Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Raiders conclude impressive showing in Las Vegas
7/18/2018 4:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Upshaw, Potts and King shine in NBA Summer League
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – After nearly two weeks of grinding in the desert heat during the 2018 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, three Blue Raiders have shined like diamonds in the rough and each put themselves in position to earn lucrative professional contracts.
2017 alumnus Reggie Upshaw played in all six games for the Los Angeles Clippers, earning starts in three, and saw highly significant playing time as he led the team in minutes per game (29.2). His 8.2 rebounds per game were easily best on the team while his 10.3 points per game ranked behind only 2018 first-round draft picks Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (19.0) and Jerome Robinson (13.7) as well as 2017 second-round pick Sindarius Thornwell (14.4).
Across his six games in Las Vegas, Upshaw added 12 assists – less than only Gilgeous-Alexander and Thornwell – six steals and two blocks. Perhaps most impressively, his 8.2 rebounds per game not only led the Clippers but were also tied for 12th among the entire league alongside 2018 lottery picks Jaren Jackson Jr. and Miles Bridges.
After leading the Walter Tigers in both scoring (14.4) and rebounding (6.6) last season in Germany, Upshaw believes his stellar Summer League performance will bring him one step closer to the NBA.
"Playing in Germany and learning the ins and outs of being a professional basketball player really helped me a lot the last year and as I returned to Summer League competition this year," Upshaw commented. "It's helped me become more confident and trust my game and I think that really was the difference in my performance being much stronger this summer."
Giddy Potts enjoyed an impressive outing of his own this summer as a key reserve for the Toronto Raptors, playing in all six games and scoring 10.3 points per game – good for fourth on the team behind only 2017 first-round draft pick OG Anunoby (15.8), 2016 first-round draft pick Malachi Richardson (12.8) and Chris Boucher (10.8) despite only playing 17.1 minutes per contest.
Middle Tennessee's all-time leader in 3-pointers poured in 15 on the week, tied with Richardson for most on the team, while his 41.7 percent conversion rate from beyond the arc was second best for the Raptors. Potts also shot 43.5 percent from the field and 87.5 percent from the free-throw line while adding eight assists, three steals and two blocks.
In addition, Potts entered Summer League with a focus on enhancing his defense to match a higher caliber of opponent than he faced in college, and feels he did just that.
"I feel like my defense has continued to improve," Potts said. "Some of the advice I've gotten from my coaches this summer has helped a lot and I think improving my defense will only help me in my professional career."
Fellow 2018 senior Nick King helped lead the Los Angeles Lakers to the NBA Summer League title game for the second season in a row, where they fell to the Portland Trailblazers with King providing six points and four rebounds in the contest.
Across seven games, King averaged nine points and 4.1 rebounds alongside a deep Lakers Summer League roster that included 2018 first-round draft pick Moritz Wagner, 2017 first-round draft pick Josh Hart, 2017 second-round draft pick Svi Mykhailiuk and six-year NBA veteran Jeff Ayres, the only four Lakers to finish ahead of King in scoring in Las Vegas.
The Lakers also competed in the Sacramento Summer League before moving on to Las Vegas where King averaged 7.7 points and three rebounds per outing, both numbers that landed in the Top 5 on the team.
"I had a great time playing in the Summer League for an incredible organization in the Lakers," King stated. "Making it to the finals was an awesome accomplishment, and I'm just blessed and humbled to have received the opportunity. I can't wait to see what the future holds."
With the NBA Summer League now complete and all three Blue Raiders proving their value, it will only be a matter of time before they sign on the dotted line to begin – or for Upshaw, continue – their professional careers.
2017 alumnus Reggie Upshaw played in all six games for the Los Angeles Clippers, earning starts in three, and saw highly significant playing time as he led the team in minutes per game (29.2). His 8.2 rebounds per game were easily best on the team while his 10.3 points per game ranked behind only 2018 first-round draft picks Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (19.0) and Jerome Robinson (13.7) as well as 2017 second-round pick Sindarius Thornwell (14.4).
Across his six games in Las Vegas, Upshaw added 12 assists – less than only Gilgeous-Alexander and Thornwell – six steals and two blocks. Perhaps most impressively, his 8.2 rebounds per game not only led the Clippers but were also tied for 12th among the entire league alongside 2018 lottery picks Jaren Jackson Jr. and Miles Bridges.
After leading the Walter Tigers in both scoring (14.4) and rebounding (6.6) last season in Germany, Upshaw believes his stellar Summer League performance will bring him one step closer to the NBA.
"Playing in Germany and learning the ins and outs of being a professional basketball player really helped me a lot the last year and as I returned to Summer League competition this year," Upshaw commented. "It's helped me become more confident and trust my game and I think that really was the difference in my performance being much stronger this summer."
Giddy Potts enjoyed an impressive outing of his own this summer as a key reserve for the Toronto Raptors, playing in all six games and scoring 10.3 points per game – good for fourth on the team behind only 2017 first-round draft pick OG Anunoby (15.8), 2016 first-round draft pick Malachi Richardson (12.8) and Chris Boucher (10.8) despite only playing 17.1 minutes per contest.
Middle Tennessee's all-time leader in 3-pointers poured in 15 on the week, tied with Richardson for most on the team, while his 41.7 percent conversion rate from beyond the arc was second best for the Raptors. Potts also shot 43.5 percent from the field and 87.5 percent from the free-throw line while adding eight assists, three steals and two blocks.
In addition, Potts entered Summer League with a focus on enhancing his defense to match a higher caliber of opponent than he faced in college, and feels he did just that.
"I feel like my defense has continued to improve," Potts said. "Some of the advice I've gotten from my coaches this summer has helped a lot and I think improving my defense will only help me in my professional career."
Fellow 2018 senior Nick King helped lead the Los Angeles Lakers to the NBA Summer League title game for the second season in a row, where they fell to the Portland Trailblazers with King providing six points and four rebounds in the contest.
Across seven games, King averaged nine points and 4.1 rebounds alongside a deep Lakers Summer League roster that included 2018 first-round draft pick Moritz Wagner, 2017 first-round draft pick Josh Hart, 2017 second-round draft pick Svi Mykhailiuk and six-year NBA veteran Jeff Ayres, the only four Lakers to finish ahead of King in scoring in Las Vegas.
The Lakers also competed in the Sacramento Summer League before moving on to Las Vegas where King averaged 7.7 points and three rebounds per outing, both numbers that landed in the Top 5 on the team.
"I had a great time playing in the Summer League for an incredible organization in the Lakers," King stated. "Making it to the finals was an awesome accomplishment, and I'm just blessed and humbled to have received the opportunity. I can't wait to see what the future holds."
With the NBA Summer League now complete and all three Blue Raiders proving their value, it will only be a matter of time before they sign on the dotted line to begin – or for Upshaw, continue – their professional careers.
Players Mentioned
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