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No matter what you thought about his effort level, former UNLV basketball player Christian Wood could always produce on the court. He averaged a double-double as a sophomore before declaring for the NBA Draft, only to watch from his party on the Strip as all 60 picks came and went in the 2015 NBA Draft without his name being called.
It was a humbling experience and over the past year-plus Wood has worked to put it in his rearview mirror, continuing this week with some dominant performances for the Philadelphia 76ers at the Utah Summer League, where he earned MVP honors. Wood, who is still only 20 years old, scored 20 points in his debut, followed it up with 19 points on eight shots and finished Thursday’s game with 17 points, 6 rebounds and 3 blocks.
As the Las Vegas Summer League begins today on UNLV’s campus, there will be a lot of eyes on Wood to see if the lanky Findlay Prep product can produce a similar second-year jump as he did in college. Of course, there will be even more focus on Wood’s Summer League teammate, Ben Simmons, the top overall pick in this year’s draft.
Organizers know what they’re doing, too, because at 5:30 on Saturday night in the Thomas & Mack Center, the 76ers will square off against the Los Angeles Lakers and No. 2 overall pick Brandon Ingram. That will be one of the best-attended games of the entire event, which runs from Friday to July 18 with teams playing three scheduled games before tournament play begins on July 13.
Rebel fans won’t get to see second-round pick Stephen Zimmerman Jr., who has averaged 7.7 points and 7.7 rebounds for the Orlando Magic in the Orlando Summer League. The same goes for former Rebel Goodluck Okonoboh, who transferred out of the program in November as a sophomore, as his Charlotte Hornets team plays only in Orlando.
However, Wood, Pat McCaw and many other former UNLV or local prep players will be trying to prove themselves in this year’s Summer League at the Mack and Cox Pavilion. Here’s where you can find them:
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Pat McCaw, Rosco Allen and Winston Shepard, Golden State Warriors
McCaw Drafted: Second round, 38th overall in 2016
Allen and Shepard both undrafted in 2016
Schedule
• 7:30 p.m. Saturday vs. San Antonio Spurs, Thomas & Mack Center
• 7:30 p.m. Monday vs. Los Angeles Lakers, Thomas & Mack Center
• 5:30 p.m. Tuesday vs. Philadelphia 76ers, Thomas & Mack Center
Analysis
Two years ago, McCaw was an afterthought in a top-5 recruiting class. Now, he has a guaranteed contract on the team that’s a runaway favorite to win the 2017 NBA title after adding free agent Kevin Durant on July 4.
This is a perfect situation for McCaw, who can defend multiple positions and would rather pass than shoot. The latter could be key to getting some minutes in the upcoming season, as the Warriors already have a historic collection of shooters but will need teammates who can facilitate to those stars.
McCaw’s task during the Summer League is to display the same type of balanced game that made him UNLV’s best all-around player both of his seasons in scarlet and gray. If he can earn the coaching staff’s trust, he could have a hand in Golden State fulfilling its perceived destiny.
Allen, a Bishop Gorman High grad, and Winston Shepard, a Findlay Prep product, are both looking to prove themselves after going undrafted. Allen, listed at 6-foot-9, left Stanford one year early after leading the Cardinal with 15.9 points per game while Shepard, listed at 6-foot-8, used up his eligibility helping San Diego State win another regular season Mountain West title.
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Derrick Jones Jr., F, Sacramento Kings
Undrafted in 2016
Schedule
• 7 p.m. Friday vs. Toronto Raptors, Cox Pavilion
• 3:30 p.m. Sunday vs. Houston Rockets, Thomas & Mack Center
• 7 p.m. Monday vs. New Orleans Pelicans, Cox Pavilion
Analysis
Whether it was the prospect of a protracted NCAA battle over his ACT score or an unwillingness to endure a regime change, Jones decided to leave UNLV after one season. He ranked second on the team with 11.5 points per game and also contributed 4.5 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game before he was suspended prior to the final regular-season game.
Jones’ athleticism should keep him on teams’ radars for years, even if his shooting — 20.5 percent (8-of-39) on 3-pointers — doesn’t dramatically improve. Jones can jump out of the gym, and if he doesn’t feel like going the D-League route he would certainly help sell tickets in a league somewhere around the world.
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Chris Obekpa, F, Miami Heat
Undrafted in 2016
Schedule
• 7 p.m. Saturday vs. Dallas Mavericks, Cox Pavilion
• 5 p.m. Monday vs. Denver Nuggets, Cox Pavilion
• 3:30 p.m. Tuesday vs. Phoenix Suns, Thomas & Mack Center
Analysis
Obekpa never played an official game at UNLV, so unless you went and watched practice your experience with him was limited to his highly entertaining sideline antics during home games.
The former St. John’s transfer — he was sitting out last season with one year remaining — decided he’d rather take his chances in the pros than go through another coaching change, and it’ll be an uphill battle. Obekpa had no real chance of getting drafted and through three games in the Orlando Summer League he has made one appearance, recording one foul in five minutes.
Perhaps he’ll get more of an opportunity when the team shifts to Las Vegas.
