After averaging 20.1 PPG at Kansas in his senior season, Jalen Wilson had to take on an entirely different role as a rookie in the NBA. He was the epitome of a role player, averaging 5.0 PPG and 3.0 RPG in 15.5 minutes per game in 2023-2024. With that being said, he was able to take on a leading role (as he once did with the Jayhawks) this season in Summer League when he became the #1 scoring option for Brooklyn.
In five Summer League games, Wilson averaged 21.8 PPG and 4.6 RPG to go along with a number of insanely clutch plays. Not only this, but Wilson scored his points extremely efficiently shooting 47% from the field, 55% from three, and 90% from the free-throw line. His consistent high-level play earned him Summer League MVP, where he became just the third 2nd-rounder to win the honor since it was created in 2006.
Jalen Wilson this Summer League:
— StatMuse (@statmuse) July 22, 2024
21.8 PPG
4.4 3PM
47/55/90%
MVP. pic.twitter.com/fKBUUpiOPE
Oddly enough, one of the other two 2nd-round picks who won the award was also a former Kansas Jayhawk; Josh Selby. Unlike Wilson who spent four years in Lawrence, Selby was a one-and-done at Kansas back in 2011. He struggled mightily his freshman year averaging just 7.9 PPG on 37.3% shooting from the field, but his pedigree as a 5-star recruit still convinced the Memphis Grizzlies to draft him 49th overall.
Similarly to Wilson, Selby balled out in Summer League prior to his 2nd NBA season, averaging 24.2 PPG and 3.2 APG on 56/64/89 shooting splits. The 6’2” guard ended up winning Co-MVP with rookie Damian Lillard and many people thought at the time that this could be a big turning point for Selby's NBA career. Unfortunately, he could never find his shooting stroke against tougher competition and his success was short-lived. The 2012 season ended up being Selby's final season on an NBA roster.
Luckily, Jalen Wilson appears to be set up in a much better situation than his fellow former Jayhawk and has more experience and size than Selby had in 2012. Wilson could be a legitimate break-out candidate for this young Nets team with a little bit of luck.