BBNBA: Isaiah Jackson continues to flourish in Summer League
Five former Kentucky basketball players were back in action Tuesday night in Las Vegas for the NBA Summer League. Isaiah Jackson, Brandon Boston, Mychal Mulder, Sacha Killeya-Jones, and Olivier Sarr all played meaningful minutes for their respective teams as they looked to improve their NBA value in Sin City.
All of these players may be somewhat under-the-radar when it comes to their status with Kentucky fans. Jackson, Boston, and Sarr were all part of the most forgettable season in Kentucky basketball history, while Mulder and Killeya-Jones simply didn’t play very much.
When it comes to their professional career, Jackson, Boston, and likely Mulder have already secured their NBA roster spots and are looking to better their game above all else, but the other guys are playing for an NBA job. No one hurt their cause Tuesday night.
Isaiah Jackson just keeps getting better
Isaiah Jackson has been tearing it up for the Indiana Pacers this summer. Like his rookie season, he leads all Summer League players in blocks at 3.3 per game and has thrown down some monster dunks just because he can. These two talents were on full display against the Detroit Pistons Tuesday night, and no one was happier than Pacers head coach, Rick Carlisle.
“[Isaiah Jackson] is a very special player in my mind. He is not just a rim-runner and a rolling center. [Jackson] handles the ball [and] passes the ball extremely well. He has a really good natural feel and flow to the game. He’s unselfish, and his shooting is getting better and better. He’s had a great summer so far. He led the Summer League in blocked shots last year. I think he has a record; he blocked seven in one game last year.”
Indiana Pacers Head Coach Rick Carlisle on Isaiah Jackson
While coach praise is all well and good, getting the phantom cam treatment on an incredible fast-break dunk is much more fun, especially during Summer League. This dunk made Greg Anthony ask when they put a trampoline on the court. It was a valid concern.
Jackson finished a perfect 7-7 from the field for 14 points and added another four blocks. He also pulled down four rebounds, dished out two assists, and came up with a steal.
Mychal Mulder and Brandon Boston just keep shooting
Mychal Mulder exploded Saturday night for 23 points and looked to keep that going on Tuesday. He came out shooting at the same quantity, but unfortunately, the same touch wasn’t quite there. Mulder came away with eight points, all in the first half, on 2-7 from deep and 2-8 overall. He also chipped in two rebounds and two steals.
Brandon Boston was another Kentucky alumnus who was not shy about hoisting up the rock Tuesday night. Yet he, too, was a little off. Boston was aggressive to the point of mild criticism from the announcers, who commented on the general lack of team ball in favor of more one-on-one attacking. They were, however, quick to praise his ability to beat his man off the dribble.
Boston finished just 25% from the field on 3-12, but his assertiveness drew an abundance of fouls. He was able to capitalize at the free-throw line where he scored nine of his team-high 15 points.
Olivier Sarr and Sacha Killeya-Jones just keep making it harder for teams to cut them
The two players who are at the highest risk of heading overseas or down to the G-League next season gave their teams something to consider when making the decision to keep them around.
Olivier Sarr, who may be a solid bench option for the Phoenix Suns if the rumored Deandre Ayton deal goes through, casually notched a double-double in just 13 minutes. His 12 points and 10 rebounds helped his team blow out the Dallas Mavericks, and he also added an impressive block that led to a fast-break score.
Sacha Killeya-Jones also did his best to show he belongs in the NBA. He was extremely active on both ends of the court and finished with a near-double-double himself, notching 11 points and eight rebounds.
Correction: he nearly recorded a triple-double but not in the stat category many players get a chance to pad. Sacha had a Summer-League special, seven fouls, which was somehow still three fouls short of disqualification.
Summary and Upcoming Schedule
| PLAYER | MIN | FG | 3PT | FT | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PTS |
| Brandon Boston | 29 | 3-12 | 0-2 | 9-12 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 15 |
| Isaiah Jackson | 21 | 7-7 | 0-0 | 0-2 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 14 |
| Olivier Sarr | 13 | 4-9 | 0-3 | 4-6 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 12 |
| Sacha Killeya-Jones | 29 | 5-8 | 1-1 | 0-0 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 11 |
| Mychal Mulder | 19 | 2-8 | 2-7 | 2-2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8 |
Tonight in NBA Summer League
- Milwaukee Bucks vs. Minnesota Timberwolves (Whitney) – 4:00 p.m. EST (NBA TV)
- Charlotte Hornets (Richards) vs. Cleveland Cavaliers (Hagans) – 5:00 p.m. EST (ESPNU)
- New Orleans Pelicans vs. Washington Wizards (Mintz) – 6:00 p.m. EST (NBA TV)
- Utah Jazz (Juzang) vs. Toronto Raptors – 7:00 p.m. EST (ESPN2)
- OKC Thunder vs. Sacramento Kings (Sestina) – 8:00 p.m. EST (NBA TV)
- Philadelphia 76ers vs. Miami Heat (Mulder) – 9:00 p.m. EST (ESPN2)
- LA Clippers (Boston) vs. Denver Nuggets (Grady) – 10:00 p.m. EST (NBA TV)
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