BBNBA: Multiple former Wildcats set to play in 2023 Summer League

The NBA offseason is in full swing. In just the last month, the Denver Nuggets have been crowned champions for the first time in franchise history, the 2023 NBA Draft took place, and free agency began. Now, we’re already back to playing some actual basketball. The 2023 NBA Summer League begins Monday night with the California Classic (July 3-5) and Salt Lake City Summer League (July 3-6).

Six teams will participate in the California Classic (CHA, GSW, LAL, MIA, SAS, SAC) while only four will head to Salt Lake City (MEM, OKC, PHI, UTA). These two mini-events will lead into the main event: the NBA 2K24 Summer League in Las Vegas from July 7-17. All 30 NBA teams are set to participate, with 6-8 games per day (76 total) taking place until the championship on Monday, July 17. Each team will play in at least five games.

Summer League rosters aren’t going to feature All-Star caliber players, but rather young up-and-comers, overlooked veterans looking for a shot at the big leagues, and recent draft picks. With that in mind, there will be plenty of former Kentucky Wildcats expected to suit up across the three Summer League events. By our count, eight (potentially nine) one-time ‘Cats will participate. Let’s find out who is set to hit the hardwood and when you can watch them in action.

*All games will be televised on ESPN networks (ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, and ESPNews) and NBA TV. You can also watch games live on the NBA App.*

California Classic (Golden 1 Center)

Only one former Kentucky player will make an appearance during the California Classic. 6-foot-11 power forward Sacha Killeya-Jones will team up with the Los Angeles Lakers for Summer League action. Although he played just one season at Kentucky (2016-17) and saw very limited action (6.9 MPG across 14 appearances) before transferring to NC State, he’s still considered a member of the Big Blue Nation.

Killeya-Jones went undrafted in 2019 and has made plenty of international stops since then, but is still looking to land a spot in the NBA. He actually performed well during last year’s Summer League when he also played for the Lakers, which led to him earning an Exhibit 10 contract with the Oklahoma City Thunder. Unfortunately, he did not make his way out of the G League and ultimately played his season in Spain.

Additionally, Bluegrass native Justin Powell, who played his final season of high school ball at North Oldham right outside of Louisville, will play for the Miami Heat in Summer League. He played for three college teams in three seasons (Auburn, Tennessee, Washington State) before going undrafted in June.

The California Classic will also be your first chance to watch the top two picks from this year’s NBA Draft: No. 1 Victor Wembanyama (Spurs) and No. 2 Brandon Miller (Hornets).

Monday, July 3

• Heat vs. Lakers (Killeya-Jones) (6 p.m. ET, ESPN2)
• Spurs vs. Hornets (8 p.m. ET, ESPN)
• Warriors vs. Kings (10 p.m. ET, ESPN)

Wednesday, July 5

• Warriors vs. Hornets (6 p.m. ET, ESPN2)
• Spurs vs. Lakers (Killeya-Jones) (8 p.m. ET, ESPN)
• Heat vs. Kings (10 p.m. ET, ESPN)

Salt Lake City (Delta Center)

A pair of former ‘Cats will take the stage in Salt Lake City when Cason Wallace (Thunder) and Johnny Juzang (Jazz) hit the floor beginning on Monday night. Or, at least they could.

Wallace, who was taken with the No. 10 overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft by the Dallas Mavericks and immediately traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder, is not technically listed on OKC’s Summer League roster. However, he is expected to eventually play (alongside former No. 2 pick Chet Holmgren, who missed all of his rookie season in ’22-23 due to injury) in spite of that.

The reason? Wallace was traded on draft night to the Thunder, but trades cannot be finalized until July 6. Once that date hits, Wallace should be free to suit up for OKC. Unfortunately, that means he’ll likely miss all of the SLC Summer League, although he should be ready to rock for the NBA 2K24 Summer League in Las Vegas.

As for Juzang — the former Wildcat/UCLA Bruin — reports indicate that he’s dealing with a right ankle sprain that held him out of practice on Sunday. He’s also technically a restricted free agent after the Utah Jazz tendered him a two-way qualifying offer last week. We’ll have to wait and see at tipoff if Juzang does indeed play for Utah in the Summer League.

