Justise Winslow Turning Heads at Orlando Summer League

It was only a few short months ago that Justise Winslow was celebrating a national championship at Duke. He was widely considered to be one of the ten best players in the country and was well on his way to the NBA. Then he was taken in the NBA Draft by the Miami Heat at number 10, what many believed to be an absolute steal. Now he is showing why he was such a steal at number 10 in his play at the Orlando Summer League this past week.

We all know just how valuable Winslow was to the championship run the Blue Devils went on in March and April. He was a driving, defending, playmaking machine. Through three games in Summer League, it is clear that he will carry over his success to the next level. Winslow is a winner and he is a perfect fit in Miami as they are one of the premier franchises in all of sports. A winning franchise selecting an ultimate winner is a match made in heaven.

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Winslow has gotten to the line at a consistent rate, shown improved playmaking capabilities as well as been an aggressive defender. He faced off against fellow lottery pick, Stanley Johnson from Arizona, yesterday against the Pistons and played him to a draw as Winslow scored 17 points. It was a good early test for Winslow as Johnson was taken two spots ahead of him in the draft. The pair will be compared to each other throughout their careers.

As for Winslow’s game there is a lot to like as he has already improved upon some things he struggled with in college. First let’s start with his jumper. When Justise has time to catch and shoot he is very accurate and more than capable. When he is forced to shoot off the dribble, he struggles. But there has been flashes of his jumper improving. He has sound fundamentals and with time he should become an above-average all-around shooter.

Second is his passing ability. At Duke, Winslow was not forced to really bring the ball up in the halfcourt or asked to create many shots for his teammates. So far in Summer League Winslow has been asked to bring up the ball more than his entire time at Duke. Not only has he brought up the ball effectively but he is passing ala James Harden. In fact, almost everything about Winslow’s game reminds me of Harden’s and not just because they are both lefty. His passing, the way he drives to the bucket and the ability to draw fouls, all resemble Harden.

His defense has also been superb. He has harassed play handlers as well as played passing lanes like a 7 year vet. There is a reason why the Heat’s Summer League team is 3-0 and Winslow is a big part of that. He even threw the game winning pass against the Nets on Sunday.

Expect more of the same out of young Justise as he grows and matures into a player every Duke fan can be proud of.

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