Summer League: McCaw scores 25 in Warriors’ loss.
LAS VEGAS — Late Saturday morning, Patrick McCaw stopped behind a small scrum of reporters surrounding Kevon Looney and pointed to his left wrist. The message was clear: Roughly 15 minutes after practice had ended, the Warriors’ team bus was about to leave.
Never mind that Looney has been in the NBA a year longer. As the only player on Golden State’s Summer League team who cracked the NBA champs’ rotation last season, McCaw has license to lead.
Hours later, in the Warriors’ 95-93 loss to the 76ers at the Thomas & Mack Center, McCaw reinforced why many inside the organization expect his role to expand next season. Less than four weeks after he had six points in Game 5 of the Finals, McCaw poured in a game-high 25 points on 10for-20 shooting with one turnover in 30 minutes.
It was the type of savvy performance that has earned him the nickname “P-Nice” among teammates. Not necessarily known for his long-range exploits, he shot 5-for-11 from three-point range. McCaw, who spent much of his rookie season oscillating between shooting guard and small forward, also initiated the offense with poise.
“We know how talented he is,” said Chris DeMarco, the Warriors’ Summer League head coach. “He’s got a very good feel for the game. … Most importantly, he makes the guys around him better.”
In an era when players’ hype often exceeds their abilities, McCaw befuddled many talent evaluators. The St. Louis native was a three-star prospect with limited interest from Power 5 conference programs. McCaw’s AAU team, the Chicago-based Mac Irvin Fire, featured five players ahead of him on recruiting boards. In a five-man UNLV recruiting class ranked No. 4 nationally, McCaw was the most lightly touted member.
After falling to the second round of the 2016 NBA draft, he was a revelation. McCaw was a fill-in starter at small forward when Kevin Durant missed six weeks with a left knee injury. McCaw played solid defense, set screens and found open teammates.
It was enough for many to assume he wouldn’t return to Las Vegas for a second straight year. But shortly after Golden State won the NBA title, McCaw’s focus turned to outplaying some of the 2017 draft’s top picks in Summer League.
Little more than a year after he heard 37 names called before his on draft night, McCaw outdid last month’s No. 1 pick, Markelle Fultz. The former Washington standout, who matched up on McCaw at times, scored eight points on 3-for-12 shooting before leaving with a left ankle injury in the third quarter.
“I feel like I’m still the underdog,” McCaw said. “Coming out to Summer League, everyone’s talking about all these top picks and all that. I got a year under my belt. I’ve grown as a basketball player.”
McCaw, of course, is one of four Golden State players who will be on the roster next season who coaches hope make strides in Las Vegas. Damian Jones, who spent most of his rookie season in the Development League, had 13 points on 5-for-8 shooting with three blocks. Looney had seven points and seven rebounds in 18 minutes.
In his Warriors debut, Jordan Bell had eight points and four rebounds off the bench.
Now, with an off day before Monday evening’s game against Cleveland, DeMarco must start thinking about whether he wants McCaw to stick around the entire Las Vegas slate. After playing until mid-June, McCaw could probably use a break.
Not that he is complaining. After deferring to Stephen Curry, Durant, Draymond Green and Klay Thompson last season, he is relishing the chance to lead. With the Warriors down two points in the waning seconds Saturday, he hoisted the final shot.
“I thought it was going in,” McCaw said. “I was thinking about my celebration.”