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SPORTS Monday 1 July 2019
From Zion to Jimmer, Summer League has a bit of everything

By TIM REYNOLDS Site: Salt Lake City
AP Basketball Writer Schedule: Two games a
Zion Williamson obviously day Monday, Tuesday and
knows where he's play- Wednesday.
ing next season. Jimmer Teams: Utah, Memphis, San
Fredette has no idea. Such Antonio, Cleveland.
is the beauty of Summer Format: Round robin, no
League: There's ballyhooed playoff.
18-year-olds like William- Notable: New Cleveland
son, journeyman 30-year- coach John Beilein will
olds like Fredette and a coach the Cavs' summer
whole lot of everything team in Salt Lake City. ...
else set to be on display Among San Antonio's as-
over 95 games through sistant coaches are Billy
July 15. Most spots on sum- Donovan III (the son of
mer rosters go to players Oklahoma City coach Billy
looking for full-time NBA Donovan), and two wom-
work, though most of the en — Maine's Edneisha Cur-
eyeballs will be on the top ry, the only female to hold
draft picks like Williamson. a full-time men's Division I
Four-team leagues in Salt assistant job last season,
Lake City and Sacramento and Spain's Lorena Infantes
open Monday. From there, Nunez.
the big show starts Friday in CALIFORNIA CLASSIC
Las Vegas with all 30 NBA Site: Sacramento, Califor-
teams represented along nia
with the Chinese and Croa- Schedule: Two games a
tian national teams — and day Monday, Tuesday and
tickets for Day 1, when Wil- Wednesday.
liamson will make his debut Teams: Sacramento, Mi-
for the New Orleans Peli- ami, Golden State, Los An-
cans, were sold out several geles Lakers.
days ago. Format: Round robin, no
"I'm doing what I love to do playoff.
and that's play basketball," Notable: Event now in its
said Williamson, the No. 1 second year, and drew
overall draft pick this year. more than 50,000 fans last
"And I don't try to live up to season. ... Marvin Bagley III
anybody's expectations. will play for the Kings in the
They can set them there, Sacramento games, and
but I don't feel like I have New Orleans Pelicans first-round NBA draft pick Zion Williamson smiles at his introductory news isn't expected to play in Las
to live up to them. I'm just conference at the team's practice facility in Metairie, La., Friday, June 21, 2019. Vegas. ... Trey Mourning,
going to be me and be the Associated Press the son of Miami legend
best version of myself that I Alonzo Mourning, is on the
can be." said Fredette, who had a ... And he's still a bucket. I on draft night become fi- Heat roster.
Fredette has the same per- 75-point game for Shang- think it's great for us to have nalized when the league's NBA SUMMER LEAGUE
spective. hai last season. "So it's been him and I think he's hope- moratorium ends Saturday Site: Las Vegas
The 2011 lottery pick — he's a true blessing for me and fully going to get an oppor- at noon Eastern. Schedule: July 5-15
played for five different I'm continuing on my jour- tunity to show everybody The fact that Fredette is will- Teams: All 30 NBA clubs,
NBA teams not counting ney right now, just trying to that he deserves a spot in ing to play summer league plus national teams from
a preseason stint with San push forward and see what the league." for a third time — he also China and Croatia.
Antonio that didn't work happens and make the Many of this year's top draft did it in 2012 and 2016, and Format: Every team is guar-
out, spent time in the G best of the situation I have." picks are expected to ap- would have played in 2011 anteed five games, and
League and averaged 37 Fredette, a native of Glens pear in the summer games, as well had that summer's eight teams will advance
points per game for the Falls, New York, was the AP their pseudo-debuts of sorts games not been canceled to a single-elimination play-
Shanghai Sharks of the Chi- college player of the year at the pro level. No. 2 over- because of the league's off starting July 13.
nese Basketball Association for BYU in 2011, and now all selection Ja Morant will lockout — speaks to how Notable: Williamson and
over the last three years — makes his home in his wife's not play for the Memphis much he wants a shot. He's RJ Barrett — former Duke
has signed with the Golden hometown of Denver. They Grizzlies when they com- hopeful of sticking around teammates — are set to
State Warriors for the sum- have two children, the pete in Salt Lake City and with the Warriors. If that square off on opening night
mer. oldest not yet 3. Fredette Las Vegas while he recov- doesn't work, he knows 29 Friday before a sold-out
The Warriors open play doesn't want to be away ers from minor knee surgery. other NBA teams will be crowd, when New Orleans
Monday in Sacramento, from his wife and kids for Some newly drafted play- watching. plays New York. ... Total at-
which was Fredette's first months at a time anymore, ers like Miami's KZ Okpala "I feel like I'm as good as tendance last year was a
NBA stop. so he's looking for a spot to and Detroit's Joran Bone I've ever been in my ca- record 139,972, meaning
"I've had a lot of great op- play in the U.S. will not be able to play in reer," Fredette said. "And I ticket sales have doubled
portunities in my life to go "He's going to be great for any summer games right hope to show it." in the last four years alone.
to a lot of cool places and our young guys," Warriors away while they remain in Here's some of what to ... China also played sum-
play basketball and be summer league coach trade limbo. They're unable know going into the sum- mer league in 2007, and is
successful and make great Aaron Miles said. "He has to officially join their clubs mer games: using this year's games as a
money and be able to a level of understanding until the deals that saw SALT LAKE CITY SUMMER tuneup for the FIBA World
play the game that I love," on how to play this game. their rights get swapped LEAGUE Cup that starts Aug. 31.q