Former Michigan State forward Malik Hall joining Charlotte Hornets for NBA Summer League
East Lansing, Mich. – One day after Tyson Walker’s professional plans became official, the Michigan State basketball program announced that former forward Malik Hall will join his Spartan teammate in the NBA Summer League.
Hall – a native of Aurora, Ill. – will play his Summer League basketball with the Charlotte Hornets, the program announced Monday. Like Walker, who will suit up for the Phoenix Suns in the Summer League, Hall was not selected in this year’s NBA Draft.
Hall worked out for 10 NBA teams during the pre-draft process, including the Golden State Warriors, Phoenix Suns and Oklahoma City Thunder. Multiple aspects of Hall’s game stood out to teams during those workouts.
“My versatility, just being able to do a little bit of everything,” Hall said. “Being able to defend multiple positions, being able to pass, being able to bring the ball up, being able to shoot a little bit. Being able to finish at the hoop. Just a bunch of different things that add up to my versatility.
“I am impressing people that haven’t seen me do different things, playing a little bit more freely, handling the ball a little bit more and being able to make plays, showcasing my tools at this level.”
The 6-foot-8, 220-pound Hall emerged as a reliable veteran presence for Michigan State during the latter half of the 2023-24 season, his fifth as a Spartan. He averaged a career-best 12.7 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 35 games played. Hall shot 52.5 percent from the field and 32.8 percent from three.
A two-time All-Big Ten Honorable Mention selection, Hall played 16 minutes per game as a freshman for Michigan State’s 2019-20 team, which had its season cut short due to COVID-19. Three seasons later, Hall helped lead Michigan State to a Sweet 16 appearance after missing part of the year with a left foot injury. His Spartan career came to an end with a loss to No. 1-seed North Carolina in the second round of the 2024 NCAA Tournament.
Hall’s crafty post game and reliable turnaround jumper proved vital last season for a Spartan team that otherwise struggled to score down low. Now, Hall will look to improve his jump shot as he begins his professional career.
“I can always get better at shooting,” Hall said. “That’s something I knew going into the process and something I’m going to work on throughout my career.”
The Hornets open up Summer League play on July 13 against the New York Knicks. The game will be played at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas.
