Jalen Wilson turned in another phenomenal Summer League performance this year — but this time the league really noticed him.
After averaging 21.8 points, 4.6 rebounds, 1.0 assists and 0.6 steals per game across Brooklyn’s five summer contests, Wilson was named Summer League MVP, the league announced Monday afternoon. Wilson also shot 47.3% from the field and a nuclear 55.0% from three, averaging 8.0 triples per game. He also led the Summer League with 22 3-pointers.
Wilson is the second Net to win the award and the first since Cam Thomas did so as a co-MVP with Davion Mitchell in 2021. That summer, Thomas led all Summer League scorers averaging 27.0 points per game. This year, Wilson clocked in at second in points per game among participants with three or more games under their belt, trailing only Jordan Miller of the Clippers.
Brooklyn’s social media team wasted little time putting together a reel to celebrate Wilson’s achievement. Naturally, it featured a bushel of threes and multiple clutch buckets including his game-winner vs the Orlando Magic. His effort in that contest was likely a pivotal point in his MVP campaign, as the second-year man out of Kansas finished with 33 points and 10 rebounds while going 6-7 from downtown.
Now with a pair of Summer League MVPs, the Nets join the Washington Wizards (John Wall & Glen Rice Jr.), Sacramento Kings (Mitchell & Keegan Murray), Portland Trail Blazers (Jerryd Bayless & Damian Lillard), Minnesota Timberwolves (Randy Foye & Tyus Jones), Memphis Grizzlies (Josh Selby & Brandon Clarke), and Los Angeles Lakers (Lonzo Ball & Josh Hart) as the only teams with two or more.
Oddly enough, Wilson only made the All-Summer League Second Team. The First Team included GG Jackson II, Scotty Pippen Jr., Reed Sheppard, Kel’el Ware, and Miller. Wilson was also named to the Second Team last year.
“All the Glory to you Lord #TMC,” said Wilson, along with a checkered flag and two praying emojis on X after the announcement went out.
Summer League MVP is a fine accolade for any team, but surely one that’ll be more appreciate by rebuilding ones like the Nets. Wilson taking home this hardware should comfort some fans after a TNT-tied offseason. Summer League MVP is an irrefutable, positive sign pertaining to Brooklyn’s player development, which is priority number one now in getting them back into contention.
It’s also some argumentative ammunition against the crowd claiming Brooklyn’s picks attained in the Mikal Bridges trade will be low or the five seconds they added since the deadline carry little-to-no value. Wilson was a late second round pick last year. Thomas was taken with the 27th pick in 2021. That’s two summers in the past four years Brooklyn’s front office has proven itself capable of finding impactful players no matter their pick position. And we haven’t even talked about Noah Clowney!
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