Seven VFLs Set to Begin NBA Summer League Action - University of Tennessee Athletics
NBA Summer League action gets into full swing this week, as seven former Vols are members of rosters for this month's competition in Salt Lake City and Las Vegas.
Rookie guard
Kennedy Chandler (Memphis Grizzlies) and 2021 first-round selection
Jaden Springer (Philadelphia 76ers) get the action started, going head to head Tuesday night in Salt Lake City (7 p.m. ET, ESPN2).
Chandler and Springer are scheduled to play three games apiece in Salt Lake City before traveling south for the Las Vegas Summer League from July 7-17.
They'll join five other former Vols in Las Vegas—
Kyle Alexander (Portland Trail Blazers),
Jordan Bone (Boston Celtics),
Keon Johnson (Portland Trail Blazers),
Yves Pons (Brooklyn Nets) and
Admiral Schofield (Orlando Magic).
Kyle Alexander | Portland Trail Blazers
Alexander has spent the 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons playing in Spain's top league with the club Urbas Fuenlabrada—averaging 9.5 points and 5.5 rebounds per contest in 57 total games. Immediately following the conclusion of his season in Spain, he signed with the Scarborough Shooting Stars in the CEBL (Canadian Elite Basketball League).
Jordan Bone | Boston Celtics
After brief stints with the Detroit Pistons and Orlando Magic following his time at Tennessee, Bone competed professionally in both Turkey and Spain during the 2021-22 season—ending the season with Casademont Zaragoza in Spain's top league. He played 32 total games in 2021-22, averaging 11.3 points and 2.8 assists.
Kennedy Chandler | Memphis Grizzlies
Chandler was selected 38th overall in last month's NBA Draft by the San Antonio Spurs and had his rights immediately acquired by his hometown Memphis Grizzlies. As a true freshman this past season, Chandler led the Vols in scoring (13.9 ppg), assists (4.7 apg) and steals (2.2 spg).
Keon Johnson | Portland Trail Blazers
Johnson wrapped up his first NBA season after a one-year stint at Tennessee in 2020-21. A first-round selection by the Los Angeles Clippers in 2021, Johnson was traded to the Portland Trail Blazers in February. He appeared in 22 games for Portland, averaging 9.8 points and 2.9 assists in 25.5 minutes per game.
Yves Pons | Brooklyn Nets
Pons was on a two-way contract with the Memphis Grizzlies during his rookie season in 2021-22. He appeared in 12 games for the Grizzlies over the course of the season. In nine games with the G League's Memphis Hustle, Pons averaged 9.4 points and 5.0 rebounds in 25.4 minutes per game.
Admiral Schofield | Orlando Magic
Schofield signed a two-way contract with the Orlando Magic in January and went on to appear in 38 games for the Magic with averages of 3.8 points and 2.3 rebounds per game. Schofield also played six games for the Lakeland Magic in the G League, averaging 19.2 points, 7.7 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game.
Jaden Springer | Philadelphia 76ers
Springer was a two-way player for the Philadelphia 76ers in 2021-22, appearing primarily in the G League for the Delaware Blue Coats—averaging 14.9 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.8 assists in 19 games played.
FULL SUMMER LEAGUE TV SCHEDULE
Salt Lake City Summer League (July 5-7)
Tuesday, July 5
Memphis (Chandler) vs. Philadelphia (Springer) – 7 p.m. ET (ESPN2)
Wednesday, July 6
Memphis (Chandler) vs. Oklahoma City – 7 p.m. ET (ESPN2)
Philadelphia (Springer) vs. Utah – 9 p.m. ET (ESPN2)
Thursday, July 7
Oklahoma City vs. Philadelphia (Springer) – 6 p.m. ET (ESPN2)
Memphis (Chandler) vs. Utah – 8 p.m. ET (ESPN2)
Las Vegas Summer League (July 7-17)
Thursday, July 7
Houston vs. Orlando (Schofield) – 10 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Portland (Johnson/Alexander) vs. Detroit – 12 a.m. ET (ESPN)
Friday, July 8
Brooklyn (Pons) vs. Milwaukee – 7 p.m. ET (NBA TV)
Saturday, July 9
Toronto vs. Philadelphia (Springer) – 3:30 p.m. ET (NBA TV)
Orlando (Schofield) vs. Sacramento – 4 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Boston (Bone) vs. Miami – 5:30 p.m. ET (NBA TV)
Los Angeles Clippers vs. Memphis (Chandler) – 9:30 p.m. ET (NBA TV)
New Orleans vs. Portland (Johnson/Alexander) – 10 p.m. ET (ESPN2)
Sunday, July 10
Philadelphia (Springer) vs. Brooklyn (Pons) – 3:30 p.m. ET (NBA TV)
Minnesota vs. Memphis (Chandler) – 9 p.m. ET (ESPNU)
Monday, July 11
Milwaukee vs. Boston (Bone) – 8 p.m. ET (NBA TV)
Orlando (Schofield) vs. Oklahoma City – 9 p.m. ET (ESPN)
New York vs. Portland (Johnson/Alexander) – 11 p.m. ET (ESPN2)
Tuesday, July 12
Memphis (Chandler) vs. Brooklyn (Pons) – 6 p.m. ET (ESPN2)
Boston (Bone) vs. Golden State – 8 p.m. ET (ESPN2)
Wednesday, July 13
Miami vs. Philadelphia (Springer) – 9 p.m. ET (ESPNU)
Thursday, July 14
Memphis (Chandler) vs. Boston (Bone) – 3:30 p.m. ET (NBA TV)
New York vs. Orlando (Schofield) – 7:30 p.m. ET (NBA TV)
Brooklyn (Pons) vs. Minnesota – 9 p.m. ET (ESPNU)
Portland (Johnson/Alexander) vs. Houston – 9:30 p.m. ET (NBA TV)
Friday, July 15
Philadelphia (Springer) vs. Denver – 6 p.m. ET (NBA TV)
Saturday, July 16 – Sunday, July 17
TBD