Perry Ellis back in the U.S. for historic NBA game
By Stan Unruh
Former Kansas basketball standout Perry Ellis had another chance to show his skill against NBA talent Monday. Ellis and his Australian team played in Utah.
Perry Ellis is one of the most loved former Kansas basketball players. He and his Sydney Australia teammates arrived in the United States over the weekend. They spent a day or two seeing the sights and adjusting to the time change. Ellis and the Sydney Kings battled the Utah Jazz Monday night in an NBA exhibition game.
The game marked the first ever between teams from the Australian NBL and NBA. A team from Melbourne is scheduled to play the Oklahoma City Thunder next week. Roy Ward in the Sydney Morning Herald described the work necessary to bring these two leagues together. It is a unique look at how Aussies compare their league and the NBA.
Ellis made the most of the opportunity against a good Utah team. The former Jayhawk standout faced Jazz 7-foot-1 center Rudy Gobert on the opening tip. Utah raced out to a 20-point lead and relaxed, according to a game report by Tony Jones in the Salt Lake Tribune. Ellis scored 16-points to lead the Kings. Utah hung on to win easily 108-83. Jones article does not mention Ellis.
Stretches are underway. Tune into ESPN to watch all the action 📸 pic.twitter.com/ZPGP4Fndze
— Sydney Kings (@SydneyKings) October 3, 2017
Neither team’s web site posted final stats. Several twitter videos of the game did show Ellis in action during the historic game at Vivint SmartHome Arena in Salt Lake City. He and the King teammates flew back to Sydney immediately following the game.
More from Through the Phog
- Kansas basketball: Esteemed recruit Jalil Bethea to announce college decision tomorrow
- Kansas football: Lassiter brothers exchange good-natured banter on social media
- Kansas basketball: Liam McNeeley cuts list to two, includes Jayhawks and Indiana
- Kansas football: Reviewing Jayhawks PFF grades, snap counts from win over Nevada
- Kansas football: JB Brown emerging as star for Jayhawks defense
On Twitter, Ellis didn’t mention the contest or whether his Wichita family came to the game. Ellis and Kings open the NBL regular season against Adelaide 36ers on Saturday. I know all Kansas basketball fans wish the best for him on this adventure in Australia.