Former Kansas basketball star Jalen Wilson leads Nets to Summer League victory

Following his senior year at Kansas, Jalen Wilson was drafted 51st overall by the Brooklyn Nets. He appeared in 43 games for them last season, including 3 starts, and eventually the team converted his two-way deal into a 3-year contract. Now he is being showcased in the 2024 Las Vegas Summer League and has made his presence known, leading Brooklyn to a 97-95 comeback victory in their first game.

The Nets faced off with the Indiana Pacers on Friday night and fell behind early in the game, facing a 33-41 halftime deficit and trailing by as many as 13 points in the 3rd quarter. Jalen Wilson helped stage a huge comeback in the 2nd half however, hitting four three-pointers in the 4th quarter, including a deep 25-footer with 15 seconds left in regulation. That clutch shot sent the game into overtime where he added another four points, all of them free throws.

Wilson finished with a game-high 25 points, pulled down 7 rebounds, and added a pair of assists. Fellow Jayhawk, Johnny Furphy, also suited up in this game, recording a respectable 12 points, 4 rebounds, and a steal for the Pacers in his 24 minutes.

This Las Vegas Summer League could be a huge stepping stone for Wilson’s NBA career, as he competes for a spot in the rotation with Brooklyn this year. After the Mikal Bridges Knicks trade, the former KU hooper is currently listed as the backup small forward on the Nets depth chart. The 2024-2025 season will also be the final guaranteed year on Wilson’s 3-year contract so the stakes are definitely high for him. He will face his next test on Sunday, July 14th, against the Los Angeles Clippers.