NBA: Summer League Superlatives

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Feb 21, 2015; Baton Rouge, LA, USA; LSU Tigers forward Jordan Mickey (25) shoots over Florida Gators guard Eli Carter (1) and forward Jon Horford (21) during second half of a game at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center. LSU defeated Florida 70-63. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /

Best Second-Round Performance: Jordan Mickey (Boston Celtics)

This was a particularly nice summer league for second round rookies, as guys like Indiana‘s Joseph Young and Philadelphia‘s Richaun Holmes stood out, but it was Jordan Mickey who really stole the show for the Boston Celtics.

While he played well in the Utah Summer League, Mickey was arguably the Celtics’ top player in Las Vegas. He excelled on the boards and controlled the paint as a rim protector on his way to averaging around 14 points, 10 rebounds, 2.5 blocks and a steal while shooting well better than 50 percent.

It's easy to see why Jordan Mickey is such a great shot blocker. He has incredible timing, extension and hand-eye coordination.
— Marc D'Amico (@Marc_DAmico) July 18, 2015

Coming out of the draft, Mickey was arguably the second-round’s biggest steal, and he backed up that status with reliable play on both ends of the floor. His rebounding and shot blocking stood out for a Celtics team that desperately needs a rim protector, but he also showed nice touch on a mid range jumper and excellent athleticism to catch lobs and finish at the rim.

Numbers wise, Mickey was one of the most efficient players in all of Las Vegas with an excellent 25.37 PER while also producing elite defensive numbers with a 92.6 defensive rating.

Mickey is not a finished product and he will likely spend some time in the NBA Development League this season, but he showed that he’s an NBA caliber talent, despite being undersized at 6’8”.

Look for Mickey to make some teams jealous in the next few years.

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