Source: TribeAthletics.com
Former William and Mary men’s basketball standout Marcus Thornton begins his career with the Boston Celtics, competing in the NBA Summer League. Thornton and the Celtics take part in both the Utah and Las Vegas Summer Leagues, starting on Monday, July 6. The Utah Summer League, at EnergySolutions Arena in Salt Lake City, runs from July 6-9 with the Vegas Summer League to follow July 10-20.
A recent second selection in the 2015 NBA Draft by the Celtics, 45th overall, Thornton is joined on the Celtics Summer League team by Boston’s other three 2015 draft picks (Terry Rozier, R.J. Hunter and Jordan Mickey), the Celtics’ 2014 draft picks of Marcus Smart and James Young, 2013 selection Colton Iverson and six other free agents. Thornton was the ninth NBA Draft pick in W&M history, the first since 1985 and the highest since the 1961 season. He is the first CAA playerdrafted by the NBA since Charles Jenkins of Hofstra was taken in the second round (44th overall) by the Golden State Warriors in 2011. All 13 players practiced in Boston for a week before traveling to Utah on July 4.
Boston begins Summer League competition in Utah against the Jazz on Monday at 9 p.m. They face the Philadelphia 76ers at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, July 7, before closing out the Utah portion of the trip against the San Antonio Spurs at 7 p.m. on Thursday, July 9. All three games of the UtahSummer League will be televised on NBA TV.
In Vegas, the Celtics play three preliminary round games, before a seeded tournament for the Summer League Championship starts on July 15 and runs through July 20. Each NBA team is guaranteed five games in the Vegas Summer League. Boston faces the Portland Trailblazers at the Cox Pavilion at 8 p.m. on Saturday, July 11, and meets the 76ers at 10:30 p.m. on Sunday, July 12. They close out the preliminary round against the Miami Heat at the Cox Pavilion on Tuesday, July 14, at 7 p.m.Only the Cetlics’ game with the 76ers in the Vegas preliminary round will be televised on NBA TV from the Thomas and Mack Center. The championship bracket will also be televised on NBA TV, but won’t be released until the bracket is finalized prior to July 15. Fans can access every game from all three NBA Summer Leagues in Orlando, Utah and Las Vegas by purchasing NBA Summer League Live online for $14.99.
W&M’s all-time leading scorer, Thornton is the first Tribe player since Adam Hess in 2006 and 2007 to compete in the NBA Summer League. Hess played for the Phoenix Suns in the Las Vegas Summer League during both seasons. Thornton became the first Tribe player to be named the CAA Player of the Year after averaging 20 points per game as a senior in 2014-15. He was also selected as a Associated Press All-American after leading the Tribe to its second straight 20-win season for the first time in 64 years.
Boston Celtics Summer League Schedule
Utah Summer League
Monday, July 6 vs. Utah Jazz – 9 PM ET – NBA TV
Tuesday, July 7 vs. Philadelphia 76ers – 7 PM ET – NBA TV
Thursday, July 9 vs. San Antonio Spurs – 7 PM ET – NBA TV
Las Vegas Summer League
Saturday, July 11 vs. Portland Trailblazers – 8 PM ET
Sunday, July 12 vs. Philadelphia 76ers – 10:30 PM ET – NBA TV
Tuesday, July 14 vs. Miami Heat – 7 PM ET
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