Highs and lows of Summer League will help Kelly Oubre Jr.’s development

By Staff     Jul 16, 2015

article image
Washington Wizards' Kelly Oubre Jr. shots over Utah Jazz’s JaJuan Johnson during the first half of an NBA summer league basketball game Wednesday, July 15, 2015, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)

For an NBA rookie such as Kelly Oubre Jr., the Las Vegas Summer League can serve as a platform to show you belong one night, then humble you the next. It’s a setting full of early lessons about the pro level, and the 19-year-old from Kansas should only benefit from experiencing those peaks and valleys.

The first time Oubre put on a Washington jersey and played in front of a crowd, he looked the part of an NBA-ready player, leading the Wizards in scoring, with 20 points, and registering a double-double, with 10 rebounds.

The 6-foot-7 small forward drove to the paint and finished over longer defenders, threw down a few dunks by crashing the glass and running the floor, and even nailed a step-back 3-pointer. Every time Oubre scored against Phoenix, he looked smooth. And the game looked easy.

Afterward, Oubre credited his immediate prosperity to the NBA having a different style to it than the college game.

> “I noticed that the floor was open.
> You know what I mean, it’s more
> space,” [Oubre said in a video
> interview posted by Washington’s
> Monumental Network][1]. “So, sometimes
> I was indecisive about what I wanted
> to do… When I got decisive, that’s
> when I was successful.”

Now that he’s seeing bigger bodies in front of him and stronger competition, Oubre said he wanted to put an emphasis on on getting to the rim, creating and drawing fouls by playing with an assertive mindset.

Always confident, the one-and-done wing from KU shook off any jitters in his summer debut by heeding some advice.

> “I missed a lot of my teammates on
> some of my pick-and-pops or sometimes
> I would draw two men and try to force
> it,” Oubre said. “But once coach
> settled me down and just told me that
> ‘You’ve really got to look at these
> things, these things are open. You
> should facilitate the ball and your
> shots will come,’ that’s when I
> started to become successful.”

The rookie carried the momentum of his sensational introduction into his next game, too, going for 18 points and eight rebounds against the D-League Select team.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6nsffwy-Lac

Oubre again attacked the paint, which helped him draw fouls, and he converted eight of his 10 free-throw attempts. The lean swingman [said he doesn’t mind if and when a game turns physical][2].

> “I have a light frame. Everybody knows
> that, everybody can see that,” the No.
> 15 pick in the NBA Draft said. “But
> I’m not weak. I can bang.”

Those who try to bump him around, the 203-pound Oubre warned, will be surprised to learn how strong he is.

Neither offense nor rebounding came as easily in Oubre’s next two games, though. He had 11 points and six rebounds in Washington’s first Vegas victory, over Dallas, then had 12 points and three rebounds in the Wizards’ tournament win against Utah.

Shooting from 3-point range has proven problematic for Washington’s first-round pick. Even when put up more points in his first two outings, he wasn’t helping himself from long range.

Heading into Thursday night’s bracket game against New Orleans, Oubre is averaging 15.3 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.5 steals and 1.3 assists. But he’s only shooting 33.9% from the floor (20 of 59). His numbers from behind the arc are far worse: 3-for-22 (13.6%).

After missing all five of his 3-pointers against the D-League Select team, a reporter asked Oubre if he was having trouble adjusting to the NBA 3-point line (23 feet, 9 inches, as opposed to the 20-9 distance of the NCAA). He shot down that theory with a series of no’s, and said he had forced shots, rushed things and/or not used his fundamentals.

> “It’s so wide-open when we get our
> shots sometimes, it’s like, ‘Oh,
> snap.’ But we’ll be fine,” Oubre said.
> “I know I can shoot. I have 100
> percent confidence in my shot. I just
> have to get over the hump.”

Wizards star point guard John Wall agrees, and [gave Oubre a vote of confidence during an NBA TV interview.][3]

> “I think he’s gonna be good. He can
> shoot the ball very well. He just
> hasn’t been making shots so far,” Wall
> said. “But I talked to him… and told
> him it ain’t all about trying to prove
> you can make jump shots right now.
> It’s about doing what your strengths
> are: attacking the basket, playing
> defense and doing the little things.”

Unsatisfied with his individual showings a few nights, Oubre hit UNLV’s practice gym to work on his flaws. In the future, he said he’ll need to stay poised and remember his fundamentals to reach his full potential.

> “Sometimes when I get fatigued it can
> get away from me,” Oubre said.

It’s all part of the learning process. The more Oubre discovers about his shortcomings and the challenges of the NBA, the better. The rough patches will only bolster the rookie going forward.

*- Keep up with the production of all the ‘Hawks in the NBA [daily at KUsports.com][4].*

*- [Follow @BentonASmith on Twitter][5].*

[1]: http://www.monumentalnetwork.com/videos/kelly-oubre-jr-postgame-7-11-15
[2]: http://www.monumentalnetwork.com/videos/kelly-oubre-jr-postgame-7-12-15
[3]: http://www.nba.com/video/channels/nba_tv/2015/07/14/20150714-gt-john-wall.nba/?cid=nbacomsocial_tw_sf10957750
[4]: http://www2.kusports.com/news/mens_basketball/hawks_nba/
[5]: https://twitter.com/BentonASmith

PREV POST

Smithson, Shelley-Smith on Wuerffel preseason watch list

NEXT POST

46987Highs and lows of Summer League will help Kelly Oubre Jr.’s development