Tag: Malaki Branham

Former Ohio State star Malaki Branham Puts up 29 Points in Summer League game

Branham is heating up in the Summer League. #GoBucks

The Las Vegas Summer League has been underway for almost a week now.  The Summer League is an excellent opportunity for fringe roster players to make a name for themselves, as well as rookie and second-year players to get NBA experience.

That is the case for former Ohio State, and now second-year San Antonio Spurs guard, Malaki Branham. With number one overall pick Victor Wembanyama shut down for the rest of the Summer League, Branham stepped up in a big way for the Spurs.

In Tuesday’s matchup with the Wizards, Branham led both teams with 29 points in a 96-85 victory. He shot 12-of-20 from the field, including hitting five of his six three-pointers, and added two rebounds and one assist.

This is Branham’s third good performance of his four games so far. He put up 32 points in the Sacramento Summer League last Wednesday and 29 points in the Las Vegas opener last Friday.

The Saint-Vincent St. Mary’s alum had a solid rookie year averaging 10.2 points in 23.2 minutes per game. He projects to have an expanded role in his second year and had his capabilities on display in Summer League action.

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Former Ohio State star Malaki Branham has good showing in Las Vegas Summer League Opener

Former Ohio Sate guard Malaki Branham opened the Las Vegas Summer League with a solid performance, putting up 17 points in a Spurs win.

The Las Vegas Summer League started up on Friday with eight games.  One of the most highly anticipated games of the night was the San Antonio Spurs against the Charlotte Hornets.

The matchup pinned the first and second overall picks in the 2023 NBA Draft against each other in Victor Wembanyama for the Spurs and Brandon Miller for the Hornets.

Former Ohio State guard, and now second-year pro for the Spurs, Malaki Branham, held his own however as one of the best players on the floor. The Columbus native put up 17 points as he shot 6-of-16 from the field and an efficient 4-of-7 from three.  He also added five rebounds and three assists.

After being drafted No. 20 overall in the 2022 NBA draft, Branham had a very solid rookie season. In particular, in the second half of the season, Branham came on strong averaging 14.1 points from February 1 through the end of the season.

With the addition of Wembanyama, the Spurs will be a fun team to watch in the coming years, and with Branham’s steady improvement, he could certainly develop into an important player for them.

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Ohio State basketball signee, Devin Royal, named Mr. Basketball in Ohio

Congrats Devin! Looking forward to you making your mark in Columbus. How excited are you to see one of central Ohio’s own play in the Schott? #GoBucks

When [autotag]Ohio State[/autotag] basketball signed their 2023 recruiting class, they were viewed as one of the best classes in the country. It’s an impressive group that will arrive in Columbus shortly.

The Buckeyes have a long list of signees that have won Mr. Basketball in Ohio and today another name was added to that list, Pickerington Central’s [autotag]Devin Royal[/autotag]. The small forward was given the designation of the best basketball player in the state.

Royal joins former Ohio State stars like [autotag]Malaki Branham[/autotag], [autotag]Kaleb Wesson[/autotag], [autotag]Jared Sullinger[/autotag], and others as Buckeyes who have won the award. After winning the state title last year, Pickerington Central will try and repeat this weekend as they face off against Centerville for all the marbles.

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Just think; next season Royal will be doing his thing in a scarlet and gray uniform. We can’t wait to follow his journey.

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Spurs’ Malaki Branham led all rookies in scoring in February

Branham has put together a tremendous stretch with the Spurs and is coming off his best month of the season.

Malaki Branham has put together a tremendous stretch with the San Antonio Spurs and is emerging as one of the top first-year players in the NBA as a result.

Branham was used sparingly to start the season and even played two games in the G League with the Austin Spurs. He eventually entered the rotation in late November and has become a key player for head coach Gregg Popovich.

He is fresh off his best month of the season.

Branham finished February averaging 16.8 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.7 assists on 50% shooting from the field in 11 games. He led all rookies in scoring during the month, topping the 16.6 points per game average by Paolo Banchero.

The 20th pick reached double figures nine times and produced five 20-point games during the month; he only had one such game prior to February. He has started in each of the last 10 games and is averaging 16.3 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.5 assists over that span.

Branham was limited to four points and three rebounds on Tuesday as the Spurs snapped their 16-game losing streak against the Utah Jazz. He was limited to 21 minutes and was ruled out of returning due to lower back soreness.

