By R.L. Bynum
While Caleb Wilson was showing off his arm at a major‑league ballpark ahead of his NBA Summer League debut, Henri Veesaar delivered his best performance over three games in that league.
For the third time in three months, Wilson threw a ceremonial first pitch before a baseball game. He did the honors at the Savannah Bananas game at Kenan Stadium on April 12 and before UNC’s game at Boshamer Stadium against High Point on April 21. On Wednesday, he took the mound at Guaranteed Rate Field before the Chicago White Sox hosted the Boston Red Sox.
The appearance for the Bulls’ top pick and No. 4 overall selection came alongside former Texas star Dailyn Swain, the Bulls’ other first-round pick and No. 15 overall selection.
“I’ve been waiting on this moment my whole life,” Wilson said as he walked to the mound wearing a No. 8 red-and-black White Sox jersey. “It’s time … greatness.”
The pitch looked a bit high but got the job done.
With Summer League action moving from Salt Lake City and San Francisco to Las Vegas, Wilson is expected to make his debut on Friday when the Bulls face the Memphis Grizzlies at 8 p.m. (Prime Video).
On the final night of play in Salt Lake City, Veesaar made his first start of the Summer League and received more minutes than in his previous two appearances.
After combining for seven points in those earlier games, he finished with 11 points, two 3‑pointers, five rebounds and four assists in 23½ minutes as the Hawks beat the Grizzlies, 92–82.
Veesaar and the Hawks will play in the second game of the first Las Vegas session on Thursday at 3:30 p.m. (ESPN2) against RJ Davis and the San Antonio Spurs. That evening at 9 p.m., Seth Trimble will make his Summer League debut as the Washington Wizards meet the Utah Jazz (ESPN).
Subscribe to read Tar Heel Tribune ad-free
Subscribe for a cleaner, smoother reading experience without the flashing banners, slow-loading elements, or those especially annoying pop‑up ads that interrupt the flow of the story. You’ll also get the first version of each story emailed to you. The only ads you’ll see are static, non-intrusive ads for UNC‑related books, and there are none currently on the site.
Summer League Tar Heels
Friday, July 3, result
— Heat 88, Spurs 87 | RJ Davis: didn’t start, 18:20, 15 points, 4–8 FG, 3–5 3FG, 2–3 FT, 2 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 1 foul, team-high +16
Saturday, July 4, results
— Bucks 97, Warriors Blue 83 | Cormac Ryan: started, 18:39, 13 points, 3–8 FG, 3–6 3FG, 3–3 FT, 2 turnovers, 3 fouls, +5 | Pete Nance: didn’t play (coach’s decision)
— Jazz 103, Hawks 102, OT | Henri Veesaar: didn’t start, 18:12, 5 points, 2–4 FG, 1–3 3FG, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 fouls, -13
— Kings 79, Nets 76 | Drake Powell: started: 27:01, 4 points, 0–9 FG, 0–5 3FG, 2–3 FT, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 3 turnovers, 2 fouls, -5
Sunday, July 5, results
— Nets 89, Bucks 69 | Neither Drake Powell, Cormac Ryan nor Pete Nance active for game | Nance was released over the weekend
— Warriors Gold team 98, Spurs 69 | RJ Davis: didn’t start, 21:20, 2 points, 1–9 FG, 0–5 3FG, 1–1 FT, 2 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 block, 3 turnovers, 2 fouls, team-low -22
Monday, July 6, results
— Hawks 82, Thunder 77 | Henri Veesaar: didn’t start, 16:48, 2 points, 1–4 FG, 0–1 3FG, 7 rebounds, team-low -11
— Lakers 88, Spurs 84 | RJ Davis: started, 29:25, 18 points, 7–16 FG, 2–7 3FG, 2–4 FT, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 turnovers, 3 fouls, team-high +10
— Nets 100, Warriors Gold team 79 | Drake Powell: started, 23:20, 2 points, 1–8 FG, 0–4 3FG, 4 rebounds, 1 steal, 2 turnovers, 3 fouls, +20
— Kings 95, Bucks 89 | Cormac Ryan: not active for game
Tuesday’s result
— Hawks 92, Grizzlies 82 | Henri Veesaar: Started, 23:32, 11 points, 4–9 FG, 2–5 3FG, 1–2 FT, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, 1 block 4 turnovers, 5 fouls, +5
All games below are in Las Vegas
Thursday’s games
— Spurs (Davis) vs. Hawks (Veesaar), 4:30 p.m. (ESPN2)
— Wizards (Trimble) vs. Jazz, 9 p.m. (ESPN)
Friday‘s games
— Bucks (Ryan) vs. Heat, 4 p.m. (Prime Video)
— Nets (Powell) vs. Knicks, 6 p.m. (Prime Video)
— Bulls (Wilson) vs. Grizzlies, 8 p.m. (Prime Video)
Saturday‘s games
— Spurs (Davis) vs. Knicks, 6 p.m. (ESPN)
— Nets (Powell) vs. Hawks (Veesaar), 8 p.m. (ESPN)
Sunday‘s games
— Wizards (Trimble) vs. Kings, 8 p.m. (Prime Video)
— Spurs (Davis) vs. Bucks (Ryan), 9 p.m. (ESPN)
Monday‘s games
— Hawks (Veesaar) vs. Celtics, 6 p.m. (Prime Video)
— Bulls (Wilson) vs. Jazz, 9 p.m. (ESPN)
— Bucks (Ryan) vs. Suns, 10 p.m. (Prime Video)
Tuesday, July 14
— Nets (Powell) vs. Kings, 6 p.m. (Prime Video)
— Wizards (Trimble) vs. Bulls (Wilson), 8 p.m. (Prime Video)
Wednesday, July 15
— Bucks (Ryan) vs. Hornets, 7:30 p.m. (Prime Video)
— Spurs (Davis) vs. Jazz, 9:30 p.m. (Prime Video)
— Wizards (Trimble) vs. Clippers, 10:30 p.m. (ESPN)
Thursday, July 16
— Nets (Powell) vs. Rockets, 4:30 p.m. (ESPNU)
— Bulls (Wilson) vs. Lakers, 6 p.m. (Prime Video)
— Hawks (Veesaar) vs. Grizzlies, 8 p.m. (Prime Video)
The Las Vegas schedule reflects each team’s first four Summer League games there, which count toward tournament seeding. The top four teams advance to the semifinals July 18, with the championship game July 19. TV assignments for several later-round games were still to be determined.
Note that an experimental one-free-throw rule is in place. One, two and three free-throw sequences produce a single attempt worth the same total points, except for the final two minutes of the fourth quarter and all overtime periods when standard free‑throw rules apply.
Photo via @chicagobulls
