Alijah Martin’s NBA Summer League debut with the Toronto Raptors could not have gone any better.
Martin finished with 16 points off the bench on July 11, lifting the Raptors to a 116-72 win over the Chicago Bulls.
The former Florida basketball guard went 6-of-12 from the field and 2-of-4 from 3-point range while adding five rebounds, five assists and two steals, displaying the athleticism that prompted the Raptors to select the 6-foot-2 Martin in the second round (39th overall) of the NBA Draft.
Martin announced his presence with authority, slamming home a high-flying dunk for his first summer league basket, similar to the dunks he put on display for the Florida Gators during the Final Four in San Antonio.
Martin was a key cog both offensively and defensively during UF’s run to a third national title in school history, averaging 14.4 points and 4.5 rebounds with 56 steals.
Here’s a look at how other former UF basketball players have fared so far in NBA summer league action:
Walter Clayton Jr.
Clayton finished with 21 points in his summer league debut with the Utah Jazz, going 8-of-17 from the field and 4-of-10 from 3-point range,
Clayton added six rebounds and three assists, playing both on-and-off the ball for the Jazz in their 111-105 loss to the Charlotte Hornets.
A first-team All-American and the Final Four’s Most Outstanding Player, Clayton was taken in the first round (19th overall) by the Jazz last month.
Will Richard
Richard is averaging 13.0 points in two summer league games with the Golden State Warriors. He’s getting to the free throw line and converting, going 11-for-11 in games against the San Antonio Spurs and Utah Jazz
In addition to scoring, Richard has been strong on the boards (5.0 rebounds per game) and defensively (3.0 steals per game) in summer league play,
The Warriors selected Richard in the second round with the 56th overall pick.
Kevin Brockway is The Gainesville Sun’s Florida beat writer. Contact him at kbrockway@gannett.com. Follow him on X @KevinBrockwayG1. Read his coverage of the Gators’ national championship basketball season in “CHOMP-IONS!” — a hardcover coffee-table collector’s book from The Sun. Details at Florida.ChampsBook.com
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Florida basketball summer league update: Alijah Martin shines in Toronto Raptors debut
Reporting by Kevin Brockway, Gainesville Sun / The Gainesville Sun
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