The start of the NBA Summer League had Illinois basketball fans intrigued.
Keaton Wagler was the main attraction. While he didn’t exactly light the world on fire in his first game, the former Illini guard has plenty of time to regroup and attack his future competition.
Advertisement
Scattered throughout the NBA Summer League are a bunch of former Illinois players. In a post on social media, the Illinois men’s basketball account put up a graphic of the players they wished good luck.
Wagler, Kylan Bowell, Ben Humrichous, Kasparas Jakucionis, Will Riley, and Justin Harmon were the players who finished their careers at Illinois. There were also three players who transferred out who made the graphic: Coleman Hawkins, Dain Dainja, and Luke Goode.
It is super nice of the Illinois account to wish the players who transferred out good luck. They even said in the written text, “Best of luck to our guys…”
While that is all warm and fuzzy, there was one glaring omission.
Advertisement
Johnson played at Illinois during his freshman season. He transferred to Michigan last year and won the national championship. After the season, Johnson declared for the NBA Draft and was selected No. 9 overall by the Dallas Mavericks.
One could see this as a mere accident that Johnson was left off the list. Others, like myself, can see that this might be intentional.
Johnson bolted for the Wolverines unexpectedly. He was Illinois through and through until he wasn’t. With the other transfers, Hawkins, Dainja, and Goode, it was more of an understanding. While we didn’t like them transferring, we understood the transfer.
Advertisement
I think it is fair to say that Illinois threw a little shade at Johnson with this post. He definitely has the leg up, as he took home the crown last season. So, it is tough to be petty. But this seems like an intentional move.
Morez Johnson Jr. showed why he was a top 10 pick in his first NBA Summer League game
I think Wagler is going to rebound well in his second game. He struggled in his first NBA action, but the kid is smart and knows the game well.
Johnson didn’t have the first-game struggles. He came out of the gates firing for the Mavericks, putting up 27 points, eight rebounds, three assists, three steals, and two blocks.
Advertisement
It looks like Johnson has been working on his shot, too. He was 12-of-17 from the floor and 1-of-4 from three-point range. The most shocking part is that he was 2-of-2 from the free throw line.
For me, as a fan, I want to see them both succeed. Wagler will rebound, and Johnson is exactly what I thought he would be as a player. Brad Underwood recruits well.
Today’s best reads
This article was originally published on www.writingillini.com as Illinois basketball throws a little shade ahead of NBA Summer League tipoff.
