Author: Monojit Mandal
Jalen Wilson, former Kansas men’s basketball player, performed well with the Brooklyn Nets in the NBA 2K24 Summer League. Wilson and his partner Armoni Brooks performed well in the semi-final game against Cleveland, even though the Nets finished in the top four. Each player scored 22 points, but the Nets were defeated 102-99. Wilson, the 51st overall pick in the 2023 NBA draft, demonstrated his skills by making 4 of 13 shots, including 2 of 6 from beyond the arc. He also showed off his free throw shooting ability, hitting 12 of 14 attempts. In addition to his points, Wilson had 11 rebounds and four assists in 36 minutes.
Wilson’s solid play during the summer league was remarkable. He averaged 17.6 points, 7.8 rebounds and 2.8 assists in five games. His shooting numbers were amazing, with an overall percentage of 43.6% from the field, 45.8% from three-point range and 78.4% from the free throw line.
According to Brian Lewis of the New York Post, Wilson is likely to play a supporting role in the team, as players like Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson and Spencer Dinwiddie will probably take the lead in shooting attempts. Wilson’s duties will include setting screens, guarding and, most importantly, making three-point shots. Wilson’s shooting ability was praised by Cam Johnson of the Nets, who noted that he has been shooting the ball with incredible efficiency.
Many people were surprised by Wilson’s improved shooting during the summer league. He had a three-point percentage of 33.7% when he was at KU. Wilson attributed his success to his dedication and hard work during pre-season. He wanted to improve his pitches, gain confidence and be ready to pitch without being forced to. Wilson emphasized the importance of simulating game scenarios in training to facilitate a smooth transition to the court.
Nets summer league coach Trevor Hendry showed confidence in Wilson’s shot when he’s confident in himself. Hendry praised Wilson’s ability to enter the court, attract defenders and make excellent attacking selections.
In another semi-final game, the Utah Jazz, of former KU player Ochai Agbaji, lost to the Houston Rockets 115-101. Agbaji was unable to participate due to a stiff back, missing three of Utah’s five summer league games. Despite the setback, Agbaji performed well in both games, averaging 17.5 points and 8.0 rebounds.
Meanwhile, former Kansas point guard Marcus Garrett had a considerable summer league performance with the New York Knicks. Garrett averaged 20.7 minutes per game, scoring 5.0 points, 4.4 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.6 steals. Garrett was mentioned as a possible possibility for a two-way contract with the Knicks by Justin Backer of empiresports.media.com.
Overall, Jalen Wilson’s performance in the NBA 2K24 Summer League demonstrated his skills and promise as he prepares for his first season with the Brooklyn Nets.