Former KSU basketball star Kendrick Ray has made his way back to the U.S. after a successful season playing in the Czech Republic.
After being named MVP of the Czech league and signing with Israeli team Maccabi Tel-Aviv for next season, Ray has earned a spot on the summer league roster of the NBA team Utah Jazz.
Playing amongst recent college stars such as Grayson Allen and Georges Niang, Ray is getting a shot at proving himself at the highest level of basketball. He made his NBA Summer League debut on July 2, putting up 9 points, 6 assists, and 7 rebounds against the San Antonio Spurs.
In four appearances, Ray has totaled over 80 minutes of game time and contributed to the total team effort. During these games, Ray has played in a more aggressive point guard role than his previous role of a balanced shooting guard at KSU. Despite the position change, he continued to provide assists and collect rebounds on the Jazz.
“It’s been a real big adjustment for me as I’m playing more of a point guard role and running the team,” Ray said. “I have to show that I can run a team and get guys to the spots where they can be effective and keeping the pace of the game.”
Several NBA teams have expressed interest in Ray for some time, as he has gradually made a name for himself through his impressive performances at KSU and in the Czech Republic.
His role as a team leader was crucial on those two teams, and he will likely be the target man again once he begins his season in Israel.
Ray’s experience on an NBA roster, even if only for the summer, will help broaden his skill set and prepare him for future possibilities. Despite his burgeoning profile in the world of basketball, Ray seems to prefer the life of an underrated star and remains squarely focused on improving himself one game at a time.
From a bench role at Quinnipiac University to a starting role on an NBA Summer League team, Ray has fought his way to success and will continue through his career with that determination.
