For second-year NBA players at Summer League, the goal should be to standout amongst other young players in Las Vegas, showcase internal improvement on both ends of the court and give a glimpse of what could happen in the upcoming regular season.
Read more The US and Iran have blown past red lines as they lurch back toward all-out war
Noah Penda accomplished all three tasks in short order.
Entering Saturday’s fifth and final Summer League game for the Magic against the Celtics at UNLV’s Thomas & Mack Center, the Orlando forward averaged 15 points, 6.7 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.7 steals and 2.7 blocks during 29.4 minutes per game in three appearances.
“It’s (been) a good way to know the expectations from the coaches for next season (and) a good way to see the improvements and the results of the work that you’ve been putting in during the summer,” Penda said about his second Summer League experience. “I’ve worked a lot during the summer and I think the results were there.
“So, it’s encouraging and it just keeps pushing you for the rest of the summer,” he added.
Perhaps the largest area of growth that Penda has shown off in Las Vegas has been his improved 3-point shooting. Although it’s a small sample size across three games, he shot 47.1% from 3-point range on 5.7 attempts per game.
For comparison, Penda shot 32.3% from distance on just 1.6 long-range attempts per game in 59 appearances as a rookie.
“The shot-making,” he said when asked where he’s improved the most since last season ended. “Being able to space the floor was a big improvement that I had to (make) during the summer.”
Regardless of the size of the sample size, it’s clear to those watching Penda has become more comfortable hoisting up 3-point shots he otherwise wouldn’t have even attempted as a rookie.
Read more Men sue hospital after DNA tests showed they were switched at birth 38 years ago
That in itself is growth for the 21-year-old French forward that his teammates have also noticed.
“His confidence is coming with it,” Magic guard Jase Richardson said about Penda. “I think a lot of it’s all confidence with him. Offensively, it’s confidence. Then defensively, he knows he can guard anybody he can.
“Offensively with that confidence that he has, with his shot, on the drive, is big for him,” Richardson added.
While he’s improved mightily as an offensive player, Penda has also grown as a defender. At Summer League, he’s shown his ability to guard players smaller and larger than him while switching quickly onto different positions defensively.
Penda shared the expectations that new Magic coach Sean Sweeney set for him entering his second year in the NBA, specifically mentioning his defensive versatility.
“The defense is always going to be the first thing that pops up when you think about Noah Penda,” the Magic forward said about himself. “As a second-year (player), you just want to make the right play and show that all the things that are categorized as rookie mistakes — you want to raise that and show growth and poise during the games.”
Read more Michigan played pivotal roles in shaping transportation over the last 250 years
Jason Beede can be reached at [email protected]