Keaton Wagler Explodes for 26 Points in Clippers Summer League Finale

The first game of the NBA Summer League wasn’t the Keaton Wagler Illinois fans had grown accustomed to watching. Everything looked a little rushed. The pace seemed faster than he wanted, and the confidence that made him the No. 5 overall pick wasn’t quite there yet.

But that’s the thing about Keaton Wagler. He adjusts. By the end of Summer League, he looked like the same player who took over games in Champaign last season.

Wagler saved his best for last Friday night, leading the Los Angeles Clippers with 26 points in a 128-120 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves. He added four rebounds, two assists, a steal and a block while shooting 9-for-19 from the field and 4-for-5 from the free-throw line. More importantly, he played at his own pace.

The Ability to adjust and adapt

That’s the biggest key to Wagler’s game. He’s never been the fastest player on the floor, but he rarely looks sped up. At Illinois, he carved up defenses by staying under control, reading defenders and making the right play. It took him a couple of games to find that rhythm against NBA competition, but once he did, everything started to click.

The Clippers’ win was historic, too. Their 128 points were the most ever scored in an NBA Summer League game since the Las Vegas event began in 2004, and Wagler was at the center of the offensive explosion.

His overall Summer League numbers reflect just how quickly he settled in. Despite a rough opener, Keaton Wagler averaged 18.0 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.8 assists in four games while shooting 38.6% from the field and 80% from the free-throw line. Remove that first game, and the numbers—and the eye test—look even more impressive.

It was hard not to notice the overreactions after his Summer League debut. Some questioned whether the No. 5 pick was ready for the NBA after one game.

That conversation didn’t last long. Just like he did throughout his career at Illinois, Wagler processed the experience, watched the film and made the necessary adjustments. By the time Summer League came to a close, he didn’t look like the 19-year-old trying to survive possessions anymore. He was dictating them.

That’s a scary thought for the rest of the NBA. If this four-game stretch is any indication, the learning curve won’t be very steep. Illinois fans saw it all last season, and now the rest of the basketball world is starting to see it, too.

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