Summer League success story: Kansas’ Johnny Furphy productive for Pacers in Las Vegas

From a financial standpoint, Johnny Furphy appears to have made the right decision in leaving Kansas for the NBA after his one-and-done campaign.

The 19-year-old early-second round selection in the 2024 NBA Draft recently signed a four-year rookie deal with the Indiana Pacers worth $8,589,485 — with the hefty sum of $6,102,490 guaranteed.

The 6-foot-9 wing’s solid on-court showing in the just-completed NBA 2K25 Summer League also supports his decision to begin his pro career. Furphy averaged 14.0 points, 6.8 rebounds, 1.8 steals and 1.0 assists while playing in four of five games for the Pacers, who went a disappointing 1-4 in games played in Las Vegas.

As a starter, the 35th-overall pick in the draft averaged 29.0 minutes per game.

He did not shoot particularly well, cashing 20 of 54 shots for 37.0%. The Melbourne, Australia, native went 10-of-35 from 3 for 28.6%.

However, he did not appear intimidated at all while making his pro debut.

“Furphy showed more polish on both ends of the floor in Las Vegas than the Pacers may have expected,” wrote the Indy Star’s Dustin Dopirak.

“General manager Chad Buchanan raved on draft day about Furphy’s ability to move without the ball and that showed up throughout his four games. The 202-pound wing showed that he could both cut and space, using his gravity as a shooter to drag defenders away from the paint but also diving to the rim to get open for easy finishes.

“The Pacers might have liked to have seen better shooting efficiency. However, the range was there and he maintained confidence after misses.”

Dopirak added that “Furphy’s athleticism also flashed as much as his basketball IQ, as he threw down several dunks including lob finishes and he averaged 6.8 rebounds per game, the third highest figure on the team. He wasn’t dominant on the defensive end but had more success on that side than expected with seven steals in four games.”

Furphy, who plans on putting on some weight, may spend some time in the G League his rookie season. That’s because the Pacers, who lost to Boston in the Eastern Conference finals, return Andrew Nembhard and Aaron Nesmith — starters at shooting guard and small forward. Ben Sheppard and Bennedict Mathurin return to play on the wing.

The squad also has experienced power forwards in Pascal Siakam and Obi Toppin. Jarace Walker, the eighth overall pick in the 2023 draft, also plays small forward.

“The Pacers have a need for a movement shooter and Furphy could get at least some minutes this season, even if he also spends some time on G League assignments. He doesn’t seem far away from being an impact player,” wrote the Indy Star’s Dopirak.

Furphy was one of seven former KU players to compete in summer league in Vegas.

• Second-year pro Jalen Wilson of the Brooklyn Nets earned MVP honors of the entire league after averaging 21.8 points and 4.6 rebounds a game. He hit 47.3% of his shots, including a sizzling 55.0% from 3. The Nets went 3-2.

• Third-year pro Ochai Agbaji averaged 6.0 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game in four games for the Toronto Raptors. He hit 35.7% of his shots, just 14.3% of his 3s.

• Another member of the Raptors, former KU guard Gradey Dick, played in just two games. He was slowed by a right ankle sprain. Dick averaged 11.0 points, 7.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game on 30.8% shooting. He went 0-for-9 from 3 overall for the Raptors (2-3). Dick, a 20-year-old and second-year pro, did fill the stat sheet with an 18-point, 10-rebound, 6-assist effort against Oklahoma City.

Dick told SI.com he’s gained nine pounds since the end of the season and is now 6-6, 214.

“He got stronger this summer and you can feel it in how he’s playing,” Raptors president Masai Ujiri said as quoted by SI.com.”You can tell he’s doing other things, trying to affect the game in different ways.”

Dick told SI.com: “I just feel like I’m getting bigger every single day. It’s definitely an emphasis of kind of showing my versatility at the same time.”

• A longshot to make the team, former KU forward Parker Braun played in two of five games for the Denver Nuggets (2-3). Braun scored one bucket in the two games with eight total rebounds and four assists. He averaged 13.7 minutes in those two games.

• One of the older players in summer league, former KU combo guard Marcus Garrett, averaged 8.5 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.5 assists while playing four games for the Charlotte Hornets, who went 4-1. Garrett logged 20.7 minutes a game in those four contests in Vegas.

The 25-year-old Garrett hit 44.8% of his shots. He hit 16.7% of his 3s. Garrett played in 12 games for the Miami Heat in 2021-22. He has extensive G League experience.

• Former KU, Iowa State and Cleveland State forward Tristan Enaruna averaged 3.7 points and 1 rebound in three games for the Boston Celtics, who went 2-3. He averaged 14.7 minutes in those three contests.

• Former KU guard Kevin McCullar, a second-round draft pick of the New York Knicks, missed summer league as he continues to rehab a knee injury that required a surgical procedure after the 2023-24 college season. The Knicks have not yet announced his signing to a rookie contract.