Monday, July 3

• Grizzlies vs. 76ers (7 p.m. ET, NBA TV)
• Thunder vs. Jazz (9 p.m. ET, NBA TV)

Wednesday, July 5

• Grizzlies vs. Thunder (7 p.m. ET, NBA TV)
• 76ers vs. Jazz (9 p.m. ET, NBA TV)

Thursday, July 6

• Thunder vs. 76ers (7 p.m. ET, ESPN2)
• Grizzlies vs. Jazz (9 p.m. ET, NBA TV)

NBA 2K24 Summer League (Thomas & Mack Center, Cox Pavilion)

The main event of Summer League hits Las Vegas for 11 jam-packed days of hoops. At least five more former Kentucky players — along with the ones mentioned above — will participate, including two on one team. The NBA 2K24 Summer League schedule is far too packed to type out every single game, but you can view the matchups by clicking the link here.

Most notably, the Indiana Pacers will roster both Oscar Tshiebwe and Isaiah Jackson. Tshiebwe was undrafted in June but quickly signed a two-way deal with the Pacers while Jackson is about to enter his third NBA season after Indiana drafted him in the lottery back in 2020. The two one-time ‘Cats will play four times starting this weekend.

Saturday, July 8 vs. Wizards | 8:00 PM EST on ESPN2
Monday, July 10 vs. Magic | 8:30 PM EST on NBA TV
Wednesday, July 12 vs. Thunder (Wallace) | 7:30 PM EST on NBA TV
Friday, July 14 vs. Mavericks | 6:30 PM EST on NBA TV

Another rookie from last season’s Kentucky squad, Chris Livingston, will take the floor as a member of the Milwaukee Bucks, which selected him with the final pick (No. 58) in June’s draft. The 6-foot-6 wing will also play four games, which start on Friday, July 7.

Friday, July 7 vs. Nuggets | 5:00 PM EST on ESPNU
Saturday, July 8 vs. Suns | 9:00 PM EST on NBA TV
Tuesday, July 11 vs. Nets | 6:00 PM EST on ESPNU
Thursday, July 13 vs. Heat | 5:30 PM EST on NBA TV

We’ve also got a veteran participating in Summer League once again, the sharpshooting Mychal Mulder, who has spent stints in the NBA as a promising outside scorer, but didn’t appear on a roster in 2022-23. Mulder, now 29, will suit up for the Boston Celtics to play four games in Las Vegas with hopes of finding his way back onto a roster.

Saturday, July 8 vs. Heat | 3:00 PM EST on NBA TV
Sunday, July 9 vs. Wizards | 7:30 PM EST on NBA TV
Wednesday, July 12 vs. Lakers (Killeya-Jones) | 10:00 PM EST on ESPN2
Friday, July 14 vs. Knicks | 7:00 PM EST on ESPN2

Second-year point guard TyTy Washington (who was recently traded from the Houston Rockets to the Atlanta Hawks) is likely in the same boat as Cason Wallace. He should be cleared to play in Las Vegas for the Hawks if he is indeed added to the roster, which is no guarantee. If he does, here is the Hawks’ Summer League roster:

Friday, July 7 vs. Kings | 10:30 PM EST on NBA TV
Sunday, July 9 vs. Nuggets | 9:30 PM EST on NBA TV
Wednesday, July 12 vs. Timberwolves | 4:00 PM EST on ESPN 2
Thursday, July 13 vs. 76ers | 3:30 PM EST on NBA TV

Finally, everyone’s favorite former ‘Cat, Shaedon Sharpe, will take the floor for the Portland Trail Blazers as he prepares for year two in the NBA. He’ll team up with the Blazers’ No. 3 overall pick from the most recent draft, Scoot Henderson, as the franchise continues to wade its way through the Damian Lillard trade demand saga.

Friday, July 7 vs. Rockets | 7:00 PM EST on ESPN
Sunday, July 9 vs. Spurs | 8:00 PM EST on ESPN2
Tuesday, July 11 vs. Hornets | 8:30 PM EST on NBA TV
Thursday, July 13 vs. Magic | 9:00 PM EST on ESPN2