Sundiata Gaines

[treefi]

Remember Gaines on Georgia? Heavily relied on from the start even as a freshman... Coaches loved him... Never put up huge numbers but always played hard and did all the little things...

Well, it looks like he may have gotten a lot better.

http://www.bouncemag.com/2009/07/08/the ... is-summer/

Through his first 4 games in the NBDL he's averaging...

27.0ppg - 4.3rpg - 8.3apg - 1.8spg - 0.5bpg - 60.3% - 45.0%(3's) - 31.5mpg - 2.5tpg

Pretty damn impressive. Won't be long at all until someone gives him a shot at the next level...

http://www.georgiadogs.com/ViewArticle. ... LID=323799

[Waterade124]

I have no doubt in my mind that if Sundiata Gaines continues to put up the numbers he is putting up right now in the D-league he will get called up to the NBA pretty soon. Right now I consider him as one of the best players in the D-league and probably the best point gaurd in the NBDL.

[mnWI]

Gaines is the most NBA ready point guard in the D-League for sure, but you have to look at those numbers with some perspective. Idaho, like Bob MacKinnon's Colorado team from last season plays at an incredibly fast tempo, so the players generally have inflated stats as a result. You could see this last year when many of his guys had great stats, yet none of them ended up getting called up (with the exception of 10 days for Eddie Gill).

Speaking of point guards in the D-League, I'd take Curtis Stinson to run my half court offense over any other point in the league right now. 17.5 ppg, 9.3 apg, and 7.5 rpg with just 2 turnovers per game isn't bad...

[pickIBL]

Blue Collar Stinson is playing well. Not sure how he gets the coach to give him 42 minutes a game but that explains some inflated numbers as well. Also would suggest Stinson is very well conditioned on the plus side.

The reason Stinson isn't in the NBA (ok 2 reasons) is he had to play the 2 in college. Also he can't buy an outside bucket. But of Andre Miller can make it, then so can Stinson. It should be interesting to see if he gets a callup.

[jman3134]

How about Maurice Baker or Mustafa Shakur? Shakur still plays a bit out of control, but he certainly has improved in the D League.

Gaines looks like he has the quickness and poise to handle the next level. His numbers are good, as is his first step. His free throw shooting may be a concern though for a floor general. He doesn't force it as much as he did at Georgia.

[DelaneyRudd]

Signed by the Jazz apparently.

[-Illmatic-]

Signed by the Jazz apparently.

lol, I wonder how that worked.

[jeffhardyfan52]

is he still with the jazz?

[SportsWorld]

is he still with the jazz?

He's playing on their Summer League team. It seems somewhat likely that he'll make the team.

[jman3134]

Really? I thought he shot himself in the foot with his summer league play in Orlando. (from the time I saw him)