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Gonzaga Basketball: Which former Zags will play in the 2017 NBA Summer League?

By Connor Hope

Jun 22, 2017; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Zach Collins (Gonzaga) is introduced by NBA commissioner Adam Silver as the number ten overall pick to the Sacramento Kings in the first round of the 2017 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 22, 2017; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Zach Collins (Gonzaga) is introduced by NBA commissioner Adam Silver as the number ten overall pick to the Sacramento Kings in the first round of the 2017 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jun 22, 2017; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Zach Collins (Gonzaga) is introduced by NBA commissioner Adam Silver as the number ten overall pick to the Sacramento Kings in the first round of the 2017 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 22, 2017; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Zach Collins (Gonzaga) is introduced by NBA commissioner Adam Silver as the number ten overall pick to the Sacramento Kings in the first round of the 2017 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /

With the excitement over the NBA Draft simmering down, Gonzaga fans will get to watch four stars from last year’s Final Four team play in the NBA Summer League.

The NBA Summer League is an important time of year for basketball players hoping to make an NBA roster or otherwise impress NBA coaches and executives. For draft picks, the Summer League can be used to secure more minutes at the start of the season. For the undrafted players, however, the month of July may be their last chance to make an NBA Roster.

Gonzaga fans will have the opportunity to watch four players from last year’s team in the Summer League. Not only will the two draft picks, Zach Collins and Nigel Williams-Goss, play, but so will the two graduates, Przemek Karnowski and Jordan Mathews.

What can each of these players do to impress this summer?

Zach Collins (Portland Trailblazers)

After being selected at No. 10 in the 2017 NBA Draft, former Gonzaga big man Zach Collins does need to worry too much about making the roster. However, he will need to use this opportunity to set himself apart in a loaded frontcourt, which features fellow 2017 draftee Caleb Swanigan, as well as Ed Davis, Festus Ezeli, Jake Layman, Meyers Leonard, Jusuf Nurkic, and Noah Vonleh.

After averaging 10.0 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks in just 17.3 minutes as a freshman, Collins will look continue his impressive work at the professional level. If Collins can continue his stellar work on the glass, remain efficient on the offensive end, and clean up his foul trouble, he should earn a good amount of rotational minutes as a rookie.