Former Tennessee big man Kyle Alexander shined this summer in the NBA Summer League. The 6-foot-11 center averaged 11.4 points and nine rebounds per game in five games with the Pheonix Suns.
Alexander got off to a slow start, scoring just 10 points in his first two games on 4-for-13 shooting. In the three games since, the Canada native has been fantastic, scoring 15.7 points and 10.3 rebounds per game on 69% shooting.
In a loss to Cleveland, Alexander was brilliant, tallying 18 points and 14 rebounds.
The multi-year starter at Tennessee went undrafted in the 2019 NBA Draft before signing a two-way contract with the Miami Heat. Alexander mostly played in the G-League for the Sioux Falls Skyforce but played in two games for the Heat.
Last season, Alexander played in Spain for Urbas Fuenlabrada where he averaged nine points and 6.2 rebounds on 60% shooting.
At Tennessee, Alexander played early in a rebuilding program. Alexander made tremendous strides from his freshman year to senior year. The athletic center went from averaging 1.6 points and 3.3 rebounds a game to 7.4 points and 6.7 rebounds per game.
Alexander got increasingly better— especially on the offensive side of the ball— and that has showed up in the summer league.
HALFTIME: Suns 35 | Cavs 43
Kyle Alexander: 8 PTS, 9 REBS, 2 BLKS
Michael Frazier: 6 PTS, 1 REB, 1 AST
Jon Axel Gudmundsson: 5 PTS, 2 REBS, 1 AST pic.twitter.com/9gQMtXhhoU— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) August 16, 2021
The Suns’ summer league season is over, and what’s next for Alexander is unclear. However, Alexander played at a high level this summer and should have a good chance to get a two-way contract.
