Andrew Funk pulls off 4-point play in NBA Summer League opener
Penn State hoops alums Andrew Funk and Jalen Pickett have opened up their NBA Summer League appearances in Las Vegas this weekend. Pickett, the former All-American and No. 32 overall selection in the 2023 NBA Draft, played Friday evening while Funk, the undrafted free agent, saw his first action on Saturday.
Here is a look at how their first performances unfolded.
Penn Staters in NBA Summer League action
Andrew Funk – Chicago Bulls
Funk came off the bench for the Bulls against the Bucks on Saturday in a 96-89 win for Chicago. In 17 minutes, Funk produced 5 points, knocking down 1 of 6 shots from the floor, five of which were 3-point attempts. On his one connection, though, Funk secured a rare 4-point play coming off a screen to nail a contested shot from beyond the arc, and completed it at the free throw line.
Joining the Bulls’ roster in March and April, Funk logged five appearances at 2.6 minutes per game, but did not score a point. In 13 games with the Windy City Bulls, though, Funk averaged 35.2 minutes and 11.3 points per game. He posted a 32.1 percent clip from beyond the arc.
Funk will be back in action on Sunday night when the Bulls take on the Warriors. The game is at 10 p.m. and will air on ESPN2.
The Bulls’ remaining NBA Summer League schedule is:
Sunday, July 14 – Golden State Warriors / 10 p.m. / ESPN2
Tuesday, July 16 – Detroit Pistons / 6:30 p.m. / NBA TV
Friday, July 19 – Atlanta Hawks / 6 p.m. / NBA TV
Jalen Pickett – Denver Nuggets
Pickett’s Summer League opener, an 88-78 loss to the Clippers, didn’t go well for the former Nittany Lion. Starting for Denver at the point, Pickett played nearly 30 minutes but struggled mightily from the floor. He shot just 2-of-10 from the floor, including a 1-of-5 mark from deep. He did make five rebounds and had five assists, but with just 5 points, his +/- was a dismal -18.
As a rookie last season, Pickett split time between the Nuggets and the Grand Rapids Gold. With the NBA squad, he played in 27 regular season games and another three in the postseason. For the year, he averaged 1.6 points over 4.5 minutes per game, hitting 42.9 percent of his shots from the floor and 36.0 percent from deep.
Pickett will be back in action on Sunday evening against the Raptors. Tip is at 7:30 p.m. and will be broadcast by NBATV.
The Nuggets’ remaining NBA Summer League schedule is:
Sunday, July 14 – Toronto Raptors / 7:30 p.m. / NBATV
Tuesday, July 16 – Charlotte Hornets / 4 p.m. / ESPN2
Thursday, July 18 – Indiana Pacers / 2:30 p.m. / ESPN2
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