Former University of California center Firdaus Aimak didn't wow anyone in his NBA Summer League debut on Saturday afternoon, but he did many of the things that professional teams expect from a big man.
Aimaek, an undrafted free agent playing for the Sacramento Kings' summer team, was credited with six points on 2-of-6 shooting in the Kings' nationally televised 108-94 win over the Los Angeles Lakers' summer team, but was credited with eight points when the scorer forgot to count two free throws he made in the second quarter.
Most of the attention in the game at San Francisco's Chase Center was on Lakers second-round draft pick Bronny James, who finished with four points on 2-of-9 shooting, but the star of the game was Adonis Arms, who played in the G League last season and had 32 points, 11 rebounds and five assists on Saturday.
But our focus is on Aimak, who was the Kings' starting center on Saturday and played nearly 26 minutes on the court.
NBA teams and top international pro teams want big men who can rebound, set effective screens, handle and pass the ball well, and block shots. If you can score, that's an advantage, too.
The 6-foot-11 Aimak has never been a rim protector and didn't block a shot Saturday. He's not expected to be a big-time scorer in the pros, but he did three other things well Saturday. He grabbed nine rebounds, set what will likely be summer-league records for solid screens, and showed he can pass effectively from the middle. He had four assists, but many of his passes led to Kings points.
It's unlikely Aimak will make the Kings' regular-season roster, but if he performs well in the summer league he could earn a spot on an overseas pro or G League roster.
He started the game 0-for-4 from the field, missing two of the 8-foot push shots he'd made frequently during his one season with the Golden Bears, had a third blocked and his fourth 3-pointer went wide, leaving him 0-for-4 at halftime.
His first field goal was a follow-up shot in the fourth quarter, he added another a few minutes later, and he also made 4 of 6 free throws (though the official score said he made 2 of 4).
Aimak has two more chances to prove himself: The Kings host the Miami Heat's summer team on Sunday and the Warriors' summer team on Wednesday, both at Chase Center.
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