Reed Sheppard stole the show in his NBA Summer League debut on Friday night, but Rob Dillingham versus Antonio Reeves served as a quality opening act in Las Vegas in their first game as professionals. As luck would have it, their first matchup featured the two former Kentucky teammates against each other.
Suiting up for the first time with the Minnesota Timberwolves after they traded for him on draft night, Rob Dillingham was very Rob Dillingham in that there were moments of brilliance followed by plays that made you grit your teeth and close your eyes.
It started off well as his very first points were also the Timberwolves’ as he opened the scoring for his new team with a tough sideline floater.
After that though, the lid to the basket may as well have been handed to a Vegas blackjack dealer. The initial quick glimmer of hope for a big night quickly came crashing down as Rob made just one of his next 11 shots, finishing 2-12 from the field (0-5 from deep) for four points.
Dillingham did, however, lead his team in assists with five and scrounge together five rebounds, a block, and a steal as well. Ultimately, it seems like he may have gotten a little too amped up in his first game and it affected his shot. Once he settles in, look for some shifty numbers from the former Wildcat.
Antonio Reeves knocked down his first professional 3-pointer
Antonio Reeves flirted with the NBA last year but ultimately came back to Kentucky where he had an All-SEC season. He also bumped his draft stock and went 47th overall to New Orleans. Reeves came off the bench for the Pelicans on Friday in his Summer League debut and did what he does best, knock down a 3.
Similar to Rob Dillingham, however, the ball did not find the bottom of the net in Game 1 as often as Big Blue Nation is used to seeing. Reeves finished with nine points but shot just 2-10 from the field, including 1-4 from behind the arc. He also had three rebounds, two assists, and knocked down all four free throws.
Reeves began last season with the ‘Cats shooting just 2-6 from behind the arc in the first game of the regular season, so getting off to a slow start before he explodes is nothing new to him. Look for the shooting savant to find his stroke when the Pelicans play the Magic Sunday at 7:30 p.m. on NBA TV.
Keion Brooks played too
While Antonio Reeves came off the bench for New Orleans, former Kentucky forward, Keion Brooks, got the start. The Wildcat-turned-Washington Husky never played with Reeves or Dillingham at Kentucky but still had quite a few solid games during his time in Lexington. Friday in his NBA Summer League debut, however, was not one of those strong performances. Brooks played 21 minutes but put up a goose egg in the scoring column on 0-5 from the field. He did manage to pull down four rebounds, dished out two assists, and come away with a block.
It might be an uphill climb for Brooks to make an opening-day roster, but it is great to see him out here pursuing his dream. We’ll always have his 27-point outing against Kansas in 2022 that led to a drubbing of the eventual national champions on their home court and no one can take that away.
Oscar Tshiebwe is still a rebounding monster
Remember the Big O? How could you not? He’s entering year two with the Indiana Pacers and came out looking like the same ole Oscar Tshiebwe we loved during his two seasons at Kentucky.
Tshiebwe recorded 17 points (7-11 FG), 19 rebounds, and four assists in the Pacers 97-95 overtime loss to the Brooklyn Nets. That’s how you earn a spot on an NBA roster.
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