Kel’el Ware made his presence felt in his second Summer League outing with 26 points and 11 rebounds.
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Day 2 of the 2024 California Classic saw settled nerves and scintillating performances as the early stages of NBA Summer League continued. Here’s a look at the individual showings that impressed in Sunday’s action:
Kel’el Ware, Miami
Rookie big men who play with full-grown size and strength are not common, but Ware is showing he could be one of them early in Summer League play. The 20-year-old 7-footer took a whopping 21 shot attempts — only three of which came outside the paint — en route to 26-point, 11-rebound double-double in the Heat’s victory over Sacramento.
Cole Swider, Miami
Going undrafted in 2022 hasn’t stopped Swider from keeping a firm toehold in the NBA. He showed part of how he’s done that on Sunday, scoring 21 points on 12 shots while shooting 5-for-10 from 3-point range. The 25-year-old swingman is hoping to be the latest undrafted diamond unearthed by the Miami Heat.
Jordan Ford, Sacramento
Another undrafted veteran who has landed two-way contracts to keep his NBA dream alive, Ford showed the kind of efficiency on Sunday that all teams would appreciate. The 26-year-old guard dropped 22 points on 8-for-13 shooting, including 4-for-6 from deep while committing just two turnovers in 27 minutes of action.
Ethan Thompson, Golden State
After lighting up the scoreboard in his 27-point debut on Saturday, Thompson showed he’s good for an encore with 22 points and 11 rebounds in 27 minutes in the Warriors’ win over the Lakers on Sunday. The 25-year-old guard exhibited an analytics-friendly game, shooting 2-for-5 from deep and 6-for-10 in the paint with zero midrange attempts.
Bryce McGowens, Charlotte
Second-round picks usually need to simmer before being ready to serve a real role. McGowens may be on his way after showing a valuable skill in Sundays’ win over China: getting to the free throw line. The 21-year-old and former 40th overall pick (2022) earned 14 free throw attempts in just 25 minutes of action. This comes after a sophomore season in which he upped his field goal percentage by more than four percent and cut his turnover rate by a third.