch over 11 minutes per contest.
D'SHAWN SCHWARTZ, NEW YORK KNICKS
Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-USA TODAY Sports
D’Shawn Schwartz was probably the most surprising inclusion out of all the Buffs, but his performance in the 3×3 tourney likely earned him an invite alone.
However, he played in just one game for the New York Knicks, scoring two points in four minutes.
