If Jalen Wilson’s draft position — second round, 51st overall — made it an uphill battle for him to carve out time on the Brooklyn Nets’ roster, he’s already done plenty to offset those unfavorable circumstances.
The Nets fell a few points short of a trip to the NBA Summer League finals when they lost to the eventual champion Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday. But the rookie from Kansas was a bright spot throughout for Brooklyn in its five games in Las Vegas, averaging 17.6 points and 7.8 rebounds in 30 minutes per game, and his efforts were recognized Monday when he was added to the All-Summer League Second Team.
The six-man selection also included Emoni Bates (Cavaliers), Max Christie (Los Angeles Lakers), Javon Freeman-Liberty (Chicago Bulls), Xavier Moon (Los Angeles Clippers) and Jabari Smith Jr. (Houston Rockets). Of note, Wilson was the lowest-drafted rookie to receive an All-Summer League honor, first- or second-team. First-team selection Hunter Tyson of the Denver Nuggets went 37th overall, and second-teamer Bates got selected 49th, two spots before Wilson.
On the whole, the All-Summer League teams included five rookies, four second-year players, a four-year veteran and one seventh-year journeyman in Moon.
Wilson’s best statistical performance came in his last game Sunday, when he used a slew of free throws to help the Nets rally from an 11-point fourth-quarter deficit to force overtime against Cleveland, only for Brooklyn to fall 102-99 in the extra period, as Wilson was unable to replicate his Elam Ending game-winner from three days earlier against Toronto. Still, he finished with a 22-point, 11-rebound double-double with four assists, even as he shot just 4-for-13 from the field.
In Las Vegas, the small forward shot about his career average from Kansas in terms of field goal percentage but was significantly better from beyond the arc; he went 11-for-24, 45.8%, after shooting just 32% over four collegiate seasons.
Lucas Kaplan of NetsDaily, a site for fans of the Brooklyn Nets, said improved shooting will give Wilson a much better chance of sticking at the NBA level, and “anybody watching him play for the first time in Las Vegas would’ve been shocked to learn he’s not already considered a sniper.” The Nets beat writer for ClutchPoints, Erik Slater, wrote Monday that Wilson “looks like an NBA-ready player,” citing improved shooting, his ability to get to the line and his propensity for offensive rebounds.
Wilson’s summer success comes after he slipped a bit later in the second round than expected and nearly fell out of the draft entirely before Brooklyn snagged him with 10 picks remaining.
Besides improving his professional prospects, Wilson’s scoring success had a financial benefit for the youth of Brooklyn, as he joined with Wilson (the sporting goods company) to donate $100 per point and $50 per assist at Summer League and ended up contributing $9,450.