Former Tennessee basketball star turning heads after NBA Summer League performance

With a late second-round pick, the San Antonio Spurs selected former Vols star guard Ja'Kobi Gillespie who was the heart and soul of the Vols team last year. After a rocky start in the summer league, where he averged only 9.5 points while shooting inefficiently, he has officially found his groove. 

Yesterday, Gillespie scored a team-high 19 points against the Lakers and dished out six assists while shooting 7-14 from the field and 5-9 from deep. It was the first big step he's made as a pro, showing flashes of what he did at Tennessee, where he was one of the best players in the country last season.

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Well, the adjustment took a while, but Gillespie has proved that against the NBA’s best rookies he can be a reliable scorer. If he can continue to keep up performances like this, he will make San Antonio’s roster where they could use another guard off the bench.

Ja'Kobi Gillespie is a good fit in San Antonio

Gillespie getting drafted by San Antonio was a great fit for several reasons. First off, Gillespie has an opportunity to come in right away and play alongside Dylan Harper on the second unit. With the signing of Tobias Harris, Julian Champagnie now moves to the bench, and this unit would allow Gillespie to work more as a facilitator rather than being a pure scorer right away.

Another reason why Gillespie going to see San Antonio is a good fit is how he can fit into their offense. Mitch Johnson has adopted some of the same plays that Barnes will run in his own playbook, like dribble handoffs, pin downs, and pick-and-rolls. Gillespie thrived in a role like this in Knoxville, and while in the NBA he will be facing longer, better athletes, he should still be a scoring threat. 

While Gillespie might never be an NBA star, he has all the tools to be a veteran in the association. He can put the ball on the floor, take it to the basket, and shoot from deep off the dribble or catch-and-shoot. While he was a ball-dominant guard at Tennessee, he also played off-ball. Not to mention, despite not being the biggest player or the most athletically gifted guard, he is far from a liability on the defensive end. He has a motor that constantly runs, contesting shots, and he can take the ball from opposing guards swiftly

Gillespie still has a long way to go before he fully proves he is ready for the NBA and can consistently be part of San Antonio’s rotation. However, he has all the tools needed to succeed, and he is joining a franchise that has historically done very well drafting in the second round. If he can build on this performance, he can make a real difference next season on the hardwood.

If the Spurs hit on this pick, Gillespie could become a key piece in helping bring another championship to San Antonio.

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