76ers two-way player Shake Milton is tearing up the G League. In his last 10 games, Milton scored 23 points or more nine times with the Delaware Blue Coats after returning from a hand injury on March 8, and with G League season now over, the second-round pick out of SMU will end the regular season with the 76ers.
One of the biggest reasons for Milton’s success at SMU and in the G League is Hall of Fame coach Larry Brown, who coached Milton at SMU, and was the coach of the 76ers(1997-2003), which included a trip to the NBA Finals in 2001.
Milton and Brown continue to have a solid relationship, and according to Milton, the two talk regularly.
“That’s my guy. I still call him,” Milton recently told Paul Gant. “We talk to each other probably a couple of times every week. He’s always giving me words of encouragement, anything he sees. I know if I ever have trouble, or if I’m ever bothered about anything on the court or off the court, I can always come to him, and he will be a resource for me, so that’s my guy.”
Having a resource like Brown should be valuable for Milton as he continues to navigate the NBA, and at this point, you could argue that the 76ers might be able to use what Milton brings to the table. The 6’6 guard averaged 24.9 ppg(second in G League in scoring), 4.9 apg, and 4.9 rbg in 27 games with the Delaware Blue Coats, and he has shown the ability to score in many different ways, which has been on full display in Delaware.
However, since Milton is a two-way player, he is not eligible for the playoffs, so unless the 76ers sign him to an NBA contract this season, Milton will not be available for the playoffs. However, this is not a concern for Milton.
“That’s something I really don’t even try to concern myself with,” Milton said about the possibility of suiting up for the playoffs. “I just try to do the best with whatever opportunity I’m given, so for me, that just means to keep working, keep putting work in every single day. It will eventually pay off and show itself.”
Don’t expect the 22-year-old Milton to have a huge impact with 76ers this season, but next year, if he continues to “play the right way,” Milton should have an opportunity to have a more significant role with the 76ers.
Listen below to the complete interview with Milton as he talks his development, and he tells us the biggest difference between playing in the NBA and playing in the G League.:
