Former Michigan State basketball star Malik Hall threw down a massive dunk during his first NBA Summer League action.
After not playing at all in his first NBA Summer League game with the Charlotte Hornets, Malik Hall took the floor late in their second game against China, throwing down one of the meanest dunks you’ll see all summer.
Hall caught a pass at the top of the arc from a teammate late in the game, realized he had an over-matched big on him with slow-moving feet, pump-faked, drove right past him, and threw it down much to the delight of his Summer League teammates on the bench.
It’s great to see him showcasing that same skillset he had in East Lansing this past season. He had a breakout year with the Spartans and his revenge tour felt a lot like Joey Hauser’s. He went from often-criticized forward who got the brunt of the criticism in his previous seasons for being inconsistent to being the leader and most reliable player on the team. There’s a very good chance Michigan State misses the NCAA Tournament and sees its streak end this past season if not for Malik.
But now he’s with the Hornets and he’s trying to make the active roster. Unfortunately, it’s going to be an uphill battle as he’s fighting for minutes on the Summer League squad after going undrafted.
If he keeps flashing moves like this, however, he’s going to make it tough to cut and move on from him.
Hall finished the game with four points in just a few minutes and shot 2-for-3 from the floor and was a solid +6.
There’s a reason fans believed Hall could have a future in the NBA and it’s because he can surprise people with his ability to put the ball on the floor at his size and create for himself. Let’s hope he’ll be Miles Bridges’ (yes, he’s still in the league) teammate soon — maybe after a G-League stint.