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When you watch NBA Summer League, you’re typically watching recent draft picks and young role players developing their game.
So it may be surprising when you see a 42-year-old with 18 years of experience, and an NBA championship ring, running up and down the floor. But that’s exactly what fans will see when Richard Jefferson steps on the court in Las Vegas this evening at 11 p.m. ET.
According to NBA PR, the 2001 NBA Draft lottery pick will officiate the second quarer of tonight’s game between the Knicks and the Trail Blazers. Jefferson attended NBA Summer League Officiating Meetings in preperation for the assignment.
Although a bit unexpected, the decision actually makes a ton of sense. Here is what Jefferson said on Twitter:
1) Tremendous amount of knowledge about our game that I’ve learned sitting in classes with the best refs in the world
2) I do this because not many people would dare put themselves in this position. The more info I have the more informed I am as a broadcaster.
I love it. More announcers should put their money where their mouth is, like Jefferson is about to do.
After his playing career, Jefferson transitioned to a role as a broadcaster. Announcers often criticize referees, but Jefferson will now bring valuable new experience to his calls.
The former Arizona standout will have seen the game as a player, as an announcer, and as a referee. That is going to make for extremely insightful intel whenever he is in the booth. Kudos to Jefferson, who made a Tik Tok about his decision.
The Tip-Off
I had some thoughts about Jaden Ivey, who is the most athletic player in the upcoming rookie class.
“According to Synergy, Ivey was one of 21 drafted players who completed at least 50 passes out of the pick and roll last season. Among those players, only Jaden Hardy (27.4 percent) and Bennedict Mathurin (33.7 percent) looked to pass rather than score less often than Ivey did (34.2 percent) last season … But what impressed me most about Ivey’s professional debut during NBA 2K23 Summer League was, in fact, his playmaking.”
Read more about Ivey’s performance for the Pistons thus far by clicking here.
One To Watch
(All odds via Tipico.)
Magic (-1.5, -114) vs. Thunder (-110), O/U 177.5, 9:00 PM ET
There are too many uncontrollable variables at play for me to confidently tell you how to bet on NBA Summer League. But if you were to watch one of the games tonight, you have to watch Oklahoma City vs. Orlando.
Those are the two top picks in the 2022 NBA Draft facing off against each other. The last time that happened, Banchero had an excellent first half. But I’m incredibly curious about what will happen tonight.
Shootaround
— LeBron James bringing snacks from home to a Lakers Summer League game was so relatable
— Breanna Stewart’s incredible new kicks are the first WNBA signature shoes in years
— Ronnie 2K spoke to USA TODAY SMG’s Cameron Tabatabaie about NBA 2K23 and more
— HoopsHype projects the starting lineup for the Clippers with John Wall
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