Portland Trail Blazers: Caleb Swanigan shines in NBA Summer League debuts
Here’s how the NBA world reacted to Caleb Swanigan’s Las Vegas Summer League debuts with the Portland Trail Blazers.
Portland Trail Blazers rookie Caleb Swanigan may just end up being the steal of the 2017 NBA Draft.
Helping lead the Blazers to a 72-63 victory over the Utah Jazz in the team’s first preliminary game of the 2017 NBA Summer League, Swanigan has quickly earned the respect of NBA fans, hastily establishing himself as a Blazers fan favorite going into this season.
Swanigan recorded a double-double Saturday afternoon against the Jazz, finishing with 16 points and 13 rebounds. He shot 4-of-12 from the field, 1-of-3 from behind the arc, and 7-of-8 from the free throw line. He also posted one steal, one block, two turnovers and seven fouls in 28 minutes.
In the team’s second game, he finished with 12 points, seven rebounds, two assists and one steal in 30 minutes, going 4-for-12 from the field.
Going into the 2017 NBA Draft, Swanigan was viewed as a tweener due to his lack of height and style of play. Nevertheless, the Blazers decided to take a chance on him late in the first round, picking him 26th overall.
Every team knew what they were getting if they picked Swanigan: a 6’9″, high-motor big man with a knack for cleaning the glass and a nose for 50-50 balls. Needless to say, Swanigan is proving that the Blazers were right to take him when they did.
He’s been an absolute monster in the paint, devouring rebounds and fighting for loose balls as if his life depended on it. His energy and grittiness proved contagious early on, willing his team to an early lead. He finished the game on the same note, staying cool, calm and collected with every possession.
Caleb Swanigan with 8 rebounds in the first quarter? Relentless on the board. Absolute monster fighting down low
— Angelo Mendoza (@_AngeIo) July 8, 2017
Offensively, he makes his living being a high-energy player, finishing with four offensive rebounds. He also proved to be an incredibly high IQ player, working to draw fouls when to steady the momentum of the game. Additionally, he displayed his ability to space the floor with his outside jumper.
Defensively, Swanigan seems to be everywhere. Whether he was on the low block or somewhere along the perimeter, Swanigan proved to be a pest, making life hard for whomever he was guarding. He was also notably vocal, leading his team on both ends of the floor.
Swanigan vocal on defense - nice to hear the rookie helping out early.
— Steve Dewald (@SteveDHoops) July 8, 2017
Don’t think it’s a stretch to think Caleb Swanigan will be the better of the Portland rookies from this year’s class
— Ed Isaacson (@Ed_HunterAM) July 8, 2017
Zach Collins on teammate Caleb Swanigan: "He's a locomotive when it comes to offense." Swanigan had 16 points, 13 rebounds for Blazers.
— Jason Quick (@jwquick) July 9, 2017
Caleb Swanigan's M.O. is simple: Just play hard #RipCity pic.twitter.com/afbfZ3MmRS
— NBC Sports Northwest (@NBCSNorthwest) July 9, 2017
While it may just be Summer League, Swanigan looks like the real deal. And considering his story prior to joining the NBA, he’s just the type of person you naturally want to see do great things.
He doesn’t project to be an NBA superstar or NBA All-Star, but he works hard and plays even harder. It’s that kind of edge you want to see from any competitor, and it’ll likely keep him in this league for years to come.
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Swanigan and the Blazers will play their next Summer League game Tuesday against the San Antonio Spurs.