Brandon Miller made the All-Rookie group final season, however a unique second-year Hornet is impressing on the NBA Summer season League.
Nick Smith Jr. scored 24 factors and confirmed off an enormous assortment of strikes in Charlotte’s 94-90 victory over the New York Knicks Saturday in Las Vegas.
Smith was one of many high school basketball recruits in 2022 earlier than knee accidents derailed his lone season at Arkansas. Final season, he shot 43.2 p.c from three-point vary and averaged 5.6 factors for Charlotte, however he seems primed for a much bigger function in his sophomore marketing campaign.
Saturday, he shot 9-for-17 general and 4-for-9 from deep, including 5 rebounds and 4 assists.
Miller had 23 factors and hit 5-of-10 from distance, however you count on a No. 2 general choose taking part in in his second Summer season League needs to be dominant. It wouldn’t be a shock if Charlotte sat Miller for the remainder of the Vegas video games. What detracted from his effort was that Miller made seven turnovers, one in every of which gave the Knicks an opportunity to win within the last seconds.
However Obi Toppin’s brother Jacob missed an alley-oop within the last seconds and the Hornets escaped with the win.
New York acquired seven factors and 7 assists from Tyler Kolek, whose relentless and sweaty efforts made him appear to be a great Tom Thibodeau participant, particularly when he drew a cost. The second-round select of Marquette didn’t flip the ball over in 29 minutes and will see substantial minutes as Jalen Brunson’s backup subsequent season.
Smith was the standout. Charlotte isn’t prone to compete for a playoff spot subsequent season, however with Smith, Miller and a returning LaMelo Ball, they need to actually rating factors. Even the uncooked Tidjane Salaun, this 12 months’s No. 6 choose, confirmed flashes off being an efficient slasher and finisher.
There’s no All-Sophomore group within the NBA. But when there was, the now-healthy Smith can be a severe candidate for it.
