Tonight marked the first action of the Salt Lake City Summer League games. The Philadelphia 76ers came out hot against the Oklahoma City Thunder and kept plugging away all game. There were moments when the score was close. In fact, the first quarter ended with the teams tied. However, after this, the 76ers would pull away and end the game with a 102-92 win to go up 1-0 in the short tournament.
A Nice Start For Jared McCain
Jared McCain was selected at number No. 16 overall by Philadelphia. Now, he’s made his big debut in the Salt Lake City Summer League. It was exciting to see the Duke Blue Devils guard play, especially since he did quite well. It’s not a surprise that he was on his game, but there have been quite a few high-pick rookies to struggle in their first games this summer.
McCain ended the night with 15 points, two steals, six rebounds, and three assists in 27 minutes of play. He managed these stats while going 0-6 from three-point land and falling under 50% shooting from the field. However, don’t expect this to be the norm. McCain will get comfortable soon, and when he does, fans will see a boost in these percentages.
This summer will be a great test to see how McCain is going to fit into his role with the Philadelphia 76ers. They are trying their best to build a contending team with the players they picked up this offseason. McCain could end up being a key component to them making a solid Finals push. We’ll see if this rookie has the right stuff to get it done,
Oklahoma City Thunder Have a Decent Start
Despite the loss, things aren’t all bad for OKC. Their team actually played pretty well. Every single person contributed to the 92-point night. A standout player was Adam Flager, who was picked up by the team in 2023. He finished the night with 18 points.
Like Flager, Ajay Mitchell also had a good game. He went 38th overall in the draft. Mitchell had a 14-point night with three steals and two blocks to go along with them. It’s safe to say the Thunder picked up some night players this draft and the last. Mitchell is looking comfortable on the court with his 6-10 from the field and 2-4 from three.
Undrafted 2023 Player Goes Off
Ricky Council IV had a fantastic game to start off his Summer League. The guard played for the Philadelphia 76ers in 2023-2024 and averaged 5.4 points per game. He’s still young, so he has time to get his footing in the league. These are decent numbers for a guy who didn’t get picked up on draft night.
Tonight, he was killing it. He ended the game with 29 points, eight rebounds, one assist, and a block. His high-scoring game propelled his team over the Thunder and set them up for success. A majority of people probably tuned into this game to watch McCain ball, but I’m sure Council IV left a lasting impression on the fans watching.
I think Council IV could really shine on a team that needs him. That team, however, is not OKC. Unless he can start putting up insane NBA numbers, he won’t make an impact on this roster. A team like the Detroit Pistons or Washington Wizards could perhaps see him as a viable bench option that could grow into a great player. Hopefully, the rest of his Salt Lake City Summer League and beyond stays on the right track.
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