Though the injury may have limited Branham, the 19-year-old had a great month. The Spurs’ three first-round picks have shown out at different points of the season, and Branham was the latest to put together a great run.

The team certainly struggled prior to snapping its losing streak on Tuesday but the recent play of Branham and others has been a bright spot. The organization is in a rebuilding phase but looks to have several players to build around in the future, Branham among them.

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Rookie Power Rankings: Paolo Banchero reigns supreme at the halfway point

Rookie Wire took a look at the top first-year players over the last two weeks of the 2022-23 season.

The season is at the halfway point as most teams around the NBA have played at least half of their 82 games as the schedule heads toward a jam-packed lineup on Monday for Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

With the first half of the season in the books, the basketball community has received a great look at the current rookie class. While Paolo Banchero and Bennedict Mathurin have separated themselves as the top two players, others have had great performances, as well.

Banchero is the overwhelming favorite to win Rookie of the Year with Mathurin behind him in second. It looks to be down to those two players for the annual award, while the race to fill the two All-Rookie teams should be much more competitive.

To make sense of it all, we looked at the best recent performances of these first-year players and ranked them in the latest edition of the Rookie Wire Power Rankings. The rankings are not for Rookie of the Year purposes but, rather, to illustrate the best players week to week.

Spurs’ Malaki Branham reaches double figures in G League debut

Branham debuted with the Austin Spurs in the G League and reached double figures on assignment.

San Antonio Spurs rookie Malaki Branham on Friday debuted with the Austin Spurs in the NBA G League and reached double figures on assignment.

Branham, the 20th pick, produced 12 points and two rebounds in nearly 16 minutes of work in the 117-107 loss on the road to the Lakeland Magic. He finished 6-of-9 from the field as the Spurs dropped to 1-2 on the season.

The Spurs assigned Branham to Austin in order to get extended playing time and continue his development. He shot the ball very well in the contest and looked to play with confidence throughout his time on the court.

Branham has logged four appearances with San Antonio, earning the start in two contests. He is averaging six points, 2.3 rebounds and two assists on 28.6% shooting from the field. He had his best game on Nov. 2 with 13 points and three rebounds versus Toronto.

He will likely split his time this season between San Antonio and Austin as the 19-year-old begins his transition to the NBA. He represents a big part of the future for the team and has shown in spurts why he was taken in the first round.

Austin plays Lakeland once again on Saturday.

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Spurs’ Malaki Branham and Blake Wesley assigned to NBA G League

Spurs rookies Malaki Branham and Blake Wesley have been assigned to the Austin Spurs in the NBA G League.

San Antonio Spurs rookies Malaki Branham and Blake Wesley have been assigned to the Austin Spurs in the NBA G League, the team announced on Monday.

The move by the Spurs was expected. The two players have not played during the first three games of the regular season. They will participate with Austin during its training camp, which is set to begin this week in San Antonio.

Austin tips off its season on Nov. 4 versus the Texas Legends.

Branham, the 20th pick, averaged six points, 1.2 assists and one rebound in five preseason games. Wesley, the 25th pick, made five appearances, posting 3.8 points, two rebounds and 1.8 assists.

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Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich said Branham and Wesley would likely spend much of the year in a developmental role. The team’s top priority is to ensure its rookies will have the chance to practice and play, and its move on Monday will ensure that for Branham and Wesley.

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‘Those guys aren’t scared’: Spurs’ rookies earning praise early in preseason

Spurs veteran Doug McDermott praised some of the rookies after their recent preseason performance.

San Antonio Spurs veteran Doug McDermott praised a couple of the rookies on the team after their preseason performance on Thursday against the Orlando Magic.

McDermott led the Spurs (0-2) with 14 points off the bench in the 102-99 loss. Keita Bates-Diop scored 12 points, while Devin Vassell and Tre Jones each added 11 points apiece from the starting lineup.

Blake Wesley paced the rookies with eight points, four rebounds and two assists. Malaki Branham had seven points, and Jeremy Sochan chipped in five points off the bench. Wesley and Branham mostly played in the second half, and did the bulk of their damage in the third quarter.

Wesley shined on offense as a floor general, often blowing past his defender to create for himself or get others involved. Meanwhile, Branham shot well and had some nice drives through the Spurs’ first two preseason games.

