The good and the bad of summer basketball.
While much of the focus is on the on-court play of the young players, the Hawks have had a busy news cycle for the guards on their roster.
In a pre-summer league practice, Kobe Bufkin suffered a right shoulder injury that has sidelined him from the Las Vegas Summer League team. As such, second-round pick Nikola Djurisic, Keaton Wallace, and Jarkel Joiner have manned the point guard position in the summer showcase.
Starting with the more positive news, Keaton Wallace showed two-way production in his first game against the Washington Wizards. Wallace, the older brother of NBA pro Cason, logged 10 points on 4-for-8 shooting, six rebounds, four assists, two steals and a block in a narrow Hawks loss last Friday.
Then, after the game, reports announced that Wallace had signed to a two-way contract for this upcoming season. Just yesterday, the Hawks themselves confirmed the news.
Welcome to the ️ @KeatonWallace22
We have signed Keaton Wallace to a two-way contract ➡️ https://t.co/eWFCJalOrd pic.twitter.com/d2lzLuiqPa
— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) July 15, 2024
The news comes as a reward for a player who shined early in the G League Showcase Cup last season but suffered an injury — one that kept him out of regular season action with the College Park Skyhawks in 2023-24. He joins Seth Lundy as two-way players for the 2024-25 season with one spot left to fill.
On a more somber note, 43rd overall pick Nikola Djurisic has seen his summer league campaign come to an early end. Djurisic started at point guard for the first two games in Las Vegas, a surprise even after Bufkin’s injury given his lack of experience running an offense on his own.
But early in the game against the Spurs on Sunday, Djurisic hurt his foot and left the contest in the first half. Tests confirmed a foot fracture, something the team also announced on Monday.
Nikola Đurišić sustained a left foot injury during Sunday’s Las Vegas Summer League game vs. San Antonio.
An X-ray taken at The Thomas & Mack Center revealed a left foot fracture. Further medical updates will be provided as appropriate. pic.twitter.com/OjrC3TEmXM
— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) July 15, 2024
And so, his summer season ends after just 32 game minutes. Djurisic has yet to sign a contract with the team, so it remains to be seen if he’ll use the upcoming days to do so — or possible spend time overseas in the upcoming season — as he rehabs for his return.