Alex Karaban just erupted for a team-high 21 points and five 3-pointers, battling back from a seriously rough start to his professional career in the NBA Summer League. The former UConn standout also grabbed eight rebounds against the Boston Celtics on Wednesday evening, finally showing off the talent that made him a first-round pick last month. For a guy who missed the entire California Classic with an ankle sprain and then kicked off Summer League looking for his shooting touch, this was exactly the kind of performance everyone was waiting for.
From Zero to Hero: The Struggle and the Spark
Man, it hasn't been easy for Karaban since he joined the Kings on draft night after a surprising trade from Cleveland. His Summer League debut against the Clippers last Thursday was a brutal 0-6 from the field, plus three turnovers. He walked into Wednesday's game shooting a combined 3-15 overall and a dismal 1-9 from beyond the arc. Talk about a cold start! But when Darius Acuff Jr. and others were out against Boston, Karaban got an expanded role and absolutely thrived. He snapped out of that slump in a massive way, hitting those five triples and racking up 21 points. This is the kind of immediate adjustment and impact that turns heads, especially for a power forward in a three-man draft class that includes the No. 7 overall pick.Clutch Shots and Crucial Adjustments
What really made Wednesday's game pop wasn't just the points, but *when* they came. Karaban, touted as a consummate winner pre-draft, started knocking down clutch shots, burying three 3-pointers over the final three minutes of the game. He single-handedly sliced Boston's lead from 12 points down to a mere two with under a minute left on the clock. While his Kings ultimately lost 82-76, dropping them to 1-3 in Summer League play, that crunch-time performance was a huge statement. "I've got to let it fly, that's something the coaches have been telling me," Karaban told reporters after the game. He admitted the pace and athleticism are a big adjustment from college, but he's "more comfortable with it now." You could see it, plain as day.What's Next for Karaban and the Kings
So, is this the start of something big? Karaban and the Kings hit the floor again Friday evening against Charlotte. What a game that's gonna be, with Karaban facing off against his old UConn teammate, Liam McNeeley. You know he's going to be fired up for that one. It all tips off at 6:30 p.m. ET from the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, streaming live on Prime Video. After a slow start, Karaban just showed everyone what he's capable of. Now he needs to prove he can do it consistently. The Kings need to see that fire again.This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.