Indiana Pacers wing Mojave King fitting in with new team before playing overseas this season
Indiana Pacers rookie Mojave King is finding his way with his new team. The forward was drafted with the 47th overall pick in the NBA Draft just under two weeks ago, and he is now with Indiana ahead of Summer League.
The 21-year old spent his most recent season with the G League Ignite, where he averaged 9.4 points and 4.4 rebounds per game across 48 appearances. That put him on the map as a draft prospect, and he had a pre-draft workout with the Pacers on June 10.
"I felt like I had a really good workout here," King said Wednesday. "I had a good conversation with the coaches over lunch as well." He said that he's been bonding well with his new team throughout mini camp in Indianapolis.
He's on the Summer League roster, meaning he will get the chance to suit up for the blue and gold in Las Vegas starting later this week. That will be King's first chance to show the Pacers what he can do.
"I can't wait. Opportunities like that are pretty rare," he said. In practice, he's spent a lot of time going against first-round picks Bennedict Mathurin, who he played with years ago, and Ben Sheppard.
King was with friends in Irvine, California when he was selected by Indiana in the draft. He was amped to hear his name called, and he was watching the broadcast on TV. Some mock drafts didn't even list King as a potential pick, but the Pacers scooped him up.
He's been in Indianapolis for a few days now, and he is starting to feel more comfortable. Development is important to the young wing, so Summer League mini camp is an ideal environment. King gets to work on his game in a scenario that is designed for improvement.
Any growth from King will be vital in his quest to reach the NBA. He was drafted, sure, but he is not going to play in the NBA this year as was previously reported. Instead, the Pacers will keep his draft rights while he plays in a different pro league.
King confirmed that decision on Wednesday. "That is the plan, probably just spend the year somewhere. I'm not sure where yet," he said. He hasn't thought too much about it since he is focused on Summer League. His agent is the one looking for the right overseas opportunity. "Pretty much wide open for me. I'm really just looking for the best situation for my development."
As long as King is under contract somewhere else, Indiana keeps his draft rights. If he does return to the NBA, he would only be permitted to join the blue and gold, unless his draft rights are traded. He could still play for the Pacers one day.
As it stands, King is hoping to land on a non-NBA team that can provide him with the best path forward. He wants to develop and play against high-level competition, so many spots could be in the mix.
The New Zealand native is close to reaching the NBA, and he's been playing basketball since a young age. He has learned a lot along the way and studies Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker to improve. Now, he will put his skills and growth on display for the Indiana Pacers at Summer League. If it goes well, and is followed up by a strong overseas campaign, King could be a name to keep an eye on going forward.
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