By Ben Standig
LAS VEGAS -- Professional hoops hopefuls took many paths before converging on the NBA's 2017 Las Vegas Summer League.
Shevon Thompson's basketball journey is certainly among the most unique.
There are the first round selections, the headliners for whom fans travel from coast to coast for a glimpse, like Lakers point guard Lonzo Ball and Celtics forward Jayson Tatum.
There are those seeking a second chance, including former lottery picks and players who previously made rosters only to have their torch snuffed out. Another faction filled with minor leaguers and those with heavily stamped passports simply want that taste of NBA life.
Thompson, now two years removed from his final game at George Mason, is part of that last group. Even within that set, his story stands out. The hope is some team executive or a decision-making coach thinks so as well. That's why simply reaching this stage is noteworthy.
The Summer League, particularly the Las Vegas version, is where the basketball world converges.
"It's really great to be out here," Thompson said of the July event held on the University of Las Vegas campus that includes entries from 24 NBA franchises. The big man played for the Clippers after impressing Los Angeles during a mini-camp earlier in the summer.
"The atmosphere, the hype. It just feels really good to be out here. A little nervous, but it's great being here," Thompson said.
That the 6-foot-11 center with a knack for grabbing rebounds at the same rate couch potato's grab potato chips played in Las Vegas isn't a total stunner. Thompson led the Atlantic 10 in rebounding in back-to-back seasons after arriving on the Fairfax campus in 2014.
He eventually put up solid numbers with the D-League's Erie Bayhawks during the 2016-17 campaign, his first in the pro ranks.
"It was a little rough at first, but I started making changes and it helped my game a lot," Thompson said of his 17 games in the NBA's primary feeder league.
The need for change wasn't about the standard growth ideally experienced by any player. It's about his late-bloomer path, a scenario which plays a part for teams evaluating his future.
The Jamaica native and former soccer player didn't start playing basketball until around the age of 17. "I was tall my entire life. Soccer wasn't working out – some guys were really faster than I was."
Despite reality with soccer kicking in, Thompson wasn't overtly seeking a change. "Basketball just took over. I didn't call it. It just came to me naturally."
He began playing hoops in his homeland before heading stateside. Following an impressive stint on the Junior College level, Thompson joined George Mason. That's when his game and future truly gained focus.
"It helped me a lot. They gave me the opportunity to play," he said of his two seasons with the Patriots during which he averaged 11.2 points and 11.0 rebounds. "I was a starter so it kind of forced me into the game fast, to pick things up. I think it just helped me to keep going at it."
Those minutes weren't always available with Erie and certainly not the starts. In 17 games – three starts – Thompson averaged 21 minutes per game. Yet he grabbed 7.5 rebounds while averaging 12.2 points and shooting 56 percent from the field.
"Knowing the game, understanding it more. For a guy like me who hasn't the played the game (that) long, it comes slower," Thompson said of his adjustment into the pro ranks.
Those offense numbers are important, but Thompson knows why teams are looking his way.
"My first mindset is rebounding. Defense and rebounding, that's it," he said. "Those things come first."
When given playing time in Las Vegas, the same traits showed. Thompson had a team-high seven rebounds in just 13 minutes for the Clippers during a July 13 matchup with the Miami Heat.
The 24-year-old geeked out discussing his time with the Clippers, including head coach Doc Rivers. Assistant and former NBA player Sam Cassell coached the Las Vegas version. "These guys are really awesome," Thompson said. "Being around them it feels really good."
Which coaching staff Thompson will be around next is the big question. Once Summer League ended, so did his time with the Clipper. Los Angeles could offer a training camp invitation. Same with the other 29 NBA teams. Then there are the numerous leagues from around the basketball-loving globe that pay for services.
"I can control what I can control," Thompson said when asked about his unsettled future. "I go out there and work hard. Get in the gym and get shots up. Just have faith and hope that something comes through, that something great might come through. Just keep playing hard."
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