The summer league is for the rookies to come in and get used to the speed of the game and begin to prepare for the real thing that is coming in October.
For 18-year old Philadelphia 76ers rookie Jaden Springer, there were some bumps in the road in his debut, but once he made his adjustments, he was able to make an impact.
The Sixers cruised past the Dallas Mavericks 95-73 in the opener and Springer had some nice plays. He finished with 11 points on 4-for-12 shooting, and he knocked down a 3. He started shooting 1-for-7, but he knocked down three of his final five shots.
“I’d probably say a little jitters,” said Springer after the win. “I was out there. I was thinking a lot out there, but as the game went on, I got used to it. I got the first one out the way so I’m feeling good.”
Springer was very good on the defensive end, making some advanced plays for a rookie. So despite his offensive struggles, he made an impact.
“I feel good,” he continued. “Started off a little rusty, a little jitters at first, but as the game went on, I got to it. I’d probably give myself a C.”
Defense has always stood out for Springer, but it is not just his on-ball defense, it is his ability to learn a scheme that has impressed summer league coach Brian Adams.
“He’s not just a raw one-on-one defender, he’s picked up our schemes really well and just his rotations and his ability to kind of do what we’re supposed to do in a game plan that’s that’s been awesome to see,” Adams stated. “Keep taking the 3 and that the shot will come with consistency.”
The NBA game is obviously much faster than college. Springer is going to have to get used to that aspect this summer to prepare him for the regular season in October.
“The biggest thing is it really the pace, the speed of the game, that’s the biggest thing from college to here,” he added. “So really just getting used to it. I feel like this first game was good for me. I got a taste of it. I feel like next game, (I’ll) be even more prepared.”
As the Sixers head into their next summer league game on Thursday against the Atlanta Hawks, Springer will just have to continue to adjust.
“Keep winning games like we did today,” he finished. “Just keep playing and keep learning and just get better.”
This post originally appeared on Sixers Wire! Follow us on Facebook!
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