NBA summer league may seem ridiculous to some players, just as pre-season in the NFL can be, but it’s an important stepping stone for rookies and those still adjusting to the elite level.
Even I will admit, I used to think summer league was a waste of time and that it didn’t amount to anything. After watching the Jazz summer league firsthand and hearing what the players had to say, however, it makes more sense to me why it is such a valuable process.
Trey Lyles did not even play the first night for the Jazz, and while they did not necessarily need him on the floor after winning by 18 points, the experience is irreplaceable and is probably why he played in at least the last game.
Some players do adjust better to the NBA rules than others and summer league does not present too much of a struggle for the way they play. It’s better to find out before the games actually start to count if they can live up to the hype, however, or if they need more time to figure things out. Jahlil Okafor played decently throughout the Jazz summer league for Philadelphia and seemed to have no problem adhering to the new rules. However, with an 11-second difference between the collegiate shot clock and the NBA shot clock, even he lost track of time.
“The only thing that was different was the 24 seconds,” Okafor said. “A couple times [I found myself] realizing there was already five seconds left. Other than that, it wasn’t too bad.”
Olivier Hanlan was drafted by Utah 42nd overall and agreed with Okafor, saying that the shot clock posed the biggest challenge of the night. He says this is going to take some time to get used to, but that getting live-action play along the way certainly helps.
“Shot clock is a lot faster,” Hanlan said. “You got to make quicker reads off of the catch; you can’t really hold it.”
Okafor has not truly played since he was in the National Championship game and said it felt good to get an actual game going. He has been relying on his teammates to help him out.
“I am just getting adjusted and getting some of the rust out,” Okafor said. “It’s a process.”
A process it is indeed. Not everyone instantly has that certain feel for the game and Okafor, being drafted third overall in this draft, should have a better grasp than most other players competing right now, as he is still seeing the benefits to playing.
While Hanlan may not be starting during the regular season anytime soon, at least he is getting experience now, and if his number is called up during the season, he won’t be shell-shocked. Summer league is especially valuable to those second-round draft picks because those players are not expected to make an impact their first or even second season. Summer games help prepare them for the moment they need to make a name for themselves and are perfect for a guy like Hanlan.
He only averaged two points through the three games, but he’s becoming more in-tune with what’s going to be required come opening tip-off in October.
“I feel like you just have to be more alert,” Hanlan said. “We had a lot of reps in practice to get used to that and then trying to get used to the whole NBA set-up.”
Another factor that may not be such a big dilemma when the season starts is just the pure pressure and spotlight. Nerves get the best of everyone and at least in the summer, players can somewhat afford to be affected by the bright lights.
“I would say I was definitely nervous at first, but it went away a bit,” Hanlan said. “But you got a whole bunch of games [to get used to it].”
Aside from playing in front a crowd of 10,000 people, Hanlan has learned a lot in practice from his fellow guards. He said through seeing how they read the offense in both practice and during the game when he is watching his team on the bench, he learns a lot more than he thought he could.
“[I’m] loving the process,” Hanlan said. “It’s a learning process.”
Just like in college, Hanlan knows it is going to take all he has to really prove he is capable of playing.
“I have to work myself up and start from the ground up,” Hanlan said.
Summer league certainly helps some people more than it does others, but nonetheless, it helps. I think it’s better suited for those who won’t be seeing action as much as the starters, but it can help every player. Thanks to summer league, players won’t be sent in blind come game time.
@TheChrony