clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

NBA Summer League scores: Dante Exum excels while Nigel Williams-Goss struggles

The Gonzaga guard is trying to find his space in the roster.

Gonzaga v North Carolina Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

It was always going to be an uphill climb for Nigel Williams-Goss to make it into the NBA. Getting drafted by the Utah Jazz was the first, and most important step.

Now, it is time for Williams-Goss to make an impact in the NBA Summer League, and in his first game out, he didn’t quite do that. Williams-Goss was a DNP in the Jazz’s first game against the San Antonio Spurs, but he cracked into the game during his second game against the Philadelphia 76ers.

It was a mixed bag appearance for the Zag alum. Williams-Goss finished with nine points and three steals (the good), but only one rebound, one assist, and six turnovers (the bad). He still finished the game with a +/- of one point (the good), but overall, it wasn’t the desired result to warrant extra playing time.

Especially considering that in two games now, Dante Exum has scored 18 and 26 points. As SLC Dunk puts it: “Dante Exum is certainly proving to Utah that he deserves big minutes next year. With the wing rotation far from being set in stone, Dante Exum is showing out at just the right time.”

After George Hill collected his payday, the Jazz acquired Ricky Rubio to man the point. After that, it was a bit of a question on who would be the backup, and there was room for Williams-Goss to shove his foot into the door. As it stands right now, Exum is the one making the impact, and Williams-Goss is watching that door slowly close.