Slap the Sign
Fansided

Jerian Grant wins NBA Summer League championship MVP

By Greg Hadley

Jul 18, 2016; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Jerian Grant (2) dribbles the ball during the NBA Summer League final against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Thomas & Mack Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 18, 2016; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Jerian Grant (2) dribbles the ball during the NBA Summer League final against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Thomas & Mack Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

With his new team, the Chicago Bulls, former Notre Dame basketball great Jerian Grant took the NBA Las Vegas Summer League championship on Monday. But how will he fit in Chicago’s back court?

Ever since Grant was shipped back to the Midwest in the trade for Derrick Rose, the Bulls have stocked up on talent at the guard positions, signing Rajon Rondo and Dwayne Wade. Those signings never really put Grant’s roster spot at risk, but they did threaten to keep him from seeing significant playing time.

Related Story: Notre Dame Basketball still looking for first commit of 2017

But the Notre Dame grad made a pretty persuasive argument Monday that he should be on the court plenty come this fall. Grant finished the win over the Minnesota Timberwolves with 24 points, 10 rebounds and five assists and looked every bit the freakishly athletic prospect he is.

In what was one of the most entertaining and well-observed Summer League Finals in a while, Grant took advantage of the big stage in a big way. He ended the Summer League averaging 12.7 points, 3.9 assists and 2.9 rebounds per game, Chicago’s second leading scorer.

Afterwards, he received some kudos from his old coach.

Another ND alum was also on the Bulls championship squad, as Jack Cooley rode the bench for Chicago.

Grant spent last season with the Knicks and picked up a few starts at the end of the season, putting up double-figures in points in five of six games. However, his season as a whole was rather quiet, as he averaged 16.6 minutes and 5.6 points per game.

His new situation with the Bulls hardly seems much better. Both Rondo and Wade recovered from their previous injury woes in the past few years to put up their best numbers in quite some time last season, with Wade especially shining at the shooting guard position Grant typically plays.

In addition to that, the Bulls have an All-Star on the wing in Jimmy Butler, preventing Grant from switching positions to get playing time. That would have been a stretch at the very best anyway.

Next: Notre Dame Basketball: The future is in good hands

That leave’s Grant’s best chance to see the court as injuries to those in front of him, and although it’s horrible to say, Wade and Rondo have had plenty of those over the years. For the Bulls, it would be catastrophic for either player to go down, but for Grant, it might just be the opportunity he needs to showcase that Summer League Finals MVP form.