ORLANDO, Fla. — When asked about Tornike Shengelia the night of the NBA Draft last month, Nets general manager Billy King said he expected the 6-foot-9 forward to spend next season overseas.
But after asking the Nets if he could prove he is ready to come over this season by playing on their summer league team, Shengelia has been one of the team’s most impressive performers throughout since practice began late last week.
“I think it’s going OK so far,” he said after finishing with eight points, four rebounds, an assist and a block in yesterday’s 87-86 loss to the Thunder. “I was a little tired. … It’s tough going four days straight. But we’ve got a fifth [today], so I’ve got to get some rest and get ready for it.”
Shengelia has averaged 8.8 points and 4.0 rebounds per game, including going for 17 points and six rebounds in his one start of the week Wednesday against Philadelphia.
He has consistently been one of the first players whom Nets coach Avery Johnson would mention after each practice and game, and assistant coach Popeye Jones — who ran the team each of the past four days — also has been pleased with Shengelia’s play.
“Toko really impressed me with his energy level every day in practice, and even here, he fights,” Jones said. “We put him out there as a small forward, he fights. We put him out there as a power forward, he fights. He runs the floor. He makes plays happen, he plays with a lot of energy.
“I didn’t see any footage on him [before practice began] … but he’s a very good basketball player. He has great instincts.”
Shengelia, 20, played in Europe for Spirou Charleroi last season in Belgium. Though Shengelia hopes he has prove* he’s ready to come over to play for the Nets this fall, he’s confident he couldn’t have worked any harder to impress them.
“Every time I go on the court, whether it’s in a practice or a game, I come out on the court the same way,” Shengelia said. “I don’t want to say later that I could do something else that I didn’t.”
* After the Nets officially put together virtually an entire new roster Wednesday, owner Mikhail Prokhorov issued a statement yesterday praising his management team of general manager Billy King, assistant GM Bobby Marks and Johnson on the work they’ve put in over the past two weeks.
“I’m thrilled with the way our team has come together,” Prokhorov said in the statement. “My congratulations and appreciation go out to general manager Billy King, assistant general manager Bobby Marks and head coach Avery Johnson for their tenacity, nerve and heart throughout this process. With the re-signing of Deron Williams and the trade for Joe Johnson, we go into our new home led by an All-Star backcourt and with every hope of a great season for the Brooklyn Nets. I can’t wait until opening night.”