To some, it came as a surprise to see 6-foot-5 point guard Daishen Nix fall undrafted in the 2021 NBA Draft. His former G League Ignite teammates Jalen Green and Jonathan Kuminga landed 1st and 7th, respectively, with Isaiah Todd being the 31st pick. All eyes were then firmly set on Nix, but the selection never came.
Going undrafted isn’t the end of the road for these prospects, just look at the likes of Fred VanVleet and Alex Caruso. As expected, Nix was swiftly signed by the Philadelphia 76ers to feature in the NBA Summer League.
The 19-year-old featured in 15 games for Ignite in the 2021 G League bubble. In those contests, he posted averages of 8.8 points, 5.3 assists, and 5.3 rebounds in 26.5 minutes per game.
Daishen Nix proved himself to be a versatile option, initiating the offense, and standing strong on both ends against professional opposition with his large frame. Since, the young guard has cut down his weight and took part in the NBA Draft Combine in impressive shape.
Whether he can land a roster spot on a 76ers team that aims to be championship contenders remains to be seen. But Nix will look to catch the eye of the many NBA onlookers at Summer League. If an opportunity fails to present itself in Philadelphia, it just might elsewhere.
Another former Ignite prospect set for Summer League action is Princepal Singh, who has linked up with the Sacramento Kings to feature in the California Classic. The Indian prospect saw limited minutes during his sole season in the G League, under Brian Shaw’s tutelage. In 4 games, he averaged 2.3 points and 1 rebound in 6.3 minutes per contest.
Singh is a popular international prospect, but fell relatively under the radar in the lead up to the 2021 NBA Draft. Like Kai Sotto, the general expectation was for the 6-foot-9 forward/center to continue his development overseas.
Princepal Singh will have the the chance to impress NBA scouts and front office staff, like Nix. Although, he will have to fight for minutes on a stacked Kings roster. One that features plenty of former NBA, G League, NCAA, and international standouts.
Featured Image Credit: Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images
Author: Matt Evans (@MattEvansCU)