The NBA Summer League is where players hoping to make their way onto an NBA regular season roster are invited to participate to show off their skills on a widely-viewed stage.
This year, there are three venues hosting the Summer League, two of which are already in the books, with the other already underway. The Orlando Magic played host to the first round of action, which began on July 4 with 10 teams and ended on July 10. The Utah Jazz entertained the four teams that partook in the second round, which concluded on July 9 after starting on July 6. Finally, the Las Vegas venue is where 24 teams will go at it for the Summer League Championship started on July 10 and will end on July 20.
The demographic of players who participate can range from rookies who are fresh out of college and have just been drafted; to players who have a year under their belt in the NBA and want a chance to further prove their worth and hone their skills; to veteran athletes who attempt to defy all odds and earn a spot on a team late in their careers. The Syracuse Orange have representatives for all three of these categories in 2015.
Arinze Onuaku – Indiana Pacers / Brooklyn Nets
Arinze Onuaku. Michael Davis Photo | Syracuse New Times
Currently participating in the Orlando location is former Orange player Arinze Onuaku, playing for the Indiana Pacers. Onuaku was a four-year player for head coach Jim Boeheim and had his best year for the Orange as a redshirt sophomore during the 2007-2008 season when he averaged 12.7 points and 8.1 rebounds per game. Since leaving Syracuse, he has struggled to find a consistent landing spot in the NBA, playing for four teams in the past two seasons; most recently being the Minnesota Timberwolves, playing in only six games.
Though Onuaku hasn’t had the most notable NBA career, he has excelled in the NBA Developmental League. When not being a member of an NBA roster, he has spent the last three seasons playing for the Canton Charge, which is owned by the Cleveland Cavaliers. For the Charge, he has averaged a double-double with nearly 15 points and 10 rebounds per contest.
In his first three games of the 2015 Summer League, Onuaku saw roughly 28 total minutes for the Pacers, scoring just seven total points and nabbing eight total rebounds.
In his final outing for the Pacers, Onuaku performed as well as he had in his first three tries with the Pacers, playing 28 minutes and scoring 11 points with nine rebounds, two assists, two blocks and one steal.
Onuaku was subsequently picked up by the Brooklyn Nets, a team participating in the Las Vegas location. In his first game for the Nets, Onuaku played just five minutes, gathering one rebound in a win against Cleveland. He was left out of the Nets’ second game in Vegas entirely due to a coach’s decision.
James Southerland – Oklahoma City Thunder
James Southerland. Photo by Michael Davis | Syracuse New Times
Also playing in the Orlando venue is former Syracuse sharp-shooter James Southerland. Representing the Oklahoma City Thunder this year, Southerland has been an intriguing NBA prospect ever since his breakout senior season for the Orange. With his 6-foot-8 frame, he averaged 13.3 points per game in the 2012-2013 season and was a key contributor for a team that went 30-10 and made it to the Final Four.
Southerland is similar to Onuaku in that he has failed to find a home in the NBA, only playing four games total for two teams over a two-year span. In the 2013-2014 season, however, Southerland found his niche while playing for the Los Angeles D-Fenders in the D-League. He averaged 14.7 points and 6.5 rebounds in 42 games for Los Angeles.
This past season, Southerland elected to play in Europe, where he saw limited playing time in 20 games and averaged just over two points per contest.
During this year’s Summer League, Southerland has experienced more of the same disappointing playing time he dealt with in Europe. He failed to score in the first three games for the Thunder, while averaging just over two minutes per game.
The final game for Southerland, however, was a different story. Southerland played 19 minutes, while knocking down three 3-pointers en route to his 15 points and four rebounds.
Watch James Southerland discuss his time in France and his return to the NBA Summer League:
Currently participating in the Orlando location is former Orange player Arinze Onuaku, playing for the Indiana Pacers. Onuaku was a four-year player for head coach Jim Boeheim and had his best year for the Orange as a redshirt sophomore during the 2007-2008 season when he averaged 12.7 points and 8.1 rebounds per game. Since leaving Syracuse, he has struggled to find a consistent landing spot in the NBA, playing for four teams in the past two seasons; most recently being the Minnesota Timberwolves, playing in only six games.
Though Onuaku hasn’t had the most notable NBA career, he has excelled in the NBA Developmental League. When not being a member of an NBA roster, he has spent the last three seasons playing for the Canton Charge, which is owned by the Cleveland Cavaliers. For the Charge, he has averaged a double-double with nearly 15 points and 10 rebounds per contest.
In his first three games of the 2015 Summer League, Onuaku saw roughly 28 total minutes for the Pacers, scoring just seven total points and nabbing eight total rebounds.
In his final outing for the Pacers, Onuaku performed as well as he had in his first three tries with the Pacers, playing 28 minutes and scoring 11 points with nine rebounds, two assists, two blocks and one steal.
Onuaku was subsequently picked up by the Brooklyn Nets, a team participating in the Las Vegas location. In his first game for the Nets, Onuaku played just five minutes, gathering one rebound in a win against Cleveland. He was left out of the Nets’ second game in Vegas entirely due to a coach’s decision.
Also playing in the Orlando venue is former Syracuse sharp-shooter James Southerland. Representing the Oklahoma City Thunder this year, Southerland has been an intriguing NBA prospect ever since his breakout senior season for the Orange. With his 6-foot-8 frame, he averaged 13.3 points per game in the 2012-2013 season and was a key contributor for a team that went 30-10 and made it to the Final Four.
Southerland is similar to Onuaku in that he has failed to find a home in the NBA, only playing four games total for two teams over a two-year span. In the 2013-2014 season, however, Southerland found his niche while playing for the Los Angeles D-Fenders in the D-League. He averaged 14.7 points and 6.5 rebounds in 42 games for Los Angeles.
This past season, Southerland elected to play in Europe, where he saw limited playing time in 20 games and averaged just over two points per contest.
During this year’s Summer League, Southerland has experienced more of the same disappointing playing time he dealt with in Europe. He failed to score in the first three games for the Thunder, while averaging just over two minutes per game.
The final game for Southerland, however, was a different story. Southerland played 19 minutes, while knocking down three 3-pointers en route to his 15 points and four rebounds.
Watch James Southerland discuss his time in France and his return to the NBA Summer League:
