2003 NBA Summer League Roundup
8/28/2003 8:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Aug. 28, 2003
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - NBA Summer League action wrapped up at the end of July, with several former Terps excelling at the 'next level.'
Perhaps the loudest offseason statement was made by two-time NCAA Regional MVP Lonny Baxter. The former Terp big man was tabbed the Most Valuable Player of the Reebok Rocky Mountain Revue League, helping his Chicago Bulls to a 5-1 finish atop the standings.
Baxter led Chicago with 18.5 points and 6.7 rebounds per game, while shooting at a torrid 62 percent from the field. With a year of experience under his belt, the stalwart power forward is likely to log significant minutes for the retooling Bulls this upcoming season.
Also in the Rocky Mountain Revue, former Terrapin Terrence Morris hooked up with the defending NBA champion San Antonio Spurs summer league squad. Morris started all five games, averaging 9.4 points and 3.6 rebounds.
In two years with the Houston Rockets in 2001-02 and 2002-03, Morris averaged 3.7 points and 2.9 rebounds per game.
Two years removed from their national championship season in College Park, Juan Dixon has been reunited with his backcourt cohort Steve Blake with the NBA's Washington Wizards. Six games in Boston is all the duo needed to make it clear that they would be a formidable tandem at the next level as well.
Proficient in the tools of his trade, Steve Blake looks as though he has what it takes to be a bona fide point guard in the NBA for years to come.
Blake, the all-time assists leader at Maryland, dished 6.8 helpers per game (second in the league) and averaged 6.3 points while logging a team-high 184 minutes in summer play. One month later, his dream of becoming an NBA player came to fruition when he and the Wizards agreed on a multi-year contract.
Not to be overshadowed, Dixon, who seized a spot on Reebok's Pro Summer League second-team, led the league with 20 steals, and netted 18 points per game, the third-highest total in the league.
In his rookie season with the Wizards, Dixon averaged 6.4 points per game. However, when afforded the opportunity to play significant minutes, Dixon took full advantage, including a 27-point outburst against the Bulls in 44 minutes of action.
Elsewhere in the Reebok Pro Summer League, Tahj Holden started all six games for the Atlanta Hawks. Holden averaged 4.2 points and corralled 4.2 rebounds per game.
Meanwhile out west, Chris Wilcox's myriad of talents were on full display in the Southern California Summer Pro League. Drafted by the Clippers with the eighth overall pick in 2002, Wilcox's tremendous upside is beginning to manifest itself for Los Angeles. Wilcox dropped 30 points on the cross-town Lakers and averaged better than 15 points and six rebounds over a five game span in SoCal.
The Pepsi Pro Summer League wrapped up on July 12 in Orlando, Fla. Drew Nicholas, famous for his March Madness buzzer-beater, joined the host Orlando Magic squad and averaged nearly two points and one assist per game in limited playing time. Orlando finished summer league play at 1-4.
