Why Julian Phillips didn't play in his first NBA Summer League game
Chicago Bulls rookie wing Julian Phillips did not play in his team’s first NBA Summer League game Friday night in Las Vegas as a precaution, with his rookie contract not yet signed. NBC Sports Chicago reported Phillips signing with the Bulls is “on track to occur soon,” citing Bulls public relations.
NBC Sports Chicago also reported after the 83-74 Bulls win over the Toronto Raptors that Phillips practiced in Chicago all week and it’s “possible” Phillips could play Saturday against the Memphis Grizzlies.
Phillips, the former Tennessee basketball five-star small forward, was the 35th overall pick in the NBA Draft, selected in the second round with a pick that originally belonged to the Boston Celtics.
Eight Tennessee players on NBA Summer League rosters
There are eight Tennessee players on NBA Summer League rosters this summer, including Phillips and Keon Johnson (Trailblazers), Jaden Springer (76ers)and Kennedy Chandler (Brooklyn Nets).
Yves Pons and Uros Plavsic are on the Atlanta Hawks Summer League roster and Jordan Bowden is playing for the Los Angeles Clippers. Kyle Alexander is playing for the Washington Wizards Summer League team.
The Celtics traded the pick to the Washington Wizards as part of the deal that sent Kristaps Porzingis from the Wizards to the Celtics and Marcus Smart from the Celtics to the Grizzlies. The Bulls, who entered the draft, traded two future second-round picks to jump into the second round and grab Phillips.
They did so because of his elite athleticism and impressive defensive numbers.
“Our group liked him,” Artūras Karnišovas, the executive vice president of basketball operations for the Bulls, said after the draft, according to the Chicago Tribune. “He’s (an) ex-McDonalds All-American. Multi-positional defender. He’s one of the best athletes in the draft. He can step in right now, probably can defend on our level.”
Defense was never an issue for Phillips. On the offensive end, though, Phillips averaged 8.3 points in 24.1 minutes per game, shooting 41.1 percent from the field but just 23.9 percent from the 3-point line.
Top 10
- 1New
Lamont Butler
Injury update on Kentucky star
- 2Hot
DeMarco Murray
PSU eyeing OU assistant
- 3
Seven QBs in first 3 rounds
New NFL mock draft
- 4Trending
Bracketology
Big movement after turbulent week
- 5
Paul Finebaum
CFB struggle to catch NFL
Get the On3 Top 10 to your inbox every morning
By clicking "Subscribe to Newsletter", I agree to On3's Privacy Notice, Terms, and use of my personal information described therein.
“He has a lot of things to improve,” Karnišovas said, “but we’re looking forward to it. He’s very young and very talented.”
Julian Phillips averaged 8.3 points per game as a freshman, shooting 41.1% from the field and 23.9% from the 3-point line
Phillips was projected as a late pick in the second round after finishing his freshman season at Tennessee, but climbed back toward the top of the second round after turning heads with his workout numbers at the combine.
Along with his 8.3 points per game, Phillips averaged 4.7 rebounds, was fourth on the team in total rebounds (150) and led the Vols in free throws made (97) and free throws attempted (150).
He scored a season-high 25 points against USC in November in the Battle 4 Atlantis and had 18 points and 11 rebounds in a Tennessee win at Mississippi State in January. But he also went scoreless in 12 minutes against Florida Atlantic in the Sweet Sixteen, taking just two shots and grabbing just one rebound in the loss.
Phillips had only four points and four rebounds in 45 minutes over three NCAA Tournament games. He scored in double-figures 13 times, but only three times over his final 13 games.
