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It’s been a slow rookie season for Moe Wagner, so far.
The first-round pick for the Los Angeles Lakers contused his knee during NBA Summer League action, forcing him to miss the entire preseason.
He started working his way back in mid-October for L.A.’s G-League affiliate in South Bay. After 21 points against the Texas Legends last Thursday, Laker head coach Luke Walton called him up to backup Tyson Chandler at center.
In a 120-96 blowout triumph over the Phoenix Suns Sunday, he made his first dent on a big league stat sheet.
He scored 10 points in 10 fourth-quarter minutes, adding three boards and an assist. Granted, it came in garbage time, and he also committed four fouls in limited time.
Still, it’s a first step for the rookie. His teammates erupted off the bench after he hit his first field goal.
“He learned how to ride a bike!” LeBron James said afterward. “That was that moment. You guys never rode a bike before? Yeah, we were excited. Very excited.”
Whatever that means.
- Sixth-year guard Tim Hardaway, Jr. is leading the New York Knicks in scoring (22.2 per game) and assists (3.1).
This past week, he averaged 15 points in three games, including a 21-point, eight-assist effort in a 136-134 win over the Milwaukee Bucks.
- His former Michigan teammate Trey Burke is a backup point guard in New York. He dinged his knee Saturday against Milwaukee, and his immediate future in the rotation is uncertain.
It comes after a strong November, chipped in 14.3 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 2.9 assists per game.
- Two reserve gunners poured in 18 points this past week. First, former Sixth Man of the Year Jamal Crawford did so for Phoenix on 13 shots Friday in a loss to the Orlando Magic.
The 18-year vet is slowing down, only adding seven points a game to the rotation.
Meanwhile, Portland Trailblazer Nik Stauskas connected on 5-of-8 of his three-pointers Wednesday — also against the Magic.
He’s hitting 40 percent from deep en route to 7.2 points a contest. More notably, he ruined LeBron James’ Laker debut.
Other notes
- Milwaukee second-year forward D.J. Wilson has been re-assigned to the G-League with the Wisconsin Herd.
- Guard Caris Levert was the top dog for the Brooklyn Nets, averaging over 18 points a night. Unfortunately, this happened.
Caris LeVert's injury! Terrible. Prayers up pic.twitter.com/j3DvW2gQ87
— #FreePhillipDorsett (@ftbeard_17) November 13, 2018
His future this season, thank goodness, is bright.
Overseas/G-League
- Derrick Walton is kicking around in Lithuania.
- A full list of former Wolverines and their whereabouts is linked here.