NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION
SB FILE / 2008
Derrick Low, left, played more than 16 minutes for the Mavericks' summer league team last night.
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Low summers with NBA
The Iolani and Washington State grad starts for the Mavs in the Rocky Mountain Revue
SALT LAKE CITY » Derrick Low got a chance yesterday.
The most celebrated high school basketball player in Hawaii history, who just completed a solid career at Washington State, started and got some serious playing time with the Dallas Mavericks summer league rookie team.
The 6-foot-2 point guard played 16 minutes, 16 seconds of the total 40 minutes as the Mavs lost 90-73 to the Golden State Warriors in a Rocky Mountain Revue game at Salt Lake Community College. It was by far the most extensive action he's seen in his NBA audition.
But the time logged was the only impressive stat for Low. He scored three points on 1-for-4 shooting, had one rebound, no assists and one turnover. His only points came on a 3-pointer from the top of the key with 24 seconds left.
It was clear from beginning to end that Low's role on offense was to bring the ball up, pass to a wing and clear out and maybe get a shot from outside on a kick out. He did not drive to the basket once, had no fastbreak opportunities, and all four shots were from outside.
"This is the next level, they've got tons of scorers," Low said. "I just come up, take care of the ball, get it to somebody and go the opposite way."
Defensively, Low, the smallest player on the court, committed five fouls and was not credited with a steal.
He remains a long shot at making an NBA roster. Low said he may accept an offer to play professionally for West Sydney in Australia.
"It's a possibility. I haven't made a decision yet. I'm thinking about it really hard," Low said after yesterday's game.
Low said he doesn't feel pressure to become the first former Hawaii high school player to earn an NBA roster spot since Red Rocha in the 1950s.
"This is what I want to do, for myself, my family, as well as the state," Low said. "I'm taking pride in that and it's going good so far."
Low knows that if he plays overseas and does well, he can get another shot at the NBA in the future. He's already had a couple of feelers from other teams.
"There's always next year," he said.
Yesterday was the first time he started for the Mavericks' summer team.
"I'm used to being in a rhythm. This is a little hard, being cold. But that's what they all do in the NBA, come off the bench and make shots," he said.