Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports
January 5th marked the first day of the season that NBA teams could sign players to 10-day contracts. Over the last four days, three players from the D-League have received a call-up to the NBA: Elijah Millsap, Elliot Williams and Langston Galloway.
Here’s a look at how they have each performed since joining their respective teams.
Elijah Millsap — Utah Jazz (via Bakersfield Jam)
Signed 10-day contract on January 5th
It’s not often that players on 10-day contracts get the opportunity to play as much as Millsap has in his first two games. In his debut against the Indiana Pacers, he logged 18 minutes off the bench. A few nights later against the Chicago Bulls, he went on to play 21 minutes.
Millsap has struggled to score efficiently in the two games he’s appeared in, posting just four points on 1-for-9 shooting. Given that he failed to become a reliable outside threat with the Bakersfield Jam, his slow start in that department comes as no surprise. However, in typical fashion, the gritty guard has found other ways to impact the game. Over the course of 39 minutes, he has totals of seven rebounds, five assists, two steals and one block. He’s been a difference maker on the defensive end, and has done a great job of finding the open man once teams collapse the paint.
All in all, Millsap has given the Jazz some positive minutes in his first two games. If he keeps it up, there’s a good chance that he’ll be in Utah until the end of the month.
Elliot Williams — Utah Jazz (via Santa Cruz Warriors)
Signed 10-day contract on January 7th
In a 20-point victory over the Chicago Bulls, Williams made his debut with the Utah Jazz. On his first offensive possession, he found the ball in his hands late with the shot clock winding down and banked-in his only three-point attempt of the game. He then scored off of a backdoor cut within the closing seconds of the fourth quarter, giving him a quick five points on the night.
The Jazz have a tough schedule ahead of them, with match ups against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Houston Rockets and Golden State Warriors coming before January 13th. If Williams gets minutes, it’ll be a good opportunity for him to showcase his talent against elite competition.
Langston Galloway — New York Knicks (via Westchester Knicks)
Signed 10-day contract on January 7th
It didn’t take long for Galloway to get his chance with the New York Knicks. A day after inking his contract, the guard was a spark-plug off the bench in a nationally televised game against the Houston Rockets, in which he scored 19 points on 6-for-10 shooting in 30 minutes. It was the most points by a Knicks rookie in their Madison Square Garden debut in over 30 years. Galloway also grabbed four rebounds and dished out three assists in the Knicks’ loss.
In a lost season, the Knicks are on the prow for players who can help them in the future. Spending 19 games with the Westchester Knicks, who also run the triangle, has prepared Galloway well for the NBA. He looked at ease in his debut and put his ability to be a two-way player on full display, which raised eyebrows from his new coaching staff in the process.
Galloway will likely receive a heavy dose of minutes against the Charlotte Hornets and Milwaukee Bucks in the coming days, giving him a golden opportunity to prove that he belongs in the NBA.