Brandon Miller shined last season as an All-Rookie, but another Hornet is stealing the spotlight in the NBA Summer League.
Nick Smith Jr. dazzled with his performance, scoring 24 points and showcasing a variety of impressive moves in Charlotte’s close win against the New York Knicks, 94-90.
Nick Smith Jr. with as nasty an ankle-breaker as you’ll see
— Brett Usher (@UsherNBA)
Smith’s journey has been bumpy; he was a top recruit in college basketball back in 2022 until knee injuries interrupted his season at Arkansas. Despite that setback, he managed to shoot 43.2% from beyond the arc and averaged 5.6 points for Charlotte last year. This summer league performance hints at a promising sophomore year ahead .
Game Highlights:
In Saturday’s game, Smith hit 9 of his 17 shots and nailed four three-pointers out of nine attempts. He also grabbed five rebounds and dished out four assists. Meanwhile, Miller scored 23 points and made half of his ten three-point attempts, though he also committed seven turnovers—a few too many for fans’ liking.
Fans might think this news means big things for Charlotte next season.
Jacob Toppin missed a crucial alley-oop at the end, allowing the Hornets to secure their win. Tyler Kolek stood out for New York with seven points and seven assists; his gritty playstyle fits perfectly with Tom Thibodeau’s coaching philosophy.
Knicks Rookie Tyler Kolek was dropping DIMES in his Summer League Debut!
What do you rate Kolek’s performance?!
— Knicks Fan TV (@KnicksFanTv)
Charlotte may not be playoff-bound next season but expect them to rack up points with Smith, Miller, and LaMelo Ball leading the charge. Even Tidjane Salaun showed potential as an effective slasher.
If there were an All-Sophomore team in the NBA, Smith would definitely be on it now that he’s healthy again.
What do you think about Nick Smith Jr.’s future?
