Creek’s contract chase continues

Horsham basketball star Mitch Creek’s pursuit of a new contract with the National Basketball Association’s Minnesota Timberwolves is gaining momentum.

Creek is in Las Vegas competing for Minnesota’s NBA Summer League team.

The Summer League features young players and undrafted free agents aspiring to earn a contract in the league, and gives teams a chance to assess them.

Creek has started for the Timberwolves in all three of their Summer League games so far.

Against Cleveland on July 6 Australian time he played more than 28 minutes, scoring six points, grabbing five rebounds and adding a steal.

Two days later he played nearly 23 minutes in a huge win against Atlanta, recording eight points, three rebounds, an assist, a block and a steal.

His best performance came yesterday against Milwaukee, when the forward scored 18 points and collected three steals, hitting two of his four three-point attempts.

While Creek did not shoot well from the floor during his first two games, he has made 14 of his 15 free-throw attempts and has the one of the best plus-minus ratings on the team.

He is plus-23 through three games, meaning Minnesota has outscored its opponents by 23 points when Creek is on the court.

Minnesota’s Summer League campaign will conclude with a game against Miami tomorrow.

Creek made his NBA debut last season for the

Brooklyn Nets, signing two 10-day contracts with the team and appearing in four games.

Later in the season he signed with the Timberwolves, making one appearance at the end of the season.

In his five NBA games so far, Creek has averaged 4.2 points, 2.4 rebounds and 1.2 assists a game, connecting on 50 percent of his field-goal attempts.

If he is not offered a contract for the 2019-20 NBA season, Creek has committed to returning to Australia to play for new National Basketball League team South East Melbourne Phoenix.