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SALT LAKE CITY — The outcome of a 16-34 season granted the Salt Lake City Stars, the NBA G-League affiliate of the Utah Jazz, the No. 1 overall pick in the NBA G-League Draft. Since the Stars’ 2016 inaugural season in Salt Lake City, the Stars have a league-worst record of 30-70.
But that was then and this is now.
The Stars drafted Willie Reed with their top draft pick — a 6-foot-11 center who has bounced around the NBA for the last three seasons. He has spent time with the Brooklyn Nets, Miami Heat, Los Angeles Clippers and the Detroit Pistons. Reed’s average career stat line is 4.9 points, 3.8 rebounds in about 12 minutes of action.
His numbers may not jump off the paper, but his impact on the court will be seen on both ends, according to his new coach Martin Schiller.
“(He’s a) defensive presence,” Schiller told reporters at this week's media day session. “He’s a very good screen-and-roll guy, so he puts pressure on the rim. And the third thing we’re asking him to give us is a presence in the locker room — helping the young guys.
“What we want to help him with is get back to the NBA as quickly as possible,” Schiller added. “We don’t know when that is, it could be quick. That’s part of this job and this league.”
Reed found out ahead of time that he was going to be the top pick in the draft, and being the top selection reassured his confidence that teams believe in him and his ability.
“I know that I can play at the next level. The fact that (the Stars) think that I’m the No. 1 pick and that I am an NBA player coming to this organization to get better, that puts a lot more confidence in me.
“When it was the D-League, I was like a seventh-round selection. So to be the No. 1 pick — first round, that means I’ve put in some good work," he added. "I’m excited and looking forward to the process.”
Fans can anticipate Reed to work hard and make plays with some added flair. That is expected of someone who has the nickname “Showtime."
In addition, the Stars have some familiar faces returning to the team from last season. Among those faces is Naz Mitrou-Long, who spent all of last season with the Stars and was called up to the Utah Jazz during the year.
Mitrou-Long is a sharpshooting guard whose smooth jumper demands defensive attention at all times on the court. Having seen his longtime best friend, Georges Niang, earn a contract with the Jazz after being called up from the Stars, Mitrou-Long is proud of his friend but is eager for his own chance back to the NBA.
Mitrou-Long and Niang both attended Iowa State University and are now members of the same NBA organization. Mitrou-Long is on a two-way contract with the Jazz.
“We’re blessed to be in the same organization,” said Mitrou-Long, “Luckily we fell into an organization ... that pays dividends to guys who work hard and appreciates talent.”
Mitrou-Long said he sat down with his coach during last season and said he bought into Schiller’s team-first mentality, which has greatly impacted his personal and professional growth.
“I accepted the process through him and his knowledge,” Mitrou-Long said. “If you listen and trust the process, you’re going to get better. If you come in with the stereotypical G-League player mindset, as far as just like you want to score-score-score, that’s not going to help you.
"It took some time for me to really completely buy in with coach Martin," he added. "It worked and I’m just trying to radiate that to the other guys.”
The Stars’ coaching staff is particularly proud of their player development since last season. Both Mitrou-Long and Niang saw playing time for the Jazz last season and former Star Taylor Braun was called up with Team USA.
Schiller spent the entire summer with the Jazz coaches and was a part of their summer league coaching staff, where he said his time alongside coach Quin Snyder was invaluable and taught him patience and a better understanding of the flexibility of the G-League.
The Stars begin their third season Nov. 2 against Iowa. They return home to Bruin Arena at Salt Lake Community College Taylorsville-Redwood campus on Nov. 6 to face off with the visiting Texas Legends. Marcos Aragon is the Editor-in-chief of the Salt Lake Community College student newspaper, The Globe.
