In his rookie season, University of Kentucky product TyTy Washington would undoubtedly love to be playing for the Houston Rockets. But with his team mostly healthy, the No. 29 draft pick from the 2022 first round has made the most of an NBA G League stint.
In Friday’s game (box score) with the Rio Grande Valley (RGV) Vipers, Houston’s G League affiliate, Washington put up an astonishing 53 points and 10 rebounds on 15-of-33 shooting (45.5%), 6-of-17 on 3-pointers (35.3%), and 11-of-12 from the free-throw line (91.7%).
It’s hardly an isolated game for the 6-foot-3 guard, who has averaged 33.3 points (46.5% FG, 41.9% on 3-pointers), 7.3 assists, 6.0 rebounds, and 1.7 steals in 38.8 minutes per game in the G League.
Washington hasn’t yet found a consistent role with the Rockets, who usually have Kevin Porter Jr. as their starting point guard.
But with Porter currently sidelined by a left foot contusion, the Rockets recalled Washington to their NBA roster on Saturday, and he’ll be with the team in Los Angeles for back-to-back games over the next two days against the Clippers and Lakers.
Scroll on for highlights and further analysis.
Highlights, Reaction
TYTY WASHINGTON GOES FOR 53 POINTS TONIGHT IN THE G-LEAGUE 😳
pic.twitter.com/poJKz1rDxT— CatsCoverage.com (@Cats_Coverage) January 14, 2023
Right back at it tomorrow night in Cali
Final Stats 📊@tytywashington3: 53 pts | 10 reb@TrevorHudgins12: 12 pts | 6 ast | 3 stl@RaySpalding_4 : 14 pts | 8 reb
Back at home next Friday to take on G League Ignite
🎟: https://t.co/oyPJFSFhRv#LightsOut | JuiceUs pic.twitter.com/zDqiHCw0Ag
— RGV Vipers (@RGVVipers) January 14, 2023
Not sure if Washington will, if called up, bring the G League green light with him. He put up 33 shots and 12 free throws. https://t.co/Bv2NtXVLqd
— Jonathan Feigen (@Jonathan_Feigen) January 14, 2023
Big day for Rockets rookies:
– career high 27 pts for Jabari Smith, 8 reb, 3 blk
– Tyty Washington goes for 53 in the G League— Draft Dummies (@DraftDummies) January 14, 2023
TyTy Washington with the tough make PLUS the foul! 😮 @RGVVipers pic.twitter.com/jIRjWNtTaA
— NBA G League (@nbagleague) January 14, 2023
One good thing about tonight was Ty TY career high 53 points so lets just look at these highlights instead pic.twitter.com/m5oCMSK9KV
— Lachard Binkley (@BinkleyHoops) January 14, 2023
Washington Jr. scored 53 points (15-33 FG, 6-17 3PT) during the Vipers 134-113 loss to the Stockton Kings Friday night. https://t.co/P4LnCsB76w
— Coty M. Davis (@CotyDavis_24) January 14, 2023