The new NBA season won't start for another three months, but the San Antonio Spurs can already call themselves champions. Of Summer League, at least. The Spurs outlasted a talented Phoenix Suns team, 93-90, in the title game of the Las Vegas Summer League on Monday night behind a strong all-around effort from league MVP Kyle Anderson.
Anderson had 15 points, seven rebounds and four assists in the win. His behind-the back assist in the first half was one of the prettiest plays of Summer League:
Treveon Graham (20 points) and Jonathan Simmons (23 points) also helped pace San Antonio's offense in the win. Point guard Mike James -- the only member of Phoenix's starting lineup who wasn't a first round draft pick -- led the Suns with 32 points. Simmons was named the MVP of the championship game.
Here's Simmons catching another beautiful pass from Anderson -- this one a halfcourt alley-oop:
Hammon and Anderson celebrated the win after the buzzer:
#SummerSpurs pic.twitter.com/mgyPgaWza5
— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) July 21, 2015
While you can only take so much from Summer League, it's undoubtedly an impressive run for Becky Hammon, who became the NBA's first ever female head coach at Summer League. Hammon led the Spurs to a 6-1 record in Summer League and showed off the great basketball mind that made her appealing to San Antonio:
Becky Hammon already showing a little of Gregg Popovich's on-court interview characteristics. @alaforce pic.twitter.com/oqqTHZfDDq
— Andrew Jerell Jones (@sluggahjells) July 21, 2015
First, the Spurs beat out Phoenix for LaMarcus Aldridge. Now San Antonio did it again in Summer League. You can't blame the Suns if they're terrified of the Spurs just like everyone else.