UNC in the NBA: Marcus Paige is lone bright spot in Wolves’ blowout loss

Marcus Paige shines in first Summer League game with Minnesota Timberwolves

Marcus Paige graduated from the University of North Carolina in 2016 as one of the most beloved Tar Heels in program history.

His final game, the 2016 NCAA Championship, is well-remembered for two three-pointers; the one he shot, and the one that won the game.

Paige’s three-pointer came with 4.7 seconds left in the game and tied the score at 74-74. By all accounts, it’s difficult to argue that it’s not one of the best and most difficult three-pointers in NCAA Tournament history.

Unfortunately for Paige and company, the shot that Villanova’s Kris Jenkins hit just moments later broke the tie and ended the game before the Tar Heels could complete their comeback.

Still, Paige left Chapel Hill as one of the most successful players to play under head coach Roy Williams.

To this point in his professional career, though, Paige has had a rougher go of it.

After being drafted 55th overall by the Brooklyn Nets in the 2016 NBA Draft, he was traded to the Utah Jazz. The Jazz waived him just a couple of months later and he spent the rest of the 2016-17 season with the Salt Lake City Stars.

The 6-foot, 164-pound guard started 40-of-46 games with the Stars, averaging 12.1 points, 2.2 assists and 2.1 rebounds. He played solid basketball, but never landed another opportunity to play at the highest level.

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Perhaps that’s why he’s playing so well in the NBA’s Las Vegas Summer League.

On Saturday against the Toronto Raptors, Paige poured in 18 points for the Minnesota Timberwolves on 5-of-12 shooting, hitting three of his six three-point attempts and draining all five free-throws that he shot. He also recorded a rebound, two steals and played a game-high 28 minutes.

Best of all, Paige looked really comfortable on the court. He played fundamentally sound basketball and he’s making a good argument for an NBA team to give him a real opportunity this season.

As a whole, the Timberwolves played poorly, and Paige was one of the lone bright spots in a 97-72 blowout loss.

And don’t expect Paige to slow down any, or hesitate to pull the trigger in what could be his best opportunity to find a spot on an NBA roster.

Related Story: Justin Jackson terrific in NBA debut

Stick with Keeping It Heel for continued coverage of Paige throughout the Las Vegas Summer League which runs through July 17th.