Illinois basketball throws a little shade ahead of NBA Summer League tipoff

The start of the NBA Summer League had Illinois basketball fans intrigued.

Keaton Wagler was the main attraction. While he didn’t exactly light the world on fire in his first game, the former Illini guard has plenty of time to regroup and attack his future competition.

Advertisement

Scattered throughout the NBA Summer League are a bunch of former Illinois players. In a post on social media, the Illinois men’s basketball account put up a graphic of the players they wished good luck.

Wagler, Kylan Bowell, Ben Humrichous, Kasparas Jakucionis, Will Riley, and Justin Harmon were the players who finished their careers at Illinois. There were also three players who transferred out who made the graphic: Coleman Hawkins, Dain Dainja, and Luke Goode.

It is super nice of the Illinois account to wish the players who transferred out good luck. They even said in the written text, “Best of luck to our guys…”

While that is all warm and fuzzy, there was one glaring omission.

Advertisement

Morez Johnson Jr.

Johnson played at Illinois during his freshman season. He transferred to Michigan last year and won the national championship. After the season, Johnson declared for the NBA Draft and was selected No. 9 overall by the Dallas Mavericks.

One could see this as a mere accident that Johnson was left off the list. Others, like myself, can see that this might be intentional.

Johnson bolted for the Wolverines unexpectedly. He was Illinois through and through until he wasn’t. With the other transfers, Hawkins, Dainja, and Goode, it was more of an understanding. While we didn’t like them transferring, we understood the transfer.

Advertisement

I think it is fair to say that Illinois threw a little shade at Johnson with this post. He definitely has the leg up, as he took home the crown last season. So, it is tough to be petty. But this seems like an intentional move.

Morez Johnson Jr. showed why he was a top 10 pick in his first NBA Summer League game

I think Wagler is going to rebound well in his second game….

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/illinois-basketball-throws-little-shade-135023194.html

Author :

Publish date : 2026-07-10 13:50:00

Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.