Alex Toohey’s potential evident in three straight NBA Summer League possessions originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Alex Toohey’s third NBA Summer League game easily was his best so far Sunday night in the Warriors’ 103-93 win against the Utah Jazz at the Thomas & Mack Center.
Through his first two games, Toohey was an absurd minus-81. On Sunday night, Toohey was a plus-10 in 24 minutes with 15 points, five rebounds, two assists and a steal.
The best of the Warriors’ top draft pick came in three straight possessions at the end of the first half. Toohey only had two points at the time, and continued to look a step behind. Another disappointing half was about to wrap up. Then something kicked Toohey into gear for the final one minute and 49 seconds.
Up by three points, the Warriors turned the ball over when Jazz center Kyle Filipowski absorbed a charge during an out of bounds play. Toohey then guarded Filipowski, playing physical and handsy with the second-year pro. An aggressive Toohey boxed Filipowski out on a missed corner three and beat him for the rebound.
That’s when Toohey took it the other way himself, weaved past Filipowski and drew a foul on him while going for a coast-to-coast layup. Toohey again tightly defended Filipowski at the top of the arc, but was beat and forced to foul. Making up for it on the other side, Toohey again tapped into his point-forward skills.
This is where Toohey’s feel for the game shined. Where his two years as a pro in Australia can help negate some of his weaker spots early on. Toohey grabbed a rebound from an errant shot, pushed the pace and dribbled into the paint right at Filipowski. Toohey Eurostepped, kicked it out to Taran Armstrong and got in position on Filipowski before spinning baseline and finishing a nifty reverse layup.
Sprinting back on defense, Toohey contested Isaiah Collier’s shot. He tried to take on Filipowski again but was given the ball. For the final possession of the first half, however, the ball was back in Toohey’s hands and the 21-year-old went to work.
Toohey crossed up Cody Williams, the No. 10 pick in the 2024 draft, used a hesitation move in the paint and zeroed in on Filipowski. He had won his battle, mentally and physically. The former Duke star showed defeat at the buzzer after Toohey made another two free throws.
As the Warriors rookie looked to get in position for a rebound, Filipowski swung him around his hip and threw Toohey down. Players have tried to punk him in the past. That’s life as a youngin in the NBL. But this is Toohey’s time to show he isn’t going to let anything deter his path to the NBA.
Immediately, Toohey got up and pointed right at Filipowski’s face. He talked his talk and was held back by Warriors teammates. The play was deemed a common foul and Toohey hit one of two free throws to give Golden State a 10-point halftime lead.
Toohey went on a 7-0 run of his own in the final one minute and 27 seconds of the second quarter to go ahead 50-40.
“He just seemed a little bit more at ease,” coach Lainn Wilson said to reporters after the win. “I think the first two games were just a little fast. Again, he’s taken time to adapt to things and I thought today he really found his footing.
“Kind of was processing things, seeing things in real time. He hit a big three there in the second half. Overall, I just thought he was finding his footing, which was positive.”
His three in the fourth quarter put the Warriors up by nine with seven and a half minutes to go. Toohey also finished a circus layup later in the fourth, and yes, it was with Filipowski guarding him. Toohey made his free throw for a three-point play and was 6 of 7 from there for the game.
Summer league is for building blocks in a zoo of overreactions. Three straight possessions in Toohey’s third summer league game looked to add the amount of confidence that was missing from his game, moving forward with a new sense of belonging.
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Alex Toohey’s potential evident in three straight NBA Summer League possessions
Alex Toohey’s third NBA Summer League game easily was his best so far Sunday night in the Warriors’ 103-93 win against the Utah Jazz at the Thomas & Mack Center.
Through his first two games, Toohey was an absurd minus-81. On Sunday night, Toohey was a plus-10 in 24 minutes with 15 points, five rebounds, two assists and a steal.
The best of the Warriors’ top draft pick came in three straight possessions at the end of the first half. Toohey only had two points at the time, and continued to look a step behind. Another disappointing half was about to wrap up. Then something kicked Toohey into gear for the final one minute and 49 seconds.
SIGN UP HERE Up by three points, the Warriors turned the ball over when Jazz center Kyle Filipowski absorbed a charge during an out of bounds play. Toohey then guarded Filipowski, playing physical and handsy with the second-year pro. An aggressive Toohey boxed Filipowski out on a missed corner three and beat him for the rebound.
That’s when Toohey took it the other way himself, weaved past Filipowski and drew a foul on him while going for a coast-to-coast layup. Toohey again tightly defended Filipowski at the top of the arc, but was beat and forced to foul. Making up for it on the other side, Toohey again tapped into his point-forward skills.
This is where Toohey’s feel for the game shined. Where his two years as a pro in Australia can help negate some of his weaker spots early on. Toohey grabbed a rebound from an errant shot, pushed the pace and dribbled into the paint right at Filipowski. Toohey Eurostepped, kicked it out to Taran Armstrong and got in position on Filipowski before spinning baseline and finishing a nifty reverse layup.
Sprinting back on defense, Toohey contested Isaiah Collier’s shot. He tried to take on Filipowski again but was given the ball. For the final possession of the first half, however, the ball was back in Toohey’s hands and the 21-year-old went to work.
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Toohey crossed up Cody Williams, the No. 10 pick in the 2024 draft, used a hesitation move in the paint and zeroed in on Filipowski. He had won his battle, mentally and physically. The former Duke star showed defeat at the buzzer after Toohey made another two free throws.
As the Warriors rookie looked to get in position for a rebound, Filipowski swung him around his hip and threw Toohey down. Players have tried to punk him in the past. That’s life as a youngin in the NBL. But this is Toohey’s time to show he isn’t going to let anything deter his path to the NBA.
Immediately, Toohey got up and pointed right at Filipowski’s face. He talked his talk and was held back by Warriors teammates. The play was deemed a common foul and Toohey hit one of two free throws to give Golden State a 10-point halftime lead.
Toohey went on a 7-0 run of his own in the final one minute and 27 seconds of the second quarter to go ahead 50-40.
“He just seemed a little bit more at ease,” coach Lainn Wilson said to reporters after the win. “I think the first two games were just a little fast. Again, he’s taken time to adapt to things and I thought today he really found his footing.
“Kind of was processing things, seeing things in real time. He hit a big three there in the second half. Overall, I just thought he was finding his footing, which was positive.”
His three in the fourth quarter put the Warriors up by nine with seven and a half minutes to go. Toohey also finished a circus layup later in the fourth, and yes, it was with Filipowski guarding him. Toohey made his free throw for a three-point play and was 6 of 7 from there for the game.
Summer league is for building blocks in a zoo of overreactions. Three straight possessions in Toohey’s third summer league game looked to add the amount of confidence that was missing from his game, moving forward with a new sense of belonging.
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