Indiana Basketball: Juwan Morgan improves in first week of summer league

The NBA Summer league’s first week is up and former Indiana basketball forward Juwan Morgan showed improvement with each game played.

While the NBA Summer League is always fun to see the big name stars from the draft class and the newly signed free agents showing up to support their new teams, the Vegas spotlight seems to overshadow the players who are really there for ‘job interviews’. As the first weekend passed, former Indiana basketball forward Juwan Morgan showed improvement in his play.

Morgan, who went undrafted in the 2019 NBA Draft, is using the next two weeks to show off his skills to try to get a training camp invite in the fall. After participating in the Utah Summer League at the beginning of last week, playing in two out of the three games, Morgan rarely flashed the skill and potential he showed at Indiana. Trying to make the most out of his minutes though, he still brought the same hustle on both ends of the floor.

Averaging 0.5 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 1.5 assists in 16.0 minutes per game in his two appearances, Morgan’s highlights were limited.

After sitting out the first Vegas Summer League game, he bounced back with his best performance to date, with a five-point, two-rebound and one assist night in 17 minutes. His stats don’t speak for the level of aggressiveness he played with however.

Much more involved in the offensive flow, Morgan attempted five shots, and while making just two of them, his three-point shot looked much better and smoother than in Bloomington.

Used to playing the four and five in college, one of the biggest questions was whether or not Morgan would be able to play out on the wing, both offensively and defensively. On Sunday, he proved he would be able to provide effective minutes in that role.

With bigger size for playing a small forward type position, Morgan was able to use that when attacking the offensive glass, and even if he wasn’t able to always corral the rebound, his presence was felt.

With most of the summer league being played in a one-on-one type pickup game setting, someone like Morgan, who is playing a bit out of position and not ball dominant, won’t have eye popping stats, but it is what he can do without the ball that will let him continue to see minutes.

The Jazz get back to action on Tuesday against the Portland Trail Blazers at 8:00 pm ET on ESPN2.