TyTy Washington scores first NBA bucket in return from G-League

After nearly a month in the G-League, TyTy Washington is back with the Houston Rockets. With Houston point guard Kevin Porter Jr. dealing with knee soreness, Washington was reassigned from the Rio Grande Valley Vipers to give the Rockets’ backcourt some depth. Last night, he logged five minutes in a 118-109 loss at San Antonio, going 1-2 from the floor for two points. It was his first NBA bucket. In November, Washington scored his first NBA point, a free throw, in a loss to the Clippers.

TyTy Washington’s floater game is cash. pic.twitter.com/4pSBIKwgC2

— V̷a̷t̷o̷r̷ (@Vator_H_Town) December 9, 2022

Washington averaged 20.2 points (48.3% FG, 37.3% 3PT) and 4.7 assists in 31.7 minutes in 10 games in the G-League, leading the Vipers to an 8-3 record. He was initially assigned to the Vipers to get back into game shape and gain experience while recovering from a knee sprain suffered in October. Rockets coach Stephen Silas told Inside the Rockets he’s pleased with Washington’s progress.

“He has done a good job down there,” Silas said on Wednesday. “He has made plays for himself, his teammates and his defense has been good. He is back now. And we will see if we can get him some minutes.”

Rockets second-year guard Daishen Nix spent time with the Vipers last season and gave Washington this advice before he left.

“I told him that G League players are NBA players. What he has been doing so far has been great. He is playing and starting. He is doing what he did in Kentucky. I told him to continue playing hard and doing what you do.”

Washington was selected by Memphis with the 29th pick in the 2022 NBA Draft and traded to Minnesota then Houston. In four preseason games, he averaged 6.3 points, 1.3 assists, and 1.3 rebounds. In his lone year at Kentucky, Washington averaged 12.5 points, 3.9 assists, and 3.5 rebounds per game.

#Rockets rookie TyTy Washington getting extra practice reps in with assistant coach John Lucas II.

Coach Stephen Silas on his return from the G League: “He is back now. And we will see if we can get him some minutes.” — Silas.

Read: https://t.co/fiBNRfGH0V pic.twitter.com/Ly5iuLl06r

— Coty M. Davis (@CotyDavis_24) December 7, 2022

In that same game last night, Keldon Johnson had 32 points and 7 rebounds in 35 minutes for San Antonio.

Keldon Johnson balled out in the @Spurs win:

32 PTS
7 REB
3 3PM pic.twitter.com/ofYXtUHnKw

— NBA (@NBA) December 9, 2022

We’ll have a full rundown of how former Cats fared last night in the BBNBA post in just a bit.