C
Clint Nielson
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Photo by Harry How/Getty Images
The SLC Stars have several promising prospects, including Jason Preston, Kenneth Lofton Jr, Micah Potter and Johnny Juzang
Jason Preston and Kenneth Lofton Jr. of the Utah Jazz and Salt Lake City Stars made the All-NBA G League First Team. Both player’s incredible play was the main reason the Stars ended their regular season on an 11-game winning streak.
Jason Preston is a pure point guard who impacts the game in a myriad of ways. Preston posted an incredible stat line for the Stars. He nearly averaged a triple-double by scoring 16.9 points, 10 assists, and grabbing 9.2 rebounds a night. Being a rebounding threat as a 6’3 point guard is an impressive ability. The 24-year-old guard’s efficiency was incredible as he shot .498/.448/.875 for SLC.
Kenneth Lofton Jr. made his impact immediately as a skilled and dominant inside presence. For the Stars season, Lofton Jr. scored 23.4 points, grabbed 10.1 rebounds, and got 4.6 assists a game. Junior shot .583/.320/.514 splits for the Stars. Lofton Jr’s. ability to take over games with his strength, skill, and offensive intelligence makes him a nightly threat for opposing teams.
Near the end of the season, Preston and Lofton Jr. got some Utah Jazz playing time. For the Jazz, Preston’s passing and presence as a point guard were apparent, but his scoring left more to be desired. To receive a standard NBA contract, Preston will need to score more reliably at the NBA level. For the last 3 Jazz games of the season, Lofton Jr. became the offensive centerpiece when he was on the court. Lofton Jr’s. defensive deficiencies are what has kept him from being an NBA rotation player in the past, but his defense looked pretty good for his limited NBA games this season. How much do you think Jason Preston and Kenneth Lofton Jr. will contribute to the Jazz in the 2024-2025 season? Comment Below.
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