NBA Summer League takeaways: Warriors rookie Will Richard makes debut vs. Spurs
Richard makes debut
SAN FRANCISCO – The Warriors‘ acquisition of their three second round picks – Australia’s Alex Toohey, Florida’s Will Richard and Tennessee’s Jahmai Mashack – became official on Sunday afternoon.
No. 56 overall pick Will Richard saw his first Summer League action with the team in Golden State’s 90-88 loss to the Spurs at Chase Center, and looked comfortable at the shooting guard position, even if his buzzer-beating 3-point attempt bounced off the rim.
Despite not being able to practice with the team before the trade became official, he started strong. Richard began the game by making a layup in transition, and late in the fourth quarter, he made a catch-and-shoot triple to cut the Spurs lead to 89-88 with 20 seconds left.
Richard scored 16 points on 3 of 10 shooting. He also displayed an ability to get to the line and make his shots — Richard went 8-for-8 on his free throws.
“That was my first time playing fives since the (National) championship game,” Richard said. “It felt good to get back out there with the guys.”
His fellow rookies Alex Toohey and Taran Armstrong, flanked by second-year pro Quinten Post and longtime assistant coach Ron Adams, watched and cheered from the stands. Coach Lainn Wilson said he did not know if Toohey would play during the next game on Tuesday.
SJSU’s Moore, Uduje, Diallo face Warriors
The best San Jose State Spartan in recent memory suited up against the hometown team. Omari Moore, the 2023 Mountain West Conference co-Player of the Year, started for the Spurs and threw down a thunderous dunk in the first quarter.
In the second quarter, he threw a slick dime to Osayi Osifo for an easy layup in transition. Moore played the role of a do-it-all guard in a manner reminiscent of his days at SJSU, scoring 13 and throwing four assists.
Moore spent the previous season playing for Darüşşafaka Lassa in the Turkish League.
Jose Udeje, his fellow Spartan, played four minutes and had two assists, after he scored seven points in just over five minutes on Saturday. Big man Ibrahima Diallo grabbed two rebounds for San Antonio.
Unheralded Warriors make impact
LJ Cryer made a name for himself in March as the top guard on championship runner-up Houston, and he displayed his accurate shooting stroke by making 5 of 7 triples and scoring 19 points. On one of his most spectacular makes, Cryer’s crossover left his defender splayed out on the Chase Center court.
“I’m just getting in the flow of the offense, and my teammates are doing a great job of creating advantages,” Cryer said at halftime.
His former Houston teammate Ja’Vier Francis put up 10 tough points on a variety of finishes.
Isaiah Mobley had another strong game after scoring 13 points on Saturday. The older brother of NBA Defensive Player of the Year Evan of Cleveland, the elder Mobley utilized an advanced faceup and off-the-dribble game to get to his spots and score 16 points.
“If the ball ends up in his hands, something good will typically happen,” Wilson said.
Buzzer beaters
- After being a healthy scratch against the Heat, Bronny James started on Sunday for the Summer League Lakers. He had a monster open-court dunk and made 3 of 7 shots for 10 points in just 10 minutes. James, a Sierra Canyon product, did not play in the second half.
- Dylan Harper, the No. 2 overall pick in the recent draft and son of former NBA champion Ron Harper, was held out for the second consecutive game because of a groin injury. Harper averaged 19.4 points, 4.6 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game at Rutgers next season, forming a dynamic duo with No. 5 overall pick Ace Bailey.