Wallace goes wild, Livingston gets paid and Tshiebwe debuts in NBA Summer League

It’s too early to say how things will work out long-term for some of last season’s Kentucky Wildcats who have moved on to the NBA, but the future looks bright based on Saturday’s outcomes.

Cason Wallace stole the show in his debut for the Oklahoma City Thunder, news emerged of a significant financial windfall for Chris Livingston, and Oscar Tshiebwe donned an NBA jersey for the first time after doubts by many that he ever would.

UK fans were also treated to a double-double from a third-year pro from Kentucky who is still only 21 years old. Hello, Isaiah Jackson.

Here’s a look at some of the highlights from Day 2 of the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas on Saturday.

Wallace goes wild

One-and-done Kentucky freshman Cason Wallace was a lottery pick last month but was delayed in joining his new team because of the contractual machinations of a draft-night trade.

According to the TV broadcast of Saturday’s game, Wallace showed up in Las Vegas having not yet practiced with the Oklahoma City Thunder, the team that acquired him from the Dallas Mavericks.

No matter.

Wallace made six three-point baskets and scored 20 points in his Summer League debut to lead the Thunder to a 91-80 win over the Mavericks.

Wallace finished 7-for-15 from the field, including 6-for-10 from three-point range, and contributed three rebounds, two assists and two steals while committing only two turnovers and playing sticky defense throughout his 27 minutes on the floor.

Among Wallace’s three-point buckets was one from halfcourt after retrieving a loose ball with the shot clock winding down.

Wallace will join former Wildcat Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on a young and promising Thunder roster when he arrives in Oklahoma City and learned Saturday that another former UK player is headed to OKC.

The Thunder reportedly dealt for TyTy Washington in a trade with the Atlanta Hawks, who had acquired him only a week earlier from the Houston Rockets. Washington, a first-round pick in 2022, played in 31 games as an NBA rookie in Houston, averaging 4.7 points and 1.5 assists in 14 minutes per game.

Livingston gets paid

The Milwaukee Bucks have reportedly made a big investment in Chris Livingston.

The rookie from Kentucky was roundly criticized for leaving college basketball too early when he was selected with the last choice in the 58-player draft on June 22.

Livingston’s decision made more sense Saturday when Shams Charania of The Athletic reported that the Bucks are signing the 19-year-old to a four-year, $7.7 million rookie contract. Livingston’s agent told Charania that the first two years of Livingston’s deal would be guaranteed. It’s reportedly the largest total package ever awarded to the final pick of an NBA Draft.

Livingston then took the floor for the Bucks for the second day in a row in the Summer League as Milwaukee took on the Phoenix Suns.

Livingston scored 10 points to go along with six rebounds and three assists in an 84-75 Bucks victory a day after scoring seven points in his Milwaukee debut. Livingston played 28 minutes Saturday, making three of eight field-goal attempts, one of two three-pointers and all three of his free throws.

Tshiebwe makes debut

Oscar Tshiebwe, a two-time All-American at Kentucky who was named national player of the year in 2021-22, was not drafted last month but was quickly signed to a two-way contract by the Indiana Pacers.

Tshiebwe played seven minutes, 34 seconds in his Summer League debut, coming off the bench Saturday to finish with five points and two rebounds. Tshiebwe’s only shot was a dunk after receiving a pass in the lane. He also made three of four free-throw attempts.

Oddly for the Summer League, only nine Pacers saw action in Saturday’s 91-83 win over Washington, and the five starters played most of the way.

One of those starters, former Wildcat Isaiah Jackson, delivered a double-double of 21 points and 14 rebounds on efficient 10-for-12 shooting in 29:49 of action. The 6-foot-10 Jackson, a first-round draft pick in 2021, also blocked three shots.

Indiana had the day off Sunday but was scheduled to face Orlando on Monday night.

▪ One additional ex-Cat took the floor Saturday in Las Vegas. Mychal Mulder, who played two seasons at Kentucky from 2015-2017, had three points, two rebounds and two assists in nine minutes for Boston in a 99-88 loss to Miami.

The 27-year-old Mulder has appeared in 84 games across parts of three NBA seasons with Golden State, Orlando and Miami, averaging 5.8 points per game.

Chris Livingston? Shaedon Sharpe? What ex-Cats did on opening day of NBA Summer League.