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Christian Wood, F, Philadelphia 76ers
Undrafted in 2015
Schedule
• 5:30 p.m. Saturday vs. Los Angeles Lakers, Thomas & Mack Center
• 5:30 p.m. Sunday vs. Chicago Bulls, Thomas & Mack Center
• 5:30 p.m. Tuesday vs. Golden State Warriors, Thomas & Mack Center
Analysis
After falling off of draft boards and going unpicked, Wood’s redemption tour started at last year’s Summer League, where he earned himself a partially guaranteed deal with the 76ers. Although most of his time was spent in the D-League, Wood ended up appearing in 17 games in the NBA and he’s out this summer to prove that’s where he belongs.
Listed at 6-foot-11 and 220 pounds, Wood has always had the physical tools to thrive. If he continues to mature and work the way he has said he did this offseason, there will be NBA playing time available for him.
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Rashad Vaughn, G, Milwaukee Bucks
Drafted: First round, 17th overall in 2015
Schedule
• 3 p.m. Friday vs. Cleveland Cavaliers, Cox Pavilion
• 1:30 p.m. Sunday vs. NBA D-League Select, Thomas & Mack Center
• 1 p.m. Monday vs. Memphis Grizzlies, Cox Pavilion
Analysis
As a rookie, the UNLV and Findlay Prep product averaged 3.1 points and 1.3 rebounds in 14.3 minutes per game. Most concerning for Vaughn is that he shot only 29.3 percent on 3-pointers, which is supposed to be a strength.
First-year struggles are not a big surprise, though, and on a young Bucks roster Vaughn has plenty of opportunities to improve. Last season he spent eight games in the D-League, and if his shooting woes continue that could be another options this season, though Vaughn will be looking this week and beyond to prove he’s ready for this level.
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Kelly Oubre Jr., G, Washington Wizards
Drafted: First round, 15th overall in 2015
Schedule
• 3:30 p.m. Saturday vs. Utah Jazz, Thomas & Mack Center
• 1 p.m. Sunday vs. Atlanta Hawks, Cox Pavilion
• 1 p.m. Tuesday vs. Brooklyn Nets, Cox Pavilion
Analysis
Selected just outside of last year’s lottery, the 20-year-old Oubre appeared in 63 games as a rookie, averaging 3.7 points and 2.1 rebounds per game. Those numbers certainly won’t blow your hair back, but when he was handed more minutes Oubre improved, averaging 6.1 points and shooting 43.9 percent from 3-point range during a 19-game stretch over the winter.
That plus the Findlay Prep product’s prodigious wingspan should give the Wizards hope for further results as he continues to grow and learn.
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Brandon Ashley, F, Dallas Mavericks
Undrafted in 2015
Schedule
• 7 p.m. Saturday vs. Miami Heat, Cox Pavilion
• 3:30 p.m. Monday vs. Toronto Raptors, Thomas & Mack Center
• 3 p.m. Tuesday vs. Boston Celtics, Cox Pavilion
Analysis
A D-League All-Star last season, the 2012 Findlay Prep product left the Texas Legends in February to play the remainder of his season in Germany. Ashley last year played Summer League for the Hawks but his performance caught the Mavericks’ eye, who signed him to a deal before cutting him prior to the season.
Ashley is back with the Mavericks this summer, but just like last year he’s really trying out for every team that watches his games.
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DeAndre Liggins, G, Cleveland Cavaliers
Drafted: Second round, 53rd overall in 2011
Schedule
• 3 p.m. Friday vs. Milwaukee Bucks, Cox Pavilion
• 1:30 p.m. Saturday vs. Brooklyn Nets, Thomas & Mack Center
• 5:30 p.m. Monday vs. Minnesota Timberwolves, Thomas & Mack Center
Analysis
A 2008 product of Findlay Prep, Liggins has bounced all over the place, including Russia and Germany, but often finds himself once again here in Las Vegas chasing his NBA dream. Last year he played with the Sacramento Kings before spending the season in Sioux Falls becoming the D-League’s Defensive Player of the Year (again), and this year he’s back with the Cavs as one of the oldest players in an event featuring mostly first- and second-year players.
Liggins last played in the NBA in 2014 for the Miami Heat.
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Jabari Brown, G, Los Angeles Lakers
Undrafted in 2014
Schedule
• 7:30 p.m. Friday vs. New Orleans Pelicans, Thomas & Mack Center
• 5:30 p.m. Saturday vs. Philadelphia 76ers, Thomas & Mack Center
• 7:30 p.m. Monday vs. Golden State Warriors, Thomas & Mack Center
Analysis
Brown played only about half a season at Findlay Prep back in 2009-10 before transferring out. After going undrafted in 2014, Brown caught on with the Los Angeles D-Fenders and even signed a deal with the Lakers after a couple of successful 10-day contracts, but he was waived prior to the 2015-16 season.
Brown spent most of last season playing in China before returning to the D-Fenders until a season-ending injury cut things short.
Taylor Bern can be reached at 948-7844 or [email protected]. Follow Taylor on Twitter at twitter.com/taylorbern.
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