Communication is key for former KU star Jalen Wilson in NBA Summer League with Nets

Being a three-year starter for Bill Self at Kansas, Jalen Wilson knows the importance of communication in basketball.

Whether it’s using his voice to uplift teammates or barking out directions on defense, Wilson is focused on his communication during his time at NBA Summer League playing for the Brooklyn Nets.

“Being a defender, a guy that messes up plays, crashes the boards, gets steals, gets blocks and just being a vocal guy,” Wilson said. “That’s the biggest thing for a rookie is just not being afraid to get out there and be vocal and be confident in themselves.

“I feel like communication is a huge part of winning basketball, not just in the NBA, but at every level. So I’m working on being the best communicator that I can be.”

Wilson was selected by the Nets with the No. 51 overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft and was signed to a two-way contract.

He made his professional basketball debut on Friday in Las Vegas, scoring 14 of his team-high 17 points in the third quarter of the Nets’ 101-97 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers at Cox Pavilion.

The same Euro-step finishes that made Wilson one of the best college basketball players in the nation last season at KU was working for him on Friday. The first team consensus All-American is still working on improving his outside shot — he was 1 of 5 beyond the arc against the Cavs — but many aspects of his game are already pro-ready.

“Jalen brings a bunch of energy, whether it’s on the offensive glass or he’s trying to drive and get to the rim,” Nets Summer League coach Trevor Hendry said. “Defensively, he can essentially guard every position. So I can’t say enough good things about how he played in this first game.

“He wasn’t scared of the moment. He did everything we asked of him and he was the reason we got back in that game to start the third quarter.”