The Charlotte Hornets showed up big time in tonight’s California Classic game against the San Antonio Spurs. It was nowhere near close, as they held an impressive lead throughout the game. Things got out of hand in the fourth quarter, and there was no chance that the Spurs would catch up. In all honesty, this Hornets Summer League team looked like they were playing better than the actual NBA organization.
There were some players who absolutely shined on the court, while others fell flat. It was a disappointing showing for San Antonio. However, the team from North Carolina should be very happy with how they played.
Mouhamadou Gueye Leads Charlotte Hornets
The 2022 draftee Mouhamadou Gueye showed out in tonight’s California Classic game. He recently signed a two-way contract with the Toronto Raptors and plays for their G League team, Raptors 905. He averaged 14.2 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game. Now, he is playing for the Hornets Summer League team, and boy, did he show out for the first one.
Gueye lead the team in scoring with a 21-point performance. He was electric in the paint and had a 64.3 field goal percentage, knocking down nine shots. He also hit two threes. Gueye was unstoppable during the game. He easily skated past the Spurs defenders. The center played well defensively, too, with two steals and three blocks. It was a solid performance.
San Antonio’s First-Rounder Makes His Debut
Stephon Castle was the fourth pick in the draft and now has the opportunity to play with Victor Wembanyama. The San Antonio Spurs rookie
got to play his first game tonight, and it was a decent one. At first, his California Classic start wasn’t looking too good, but he managed to become more alert in the second half. The UConn guard contributed 12 points, six rebounds, and three assists.
These stats aren’t the best, especially with a 33.3% field goal showing. As he starts to get more comfortable in the league, expect these stats to shift. Despite the rocky shooting, Castle did everything else right. His defense was locked in all game, and when his shooting was off, he was capable of making the right decision and moving the ball. His rebounding was also on target as he grabbed six boards. Stephon Castle will improve in every game he plays when it comes to shooting, but what’s more important is that his fundamentals are on full display, and they look great.
Cidy Sissoko Falls Flat Tonight
There was a lot of hype around Cidy Sissoko. Many fans online believed he would be having a breakout Summer League. However, after tonight’s game, the disappointment is already showing. His California Classic has not started out well. He didn’t contribute much on either end of the court against the Charlotte Hornets.
Sissoko ended his night with eight points, three rebounds, and one assist. Yes, this is the first game of the summer, but Sissoko has been playing for the G League Ignite team and the Austin Spurs for the past two seasons, so he isn’t new to this level of play. In fact, this season, he averaged 14.1 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game. Sadly, he couldn’t translate any of that to this game.
Perhaps the young guard will play better in his next game. Maybe he just needs to shake off the time he has spent not playing. However, if his summer goes downhill, chances are he won’t see an NBA roster any time soon.
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