G League Alums Taking Center Stage in 2020 NBA Finals
The likes of Alex Caruso and Duncan Robinson have come a long way in a short time, now arriving at the NBA Finals.
The 2020 NBA Finals are here. After witnessing the likes of Pascal Siakam and Fred VanVleet emerge and take the first meaningful step to becoming household names last year, a handful of other rising NBA G League alums recognize they too are on the cusp of grabbing their own golden tickets.
There are several alums set to compete in this year’s NBA Finals, who, not too long ago, were fighting tooth and nail in the minor league hoping to get noticed for their efforts. Now that they’ve arrived, it’s up to them to take advantage of the opportunity at hand.
Here’s a look at some notable alums, where they’ve been, and how far they’ve come in just a short time.
Duncan Robinson, Miami Heat
Robinson is no stranger to defying the odds, having previously made the jump from a DIII program to Michigan. Even then, the sharpshooter thought he had more of a future in sports media than the NBA. Look at him now. The perfect complementary piece, Robinson can heat up in a hurry, but still provides value when taking a backseat to the likes of Jimmy Butler and Co. Just being out on the floor requires the defense to stay alert and cover him accordingly, giving room to Miami’s other prominent offensive talents to really cook. Now a mainstay in the Heat’s starting lineup, Robinson made the 2019 All-NBA G League Third Team after averaging 21.4 points on 48% from long range for the Sioux Falls Skyforce.
Alex Caruso, Los Angeles Lakers
Victory Cigar. Folk Hero. LeBron’s Best Buddy. Lakers Sixth Man. Call him whatever you want, but Caruso continues to cement his value for a Lakers team with greatness and history within its grasp. Caruso’s impact may not always show up on the stat-sheet, but he’s constantly making the right plays at the right times. He’s the kind of player who won’t stand around waiting for the ball. Instead, he’ll keep cutting to the basket hoping to evade and confuse his defender. It makes sense that he knows how to press such buttons, because as a defender himself Caruso makes sure to stay up in his opponent’s face at all times. Caruso’s an absolute hound on both ends of the floor and his passion has earned the respect of his superstar teammates. It doesn’t hurt that the 2018 All-NBA G League Second Team member can ignite the crowd (which, in the NBA bubble, simply includes his loud and proud teammates and coaches) with electrifying dunks to shift the momentum in his team’s favor.
Kendrick Nunn, Miami Heat
Nunn has played sparingly in the NBA postseason, but it’s worth noting that he played a big part in how Miami got here. Nunn started 67 games during the regular season, averaging 15.3 points per game and made the 2020 All-NBA First Rookie Team as a result. Nunn doesn’t shy away from getting down and dirty and doing what it takes to stay ready. Last season, he urged the Santa Cruz Warriors to utilize him as a sixth man because he thought it would prepare him for a more likely NBA role. He excelled, averaging 19.3 points, all the while unaware that he’d be catapulted into an NBA starting role just a few months later. Either way, having Nunn in a team’s back pocket at a time like this is special. He’ll be ready if his time comes (again) and would have no problem hopping off the bench to contribute.
Talen Horton-Tucker, Los Angeles Lakers
Horton-Tucker is just 19 years old. Should the Lakers win the NBA title, he won’t be able to as much sip the celebratory champagne, but that doesn’t necessarily mean he won’t contribute. Like Caruso, this young gun’s hustle is appreciated by his teammates. After averaging 18.1 points through 38 contests on assignment with the South Bay Lakers, Horton-Tucker received a few looks in the postseason. All it takes is one clutch shot or one pestering stop for players to have an NBA Finals moment, and Horton-Tucker doesn’t lack the trust from those around him to handle himself on this platform.
Derrick Jones Jr., Miami Heat
After averaging 8.5 points and 1 steal in the regular season, Jones Jr. has faded in the shadows during Miami’s postseason run, averaging just 7.9 minutes through 11 contests. Still, when he trusted with minutes, Jones Jr. can always be counted on to make the most of them. He doesn’t shy away from defending an opposing team’s best player in the most crucial of times, and Miami isn’t afraid to look his way, either way. Earlier this season, Jones Jr. won the 2020 AT&T Slam Dunk Contest and was of course known as a ferocious flyer during his days with the Northern Arizona Suns.
Danny Green and Quinn Cook, Los Angeles Lakers
When it comes to alums, Green and Cook shouldn’t be considered afterthoughts but the fact of the matter is they’ve both been on this stage before and have taken home the ultimate prize. Green is a two-time NBA champion and Cook won with Golden State in 2018. Ironically enough, the two faced off against one another in last year’s NBA Finals and now join forces in their quest for another title. Green set a then-NBA Finals record with 27 three-point field goals in 2013, and Cook has been trusted with key fourth quarter minutes in the past. Green appeared in 19 minor league contests, and Cook won the 2016 NBA G League Rookie of the Year before both demonstrating staying power in the NBA.