Toeing the line: Players find pro 3-pointers tougher to hit
LV native Brown of Wizards says finding stroke is ‘a process’
Las Vegas native Troy Brown had to turn around and share the moment with his Summer League coach.
After plenty of misses, the Washington Wizards’ first-round pick finally hit his first 3-pointer as a professional Monday against the Philadelphia 76ers.
“Troy threw that 3 and he was excited,” Wizards Summer League coach Ryan Richman said. “It’s good to see the ball go in for him.”
Even with the make Brown is only 1-for-10 from deep in Las Vegas, and he’s far from the only player struggling to find his shooting stroke. High draft picks Trae Young (3-for11) and Kevin Knox (3-for-14) are also fighting with the NBA’S deeper 3-point line, which provides rookies with a trial by fire in the Summer League.
The NBA newcomers have to use the line for the first time against live, public competition in Las Vegas and the growing pains are obvious. After Sunday’s games Summer League players were shooting just 27.5 percent on 3-pointers, well below the G-league (35.45 percent) and NBA (36.2 percent) average.
The players know they need to adjust, though, to make a living in a league where the number of 3-point attempts has gone up every season since 2010-11. If teams are living and dying by the 3 more than ever before, that means careers are, too.
“That’s my biggest thing right now, get used to that 3-point line,” Brown said. “It’s a process.”
Brown not joining Boston
Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown made news Monday when he told ESPN he’s considering joining the Summer League team for two games in Las Vegas.
Jay Larranaga, the Celtics’ summer coach, shot that idea down in a comedic way.
“I said yes. I signed him,” Larranaga said jokingly after the Celtics defeated the Hornets 100-80 at Cox Pavilion. “(Brown) wrote back in a written agreement that is binding, and you’ll be seeing him next game.”
The sarcasm didn’t end there when a reporter followed up with “so probably not?”
“You think?” Larranaga replied. “Is (general manager) Danny (Ainge) anywhere here?”
Nice try, Brown. But the Celtics obviously won’t put their rising star in harm’s way this summer.
Brown burst onto the scene in his sophomore season in the league last year, averaging 14.5 points and 4.9 rebounds in 70 games. He helped the Celtics reach the Eastern Conference Finals, where they fell in seven games to the Cavaliers. He averaged 18 points per game in 18 postseason contests.
Bagley done
The Sacramento Kings announced that No. 2 overall pick Marvin Bagley III will not play again in Las Vegas after an MRI revealed a pelvic bone bruise. He’ll rest 1-2 weeks.
Bagley played one game in Las Vegas, Saturday against the Suns. He was injured in the game and was immediately ruled out for Sunday’s game before he underwent tests. He had an MRI on Monday morning.
Toliver joins Wizards staff
Washington Mystics guard Kristi Toliver joined the Wizards’ coaching staff for the day Monday and sat on their bench during their win against the 76ers. Toliver, 31, was a WNBA All-star in 2013.