It wasn’t the best Summer League debut for Alex Karaban.
The former UConn captain didn’t score in 24 minutes played for the Sacramento Kings in their 91-85 win over the LA Clippers. He couldn’t find his shot, going 0-for-6 from the field and 0-for-4 from 3-point range. He also had three turnovers.
Despite all of that, Karaban did finish plus-12, the highest plus-minus total on the team. (“He’s a winner,” after all).
He also grabbed two rebounds, dished out an assist and had a block.
It may just have been rust for Karaban, who was making his debut after missing the team’s first three Summer League games at the California Classic after spraining his right ankle in practice.
The Kings will take the court again on Sunday against the Wizards at 8 p.m. ET on Prime Video.
Another double-double for Reed
Tarris Reed Jr. is picking up right where he left off at UConn, having posted double-doubles in back-to-back games now in Summer League. He had a team-high 14 points and 10 rebounds in San Antonio’s 93-66 loss to the Hawks on Thursday. His plus-minus was pretty much the opposite of Karaban’s (minus-15 in the blowout loss), for what that’s worth.
The Spurs will next take on the Knicks on Saturday (6 p.m., ESPN).
McNeeley catches fire
Former UConn star Liam McNeeley had a marvelous Summer League opener on Thursday– as he seemingly couldn’t miss in Charlotte’s 86-74 win over Orlando. McNeeley scored 28 points in 28 minutes, and finished 9 of 18 from the field and 7 of 8 from 3-point range.
McNeeley, who was chosen with the 29th overall pick in last year’s draft, had a tough rookie season, struggling through injuries and spending much of his time in the G League. He played just 31 games for the Hornets, and averaged 4.3 points in 11 minutes per game. He did play well in the G League, though, posting 19.6 points and 5 rebounds per in 18 games there.
If his Summer League performance is any indicator of how he’ll be going forward, things will work out just fine for the UConn sharpshooter.
Newton could play Friday
Former Huskies star Tristen Newton is on the Houston Rockets’ Summer League roster and could suit up Friday night when the team takes on the Denver Nuggets (6:30 p.m., ESPN2). Newton hasn’t gotten much run in the NBA since he left UConn– he played just one game last season, the final game of the regular season with Houston. But he had a tremendous year in the G League– earning First Team All-G League honors and averaging 25.1 points and 4 assists per game.
Here’s how you can watch former UConn men’s basketball stars in NBA Summer League
