Four Former Florida State Stars Suiting Up in NBA's 2023 Summer League

It's only been a couple of weeks since the NBA Draft wrapped up and the furious pace of the beginning of the free agency period is beginning to slow down. That means it's the perfect time for summer basketball.

The action has already gotten started with the California Classic Summer League and Salt Lake City Summer League. However, there's nothing that lives up to the spectacle that is the Las Vegas Summer League.

All 30 teams are represented and will play four games before a single elimination playoff to determine a champion. The exhibitions will be played in front of a sizable crowd in the Thomas & Mack Center and Cox Pavilion.

The first day has already sold out with 17,500 fans expected in the stands to watch No. 1 pick Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs debut against No. 2 pick Brandon Miller and the Charlotte Hornets.

The crop of players in the Sin City includes four former Florida State stars; forward Mfiondu Kabengele (Atlanta Hawks), forward RaiQuan Gray (Brooklyn Nets), forward John Butler (Portland Trail Blazers), and center Christ Koumadje (Portland Trail Blazers).

Kabengele hasn't been able to find a long-term home since being selected by the Los Angeles Clippers with the No. 27 pick in the 2019 NBA Draft. After being traded by the Clippers, Kabengele spent short stints with the Cleveland Cavaliers and in the NBA G League. He landed with the Boston Celtics on a two-way deal this past season following a notable performance in the summer league.

There were signs of progress as Kabengele was named to the All-NBA G League Second-Team and All-NBA G League Defensive Team after averaging 20 points, 10.8 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 0.7 steals, and one block per game for the Maine Celtics. Kabengele only appeared in four games for the main club and now looks to find a spot with the Atlanta Hawks.

Gray was drafted by the Brooklyn Nets with the second to last pick in the 2021 NBA Draft. He spent most of his first two seasons toiling away in the G League while Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and James Harden starred in Brooklyn. The franchise is moving in a different direction with all three players no longer on the roster.

Late in the 2022-23 season, Gray signed a two-way deal with the Nets. He made his NBA debut on April 9 against the Philadelphia 76ers. Gray totaled 16 points, 9 rebounds, 7 assists, and a block while knocking down two three-pointers. All signs point to him sticking with the franchise with a solid outing in Las Vegas.

Butler wasn't selected during the 2022 NBA Draft which came as a surprise to some analysts. Regardless, he landed with the New Orleans Pelicans but was waived ahead of the season. The Portland Trail Blazers decided to pick him up amidst the franchise's rebuild which ended up being a good spot for Butler.

He appeared in 19 games, with one start, averaging 2.4 points, 0.9 rebounds, and 0.5 blocks in 11.6 minutes per game. Butler recently signed another two-way deal with Portland for the upcoming year and still has plenty of potential that has yet to be tapped.

Fellow former Seminole big man Christ Koumadje will be playing alongside Butler with the Trail Blazers. He enters Las Vegas as one of the oldest players participating in summer league. Koumadje has spent the last three seasons in Europe with ALBA Berlin. He averaged 6 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 1 block in his most recent season for the back-to-back German League Champions.

Koumadje had a short stint with the Philadelphia 76ers in 2019 but was cut in training camp. He landed with the team's G League affiliate and averaged 11.8 points, 12.8 rebounds, and 5.8 blocks per game en route to being named G League Defensive Player of the Year.

Stick with NoleGameday for more coverage of Florida State basketball throughout the offseason

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