Duke basketball guard drops Summer League Title after rocky event

A former Duke basketball guard struggled throughout the NBA Summer League. 

The critics of Trevor Keels‘ draft decision are only getting louder as the former Duke basketball guard mightily struggled during the NBA Summer League.

Keels, the No. 42 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, was a constant in the starting lineup for the New York Knicks in Las Vegas but did not have a smooth transition to the professional game.

The former Blue Devil laced up the sneakers in all six games the organization played and did not play up to his capabilities in any of the games.

Trevor Keels averaged just 5.8 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game while shooting just 26-percent from the field and 20-percent from 3-point range as the Clinton, Maryland native score just three points in the Summer League Championship on Sunday afternoon against the Portland Trail Blazers.

ALSO READ: Zion Williamson honors Coach K at Summer League

New York fell to Portland, 85-77.

Keels did not score more than 10 points in a single game this summer and made no more than four field goals or two 3-pointers.

The 6-foot-5 guard was the only selection the Knicks made on draft night that the organization retained as New York was intent on creating salary cap space and acquiring draft picks to try and land a major superstar this offseason.

Former Dallas Mavericks guard Jalen Brunson signed with the team as soon as free agency opened and the Knicks continue to be at the forefront for a potential trade for Utah Jazz All-Star Donovan Mitchell.

Duke basketball guard with plenty of work before training camp

The NBA Summer League proved that Trevor Keels has plenty of work to do before players report to training camp and he’s not close to cracking the rotation for the New York Knicks.

ALSO READ: North Carolina suffers first decommittment ever

Head coach Tom Thibodeau is notorious for having a short bench and Keels’ teammates at Summer League, Quentin Grime and Miles McBride, are fair superior to the former Blue Devil at this moment.

Trevor Keels will likely spend a lot of his time this season in the NBA G-League, unless the Knicks have to unload many of their younger players in a potential Donavan Mitchell trade.