LAS VEGAS - It was an eye-opening public address announcement on Monday night. “Here they are, your NBA Champion Milwaukee Bucks.”
While Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton and the other members of Milwaukee’s championship core weren’t marching out of the tunnel and into Cox Pavilion when the announcement was made, that statement still carries weight, and a winning mentality.
What was even more eye-opening on Monday evening was what a 54th selection in the NBA Draft by the reigning world champions did in his professional debut. Seton Hall product Sandro Mamukelashvili delivered 11 points, 12 rebounds and four assists in 28 minutes, showing his well-rounded, versatile skill set in the Bucks’ 81-78 victory over the Clippers.
The 6-11 Mamukelashvili, just the second Pirate to be selected in the NBA Draft in the last 20 years, showed that he belonged on the stage and that he could be more of a late first round to early second round value rather than being one of the last selections in the class. From his first half dimes, to drawing fouls on dribble penetration, Mamukelashvili looked comfortable, flashing his smile throughout his debut. More than any numbers, what Mamukelashvili has showed the Bucks is that he fits right in with their championship culture.
“I’m super impressed with the human being, first of all,” said Bucks summer league head coach Pat St. Andrews. “He’s a great guy, another competitor and a guy who’s unselfish. His ability and willingness to make those passes, and he’s talented. He can really do it, he can get the ball there. A lot of guys are willing, but they’re not able to get it there. He can do both and he scored a little bit too. He did a little bit of everything.”
For Mamukelashvili’s Bucks teammate Jordan Nwora, who played against him twice in college while at Louisville, he’s enjoying life in the corner pocket ready to launch off the Mamukelashvili helpers. Late in the first half on Monday, they found one another for that exact result.
“Seeing his feel for the game has been great,” said Nwora, who’s in his second year in his pro career with Milwaukee. “He’s a guy who can really pass the ball, and he’s only going to get better. I saw his eyes when he was going to throw that pass to me. I knew he was going to whip it my way, and I was able to knock it down. I try my best when guys make a great play like that to finish the job.”
While summer league is not the NBA regular season in terms of the elite talent, it’s still telling that Mamukelashvili looked as comfortable as he did in his pro debut, and has already built a liking around the locker room.
Meanwhile, for the second-year players in Las Vegas, this is still their first summer league season because the pandemic canceled last year’s edition. This is an opportunity for those NBA sophomores to slow things down a bit and make progress. That’s the case for Ty-Shon Alexander of the Western Conference champion Phoenix Suns.
Alexander, an All-BIG EAST First Team selection in 2020 and a three-year star at Creighton, scored 16 points in 23 minutes to lead Phoenix in their 63-57 loss to the Jazz on Monday. For the 23-year-old, who saw limited action in 15 games this past season, he’s trying to make the most of his opportunity.
“I’m out here having fun and trying to give off a ton of energy,” said Alexander following Monday’s game. “No matter what end of the floor it is, I’m just trying to take on a dog mentality.”
Alexander’s had the opportunity to learn from two of the best, Chris Paul and Devin Booker.
“They don’t take plays off,” said Alexander when asked about the lessons he’s taken from the Phoenix star duo. “They may get tired, but they don’t let the fatigue get to them. It’s a thrill to have both of them, and to basically watch every single day, to have them talk to me. It’s a thrill. It’s amazing to have two about-to-be legends one day.”
Beyond Alexander, Creighton has a large presence this week in Vegas with eight former Bluejays on summer league rosters - Marcus Zegarowski (Nets), Mitch Ballock (Sixers), Denzel Mahoney (Hornets), Damien Jefferson (Kings), Justin Patton (Knicks), Khyri Thomas and Marcus Foster (both Rockets). Alexander said the group would be reuniting for dinner on Thursday night.
What’s something he takes from Creighton with him in the NBA today?
“Playing fast, playing smart and never taking plays off,” said Alexander. “Coach Mac (Greg McDermott) did a great job of pushing us past our limits, getting us better every single day and making us all trust each other. It was a brotherhood, and it was a thrill to be able to play at Creighton.”
Elsewhere on Monday, undrafted rookie and Providence product David Duke got the start for the Brooklyn Nets in their summer league opener. In 23 minutes, he scored seven points and translated the defensive skill set he had for the Friars onto the summer league hardwood.
“You can feel him right away, picking (guys) up fullcourt,” said Brooklyn summer league head coach Jordan Ott following the 91-84 loss to Memphis. “His (Duke’s) intensity on the defensive end, we wanted to set a tone early. We thought that helped keep us in the game in the first half. He did it every day in practice, and we felt he earned the right to get the start.”
Ahead in summer league, Tuesday night is headlined by the Pistons and Rockets square off at 9 ET on ESPN, with top picks Cade Cunningham and Jalen Green meeting. In that matchup, look out for former Villanova star Saddiq Bey, who shined in Detroit’s summer league opener with 14 points and 12 boards. Averaging 12 points in 70 games in his rookie season, Bey showed he can be a consistent NBA 3-and-D wing. In the coming days of this summer league season, he’s trying to expand his horizon on the offensive end.
On Wednesday, the Nets and Bucks tip off the day at 4 ET on ESPN2, a matchup featuring Mamukelashvili, Duke and Zegarowski. At 7 ET, Thunder rookie Jeremiah Robinson-Earl will be back in action taking on the Pelicans on NBA TV. He’s coming off a 14-point performance on Sunday in his debut.