The NBA and NHL titles have been won and the drafts are over... so for the rest of summer it’s pretty much baseball and the NBA Summer League. If the former isn’t your cup of tea, check out the nine former Syracuse Orange basketball players who will take the court starting July 1st.
The nine include the newly drafted Tyler Lydon. Lydon was picked up by the Denver Nuggets (via the Utah Jazz) with the 24th pick in 2017. He was a cornerstone of the Syracuse team for his two years in the 315. Last year he shot 39.5% from three and averaged about 36 minutes a game.
While a few questions still surround Lydon’s role in Denver, his playing style will stay just the same.
In his introductory press conference Lydon told the media, “I love being the guy that brings energy, diving on the floor for loose balls … being able to stretch the floor and make the game easier for other guys.”
Two undrafted 2016-2017 SU players will be on summer league rosters. Andrew White signed with the Cleveland Cavaliers. In his one season with the Orange he averaged 18.5 points per game (team high), 4.6 rebounds and 1.6 steals.
Tyler Roberson signed with the Milwaukee Bucks. In 2016 Jim Boeheim had some fond words for the big man:
“If I had anyone else he wouldn’t play a minute”
Poetic.
None the less Roberson averaged 7.1 points and 6.3 rebounds while shooting just under 47% from the field in his four years.
So Lydon, Roberson and White will play in the Las Vegas League. Fellow former Orange players Malachi Richardson (Sacramento), Chris McCullough (Washington) and James Southerland (Utah) will join them.
The rest of the ‘Cuse squad will be in the Orlando League. Michael Gbinije (Detroit), Rakeem Christmas (Indiana) and Kris Joseph (Charlotte) will represent the Orange in the state for which the fruit is known.
Here are the dates and times for the former Syracuse players in the NBA Summer Leagues. We’ve listed where to watch as well.
July 1
1 p.m. - Magic vs. Christmas (Pacers) on NBATV
11 a.m. - Joseph (Hornets) vs. Heat on NBATV
5 p.m. - Thunder vs. Gbinije (Pistons) on NBATV
July 2
1 p.m. - Knicks vs. Gbinije (Pistons) on NBATV
5 p.m. - Christmas (Pacers) vs. Joseph (Hornets) on NBATV
July 3
5 p.m. - Christmas (Pacers) vs. Heat on NBATV
9 p.m. - Spurs vs. Southerland (Jazz) on NBATV
July 4
1 p.m. Heat vs. Gbinije (Pistons) on NBATV
1 p.m. - Joseph (Hornets) vs. Thunder on NBATV
3 p.m. - Christmas (Pacers) vs. Mavericks on NBATV
July 5
3 p.m. - Gbinije (Pistons) vs. Joseph (Hornets) on NBATV
9 p.m. - 76ers vs. Southerland (Jazz) on NBATV
July 6
9 p.m. - Celtics vs. Southerland (Jazz) on NBATV
July 7
6:30 p.m. - Roberson (Bucks) vs. White (Cavaliers) on ESPN2
10 p.m - Rockets vs. Lydon (Nuggets) on NBATV
10:30 p.m. - Suns vs. Richardson (Kings) on ESPN2
July 8
4 p.m. McCullough (Wizards) vs. Grizzlies on ESPNU
6 p.m. - Trailblazers vs. Southerland (Jazz) on ESPNU
10 p.m. - Rockets vs. White (Cavaliers) on ESPNU
July 9
6 p.m. (Southerland) Jazz vs. Clippers on NBATV
6 p.m. Roberson (Bucks) vs. Nets on NBATV
6:30 p.m. Timberwolves vs. Lydon (Nuggets) on ESPN2
10 p.m. Grizzlies vs. Richardson (Kings) on NBATV
July 10
4:30 p.m. - Heat vs. McCullough (Wizards) on NBA TV
8 p.m. - Lydon (Nuggets) vs. Raptors on ESPNU
8:30 p.m. - Warriors vs. White (Cavaliers) on NBATV
10 p.m. - Clippers vs. (Roberson) Bucks on ESPN2
10:30 p.m. Lakers vs. (Richardson) Kings on NBATV
July 11
4:30 p.m. (Southerland) Jazz vs. Grizzlies on ESPNU
6 p.m. Bulls vs. (McCullough) Wizards on NBATV