Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Not every future star will shine

Just because this week's NBA summer league in Las Vegas is called the "Stars of Tomorrow" doesn't necessarily mean everyone playing will be one.

Although first-round picks from the past three years -- including Orlando's Dwight Howard, Phoenix's Casey Jacobsen, Cleveland's Dajuan Wagner, and former UNLV star and Boston guard Marcus Banks -- highlight the 13-game schedule that starts tonight at the Cox Pavilion, most of the players on the six teams' rosters are playing because it's their best chance to get a coveted spot on a team's training camp roster.

Even making it that far guarantees nothing beyond October, but for most of the players involved in the summer league, it's the only shot they've got.

"For me, it's been not that stressful. You try your best," said Nick Jacobson, a former Utah Utes guard trying to earn a spot on the Cavaliers' roster. "The first week was one of the best experiences of my basketball life."

And, one of the toughest. Jacobson had a lot of adjusting to do, after a collegiate career under Utah coach Rick Majerus, the quintessential hands-on coach.

"Out there in the open you have to play. There's not a lot of coaching. No matter how you do it, you just make it work," he said. "You gotta shoot it right away. The pace of the game is quicker than what I'm used to. I had to adjust to that. You shoot it earlier in the shot clock, after one or two passes. That's the biggest adjustment."

For those whose NBA future is more certain, the summer league is a good chance to work on skills and adjust to new systems. Four of the six teams are from the NBA's Eastern Conference, which saw every team replace its coach -- some twice -- over the past 15 months.

So while Banks, a former Rebel drafted 13th in the 2003 draft, spent last year shifting from Charlie Spoonhour's system to Boston coach Jim O'Brien's, this year brings another adjustment after O'Brien resigned and was replaced in April by Doc Rivers.

"Each coach wants something different. You've got to adapt to their style," Banks said. "Doc is kind of an up-tempo guy, likes to push it down the court. He makes things happen offensively and defensively, pushes the ball and get stops on defense."

Not only does the summer play give Banks the opportunity to prepare for his sophomore season under his new coach, it also provides a forum for him to develop leadership, in part by helping out those unsigned, undrafted players likely bound for European basketball but hoping for a shot at the Association.

"It depends on how good the roster is, mostly. I want to make their job easier, then worry about me," he said. "I didn't have anybody to show me or tell me what to do, so I try to show them how to do things."

Seven miles away at the Cavaliers' practice in the hot gym of a yet-to-open high school, Jacobson was working on being quicker with his shot, in hopes of increasing his playing time in this summer league. He played 37 minutes in three games, going 4-for-7 from the field and 0-for-2 in his 3-point attempts.

Las Vegans might find that surprising, after Jacobson shot .436 from beyond the 3-point arc and led Utah in scoring at 16.5 points per game. Jacobson also hit a buzzer-beating 3-pointer that beat UNLV in March's Mountain West Tournament championship game.

Jacobson said he's faced with a conscious decision to try to be more aggressive with his shot.

"It's frustrating obviously when you don't get off the bench, but I wasn't as aggressive in mini-camp, and I paid for it by not playing that much," Jacobson said. "I took some shots quicker, and I started out not playing, and by the time I left I was playing 12-13 minutes a game."

And even though he's playing closer to his college home and starting to get in the flow of things, he's under no illusion that he gets a clean slate. He's already at a disadvantage, and still must prove himself against players whose futures are guaranteed.

"The returning players have the luxury of a contract, they can take eight shots and miss seven. The undrafted guys and guys who don't have a spot on a roster, it's a lot tougher with the extra pressure," he said. "Even if a guy plays really well, he's not guaranteed to get invited to training camp."

The Reebok Stars of Tomorrow Vegas Summer League will last through Sunday, with doubleheaders starting at 5 p.m. today, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday, and at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday. All six teams will play starting at 2:30 p.m. on Friday, and the first eight games of the week will be televised on NBA TV. The Phoenix Suns and Washington Wizards play in today's early game, with the Denver Nuggets and Boston Celtics tipping off at 7:30 p.m.

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