Russ Smith starred, while Peyton Siva and Earl Clark played well - but not great - in the Southwest Airlines Orlando Pro Summer League.
Here’s a quick look at how the trio of former University of Louisville men’s basketball stars did the NBA’s first summer league, which concluded Friday in Orlando, Fla.
Clark (Brooklyn) - The 6-foot-10 forward, who caught on with the Brooklyn Nets late last season before signing a multi-year contract with the team, averaged 4.3 points and three rebounds in four games (two of which he started) for them in Orlando. His best game came last Sunday when he scored seven points and grabbed four rebounds off the bench in Brooklyn’s 71-70 loss to Miami. He was 2 for 4 from the field, including 1 of 2 from 3-point range, and 2 for 2 from 3-point range while registering one turnover in 13:11 minutes.
Clark averaged 13.8 minutes per game while shooting 28.6 percent (6 for 21) from the field, including 12.5 percent (1 for 8) from 3-point range, and 66.7 percent (4 for 6) from the free throw line for the Nets, who went winless.
Siva (Orlando Magic Blue) - The 6-0 point guard guard, who played last season for the Erie BayHawks of the NBA Development League, averaged five points and 4.5 assists in four games (two of which he started) for the Magic’s Blue team. In his best game he scored seven points and dished out seven assists in a 73-71 double-overtime loss to Memphis and his former backcourt mate, Smith.
Siva shot 30 percent (6 for 20) from the field, including 10 percent (1 for 10) from 3-point range, and 77.8 percent (7 for 9) from the free throw line for the Magic’s Blue squad, which went 2-3.
Smith (Memphis) - The 6-0 guard averaged 14.8 points and 6.2 assists in five games (four of which he started) in leading the Grizzlies to an undefeated record and the Summer League title.
Tuesday, Smith came off the bench to tally a team-high 20 points, including the game-winning basket in sudden-death double-overtime, in Memphis’ 73-71 win over Orlando Blue, and his former backcourt mate (Siva). He was 9 for 12 from the field, including 2 of 3 from 3-point range, and also had three rebounds, three assists, two steals and one turnover in 28:11 minutes.
Then in Friday’s championship game, Smith tallied a team-high 15 points - including the game-winning two points on a running, left-handed floater in sudden-death double-overtime (see below) - and a game-high nine assists in the Grizzlies’ 75-73 win over the Orlando White team in the championship game. He was 5 for 14 from the field, including 2 of 5 from 3-point range, and 3 for 6 from the free throw line while also recording three steals and committing one turnover in 31:56 minutes.
In the five games Smith shot 50 percent (26 for 52) from the field, including 33.3 percent (4 of 12) from 3-point range, and 81.8 percent (18 for 22) from the free throw line.
Photo courtesy Memphis Grizzlies Facebook Page
