Washington Wizards: 3 takeaways from 2019 NBA Summer League
By Ben Yokoyama
3. Summer League runs at NBA pace
Every year NBA Summer League games can be hard to watch. Miscommunications lead to errant passes, wide open players and many turnovers. This summer was no different for the Washington Wizards.
But this is to be expected. With players trying to impress their teams and the 24-second shot clock that is new to most players, Summer League pace is quick.
Most players have never played at NBA pace and it is often easy to tell. When a guard can’t make their decisions with haste or a big man can’t keep up running down the floor for offense or defense, the team’s front office can tell pretty easily.
On this Wizards roster there were a couple key players who do not yet have the abilities to play at this faster pace: Justin Robinson and Isaac Bonga.
Robinson, a 6’2” point guard from Virginia Tech, signed a deal with the Wizards after going undrafted. In college he was the leader of his team’s offense, but he turned the ball over 14 times last week, including a five-turnover game.
He was a lot better when another ballhandler like Troy Caupain was on the floor, especially in transition, where he was able to use his shooting ability and space the floor.
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The guard handled himself well running the half-court offense, racking up 20 assists. Overall, his game is not yet suited for the NBA, so the G League affiliate Capital City Go-Go will be getting a good, smart leader whose game only needs a few tweaks before he can get to the next level.
The 6’9” Bonga impressed with his effort and his ability to do a lot of different things on the court. Though he has such a high motor, the German did not seem to know when to use it. The former Los Angeles Laker played in 22 games last season, but never saw significant playing time.
He can successfully guard four positions, has excellent athletic ability and can even play some point guard despite his size.
His potential is through the roof, but Bonga should start the season in the G League, where he can take on a bigger role by learning when to use his athleticism and improving his outside shot.
Every player on the roster with the exception of Troy Brown Jr. had their moments when they looked lost on the court. The difficulties of the NBA shine even brighter in the Summer League and it was not just Robinson and Bonga who experienced them.