NBA Summer League 2014: Evaluating Tyrus McGee
By Brian Spaen
It’s hard to evaluate Tyrus McGee, who played in just two games for the Golden State Warriors, but let’s find out his chances of actually playing in the NBA this year.
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Previously, McGee was undrafted (which was expected) and didn’t get picked up by an NBA squad in free agency, so he played in the Spanish LEB Gold with the Ribeira Sacra CB Breogan Lugo. The team went 18-8 last season.
McGee was was high on the team in nearly every category, including points (13.2), rebounds (4.1), assists (1.2), steals (1.5) per game. Obviously, he led the team in 3-point makes (2) and 3-point attempts (5.03) per game with a stunning 39.8 percent from the field.
His teammate, Daniel Rodriguez, was the only one in the same zip code when it comes to taking 3-pointers, chucking up 149 compared to McGee’s team-high 161 total attempts from downtown. Rodriguez, originally from Spain, also hit at a respectable 34.2 percent.
McGee played in the first game for Golden State during the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, but didn’t appear for a second time until their consolation game. When it was all said and one, McGee went 3-of-9 from 3-point range (made his lone field goal attempt inside the perimeter), made his only free throw attempt, gathered in a defensive rebound, had a turnover, picked up seven fouls, and finished with 12 points.
Clocking in roughly 20 minutes of total game time isn’t much to generate much reaction, on McGee, but he’s clearly a player that will live on the perimeter and it’s determined to be a shooter.
Outlook: McGee provided Iowa State with instant offense off the bench. He would come into any game and regardless of the situation, he’d nail 3’s. He was the go-to, clutch 3-point shooter that current player Naz Long is becoming.
Unfortunately, you have to do a little more than that to make in the NBA, not to mention that Golden State is flooded with great guard play. It’s doubtful that McGee will get picked up by the team, but his stint overseas last year showed that he has all-around athletic ability to the potential to make it in the next level.
He may have to spend a little more time away from the states to increase that talent and get another shot with a team next season.