Alan Williams’ first NBA Summer League stint with the Charlotte Hornets was a quiet one. The UC Santa Barbara alum then turned up the volume with the Houston Rockets in Las Vegas, averaging 20.5 points and 11.8 rebounds per game in four contests.
Willams was good enough to make the All-NBA Summer League Second Team, joining bigger names like Noah Vonleh, Emmanuel Mudiay, Larry Drew II and Dwight Powell. The undrafted big man surprised in Las Vegas by finishing as the leading rebounder and the third-leading scorer among players who played more than one game. That includes No. 1 draft pick Karl Anthony-Towns and No. 3 pick Jahlil Okafor.
The First Team was Kyle Anderson, Seth Curry, Doug McDermott, T.J. Warren and Norman Powell.
“I wish we’d have won more games,” Williams said about his Houston team (2-3) in a CBS Sports report. “Individually, I think I did some good things. I did some things that I would hope some people take notice of. But it’s always good to go out there and win.”
After scoring a total of three points in three games at the Orlando Summer League, Williams busted out with 27 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks in his first game in Las Vegas, a 111-104 victory for the Rockets. His last game of 22 points and 21 rebounds was the Summer League’s only 20-20 performance.
Williams said he has trimmed down since a injury-riddled senior season at UCSB. The Arizona native was one of the nation’s top rebounders during his junior season but was limited his senior year in part due to shoulder issues.
“I had to, I had to,” Williams told CBS’ Sam Vecenie about his weight-loss. “That’s what the NBA guys want to see. Me being able to trim that baby fat that I had in college and continue to elevate my game and keep up with that same energy and intensity that I’ve had for so long.”
Now that the NBA Summer League is over, Williams, an unsigned rookie free agent, certainly boosted his chances of getting an invite to an NBA training camp this fall.
Alan Williams’ NBA Summer League game log.
Orlando Johnson, Washington Wizards – The two-year NBA veteran is trying to get back into the league after playing in Europe last season. Johnson was a bench player with the Indiana Pacers for two years after leaving UCSB as the Gauchos’ all-time leading scorer.
Johnson played in six games for the Wizards in Las Vegas. His best game was a 16-point, 11-rebound effort in an 86-68 victory over Utah. Overall, Johnson averaged 8.2 points per game in just over 21 minutes of playing time. He started in four of the six games.
James McCann, Detroit Tigers – The Dos Pueblos grad has been impressive during his rookie campaign. The catcher was known for his defensive abilities but has proven himself plenty capable with the bat at the Major League Level.
McCann has batted .282 over his first 218 plate appearances this season, settling into a starter’s role with the Tigers.
His defensive prowess is certainly still there as McCann leads all Major League catchers in percentage of base stealers thrown out (20 attempts minimum). He’s nailed 15 baserunners on 34 attempts.
