For the second straight year, a Los Angeles Lakers player is named NBA Summer League MVP. Last year, the honor went to Lonzo Ball, but this year his buddy Josh Hart is taking home the hardware.
Josh Hart earns Summer League MVP honors. Second straight year one of the #Lakers earned the distinction. Lonzo Ball won the award last summer
— Ryan Ward (@RyanWardLA) July 17, 2018
Josh Hart earns MVP honors averaging 24.2 points, 5.2 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.5 steals per game. Hart led the #Lakers to a perfect 6-0 record ahead of the championship game while shooting 47% from the floor
— Ryan Ward (@RyanWardLA) July 17, 2018
Hart averaged 24.2 points and 5.2 rebounds on 47 percent shooting in his six games thus far. Hart was the leading scorer in Las Vegas. At times, he looked like he didn't belong on the court. Not because he wasn't good enough, but because he was too good for his competition.
Here are some fan reactions to Hart's award:
https://twitter.com/T1m_NBA/status/1019344920476372993
Where can I get a @joshhart jersey at?! #MVP
— Matty Ice ❄️ (@m_smith_24) July 18, 2018
Congrats to LAKERS soon to be starting SHOOTING GUARD JOSH HART for winning MVP in Las Vegas Summer League. You will be starting in back court opposite LONZO , M CGEE at Center, Lebron at SMALL FORWARD & KUZMA at POWER FORWARD. this season.
— Larry Flash Jenkins (@larryflashj) July 18, 2018
People saying Josh Hart is too old to win Summer League MVP or to be playing at all need to look at the last couple years MVPs. Wasn’t a problem then until the MVP was a laker
— Austin Jeong (@jeong_austin) July 18, 2018
Hart put up 37 points and nine rebounds in a double-overtime semifinals victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday night. The Lakers will face the Portland Trail Blazers in the Finals on Tuesday night. Los Angeles is looking to win the Las Vegas Summer League Championship for the second straight season.
Hart is heading into his second season in the NBA. While he showed promise during his rookie campaign, his coming out party seems to be happening during the summer. The dynamic wing is overshadowed at times by some of the other young Lakers. Lonzo Ball, Kyle Kuzma, and Brandon Ingram are usually the ones receiving most of the attention.
But Hart is showing tremendous upside and he could be poised for a breakout season. Conversely, Hart's breakout performance in Las Vegas might boost his trade value for a potential blockbuster deal before the summer is out. It's still unclear exactly how the Lakers' roster will look on opening night.
If nothing else, this will be Hart's last game ever in a summer league and he is proving why he deserves to be on the big stage.
Follow Us
Subscribe