Many basketball players dream of making the NBA and will relish the opportunity of making a roster like the Charlotte Hornets. However, not everyone gets to shake Adam Silver’s hand as only sixty names have the privilege of being named in the NBA Draft.
The limited number of draft picks means that even players who have the skills to thrive in the league will fall through the cracks and have to fight for their spots in the NBA through the Summer League. However, some routes to the league take longer than expected.
One of the best examples of this is Matt Morgan. The guard had a respectable career at Cornell, but he failed to impress the scouts during the 2019 Draft, forcing him to to pursue his basketball dreams elsewhere.
Five years after he was snubbed from the draft, he made a lot of noise during the Summer League with the Hornets.
Matt Morgan shines with 36 points for the Charlotte Hornets in the Summer League
Morgan isn’t the main focus of the attention for many basketball fans. Many fans look at the Summer League as he scored 36 points in just 22 minutes of play against the Portland Trail Blazers.
Matt Morgan scored 36 PTS on a perfect 11-for-11 from the field leading way to the @hornets win!
Zavier Simpson: 14 PTS, 8 AST, 4 REB
Jake Stephens: 14 PTS, 7 REB, 2 STL
Donovan Clingan: 16 PTS, 12 REB, 4 BLK pic.twitter.com/lZhoL8pxq9— NBA (@NBA) July 20, 2024
It’s been an incredible moment for the experienced combo guard who grabbed the league’s attention with his quality of play. While he knows that the NBA is still a long shot for him, he’s taking his role as one of the veterans in the Charlotte Hornets’ Summer League roster seriously.
Here’s what the 26-year-old had to say about his role, per NBA.com’s Sam Perley:
“I take it very seriously, because I remember being that guy that maybe didn’t play much,” he said. “You never want to get down on yourself because they’re always watching. Whether you’re playing or not, you’re being evaluated. So, being able to be that veteran and helping these guys, helping Tidjane be the best that he can, helping Nick [Smith Jr.] get to his spots, Brandon [Miller] when he played, I know that NBA teams are looking for those types of guys, locker room role players that are going to help improve the team, whether it’s on the court or off the court.”
While Matt Morgan is aware of his role on the Summer League roster, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him get a shot with an NBA team soon after such a solid performance.
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