McDermott, when asked about their performance, likes what he sees.

Those guys aren’t scared, that’s for sure. I think that is half the battle as a rookie. These guys come in and they’re aggressive so that is a good sign right there. They are both going to be really good pros. The game is probably going a little fast for them right now but once they get more opportunities and the game slows down for them, I think they both can be really good. I think we did a great job drafting this year because all of these guys know how to play.

Said head coach Gregg Popovich of Wesley:

He attacks the rim, gets by people. He is going to have to work on his decision-making and that sort of thing, but he is an aggressive ball player.

The Spurs enter the season as the third-youngest team in the NBA and will integrate six rookies into the mix after a busy offseason. The average age of the team is 24.5 years old, behind only the Orlando Magic (24.1) and Oklahoma City Thunder (23.7).

The group has leaned on each other in training camp as they adjust to a new system. They have all shown flashes in practice and have looked to be great additions in the early going. Of course, they will experience some ups and downs but that is all part of the process.

The organization is embracing a full-on rebuild this season as it looks to build toward the future. The team has established its developmental program as one of the best in the league and looks to continue that tradition this season with another group of rookies.

San Antonio plays next on Sunday versus the New Orleans Pelicans.

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Spurs’ rookies banding together during first training camp run

Jeremy Sochan said that training camp has been a bit easier alongside several other rookie players.

San Antonio Spurs forward Jeremy Sochan this week said training camp has been a bit easier to start going through it alongside several other rookie players.

The Spurs enter the season as the third-youngest team in the NBA and will integrate six rookies into the mix after a busy offseason. The average age of the team is 24.5 years old, behind only the Orlando Magic (24.1) and Oklahoma City Thunder (23.7).

The team has three first-round picks: Sochan (ninth), Malaki Branham (20th) and Blake Wesley (25th). The Spurs also signed undrafted rookies Jordan Hall and Dominick Barlow to two-way contracts. They have Tommy Kuhse on a non-guaranteed deal.

Sochan likes that there are other rookies on the team.

I think that is a factor that helps being around people that are in the same boat as you, people that want to grow, as well. I think that helps. We all say it’s a process so I think having people in the same process is going to make it a lot easier.

The team tipped off training camp on Tuesday as the group had its first opportunity to hit the court together. The coaching staff threw a great deal at the team on the first day in an effort to get everyone caught up ahead of their first preseason game on Sunday.

Wesley said the rookies enjoyed their first practice.

As the rookie class, it was good for me, Malaki, Jeremy, etc. Just getting a feel for it on the first day and learning a lot of stuff. Everything isn’t going to be perfect on the first day, that’s why we have a whole week to learn. Overall, it went good and we all enjoyed it.

The Spurs became even younger over the offseason by trading Dejounte Murray to the Atlanta Hawks. The move further signaled that the team is all-in on building toward the future, despite earning a place in the play-in tournament last season.

Gregg Popovich, the NBA’s all-time winningest head coach, delivered a classic line when asked about the team’s goals for the upcoming season as only he could.

Nobody here should go to Vegas with the thought of betting on us to win the championship. It is probably not going to happen but that’s not the point and very honestly I couldn’t care less. The point is to develop this group and give them the best possible opportunity to have long NBA careers and enjoy the hell out of it.

San Antonio will continue its rebuild this year under a Hall of Fame head coach. The team has established its developmental program as one of the best in the league and looks to continue that tradition this season with another group of rookies.

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NBA Summer League 2022: The top rookie standouts from Las Vegas

Rookie Wire took a look at some of the best performances from the rookie class this year in the Las Vegas Summer League.

The Las Vegas Summer League came to a conclusion on Sunday as the Portland Trail Blazers defeated the New York Knicks to claim the championship trophy.

Throughout the 11-day competition, there were plenty of exciting performances from players and teams alike. With few second-year players in action, the rookie class was on full display with several individuals playing at a high level.

Of course, No. 1 pick Paolo Banchero dazzled in a limit showing before getting shut down after two games. Further down the draft board, other players stepped up and showed little trouble adjusting to their first NBA action.

With the event now wrapped up, Rookie Wire took a look at some of the best performances from the rookie class this year in games played in Las Vegas.

Note: Players arranged in alphabetical order.