By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
European players continued to showcase their skills in the NBA Summer League, with Luka Samanic and Filip Petrusev standing out in their respective games.
Luka Samanic, the Croatian power forward, impressed the Utah Jazz once again, making a case for a spot on the team in the upcoming season. He contributed 14 points and eight rebounds in a 108-96 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Samanic ranked third in scoring for the Salt Lake City team, shooting 5-7 from two-point range and 1-5 from beyond the arc. Additionally, he secured four offensive and defensive rebounds, provided two assists, and recorded one block and one steal.
This performance marked his third double-digit scoring outing, following a 13-point game against Oklahoma, a 19-point game against Philadelphia, and an eight-point game in a win against Memphis at Las Vegas.
Samanic, who previously played for the San Antonio Spurs, signed a partially guaranteed deal with the Utah Jazz in April for the upcoming season.
Filip Petrusev, a Serbian center who most recently played for Crvena Zvezda, couldn’t lead the Philadelphia 76ers to victory as the Dallas Mavericks emerged with a 111-103 win. However, Petrusev showcased another solid performance, contributing 12 points, four rebounds, and four blocks.
Playing for 22 minutes, the 50th overall pick from the 2021 NBA draft shot 5-7 from two-point range and 2-5 from the free-throw line, missing three three-point attempts.
In previous games, he scored nine points against Memphis, 10 points against Utah, eight points in a defeat to Oklahoma, and 13 points in a win against the New York Knicks.
As Eurohoops reported, the Philadelphia 76ers are expected to offer Petrusev a contract, likely for the next two seasons.
Moussa Diabate of the LA Clippers had an all-around performance, contributing five points, nine rebounds, and four assists in an 80-70 victory over the Sacramento Kings.
No other European player scored more than three points. Nikola Jovic from the Miami Heat and Azuolas Tubelis from the Philadelphia 76ers both scored three points. Tarik Biberovic recorded two points and two rebounds for the Cleveland Cavaliers, while Louis Olinde remained scoreless in the Phoenix Suns’ loss to the Miami Heat, securing two rebounds.