Marquis Teague on Jeff playing for the Pacers: ‘It’s like a dream come true’

ORLANDO, Fla. — Marquis Teague had just completed his second Summer League game Monday afternoon as a member of the Dallas Mavericks’ entry in Orlando. He discussed his game — he scored 13 points each in Game 1 and 2 — areas of improvement, and what’s next.

And then he lit up when asked about his brother, Jeff, being traded home to the Indiana Pacers.

“Ah, man. That’s great,” Teague told VigilantSports.com. “Man, that’s exciting to be back home. It’s like a dream come true. I know he’s real happy and excited about it. It should be fun to see what they can do.”

An agreement was finalized on June 22, the day before the draft. The Pacers got Jeff Teague, sent ‘Hometown Hero’ George Hill to Utah, and Atlanta received Utah’s first-round pick (12). The deal will not be completed and then announced, however, until after NBA’s free-agent moratorium concludes on July 7.

Until then, team officials cannot publicly comment the transaction.

Talking with the Teague brothers’ parents, Shawn and Carol, on Friday — and they were clearly ecstatic — they preferred to wait until the transaction was completed to speak publicly.

One friend simply said Jeff is “geeked” to come home.

Brother Marquis says he wasn’t surprised that the deal went down.

“Well, they had already told me stuff was in the works so I kind of already knew what was going on,” he shared. “My mom and them just told me that it finally went through. I was just excited. He gets to be close to our family and everybody gets to see him play. It’s going to be fun.

“He’s real happy. He’s excited. He gets to play in front of family, in front of the whole city! Get to play for your city, ain’t no better feeling than that. He’s enjoying it. He’s going to have fun with it and they are going to have a good team.”

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Marquis, meanwhile, spent all last season playing for the Thunder’s Developmental Team, the Blue. Appearing in 50 games, Teague averaged 15.7 points, 5.9 assists, and 2.8 rebounds per game. His average point total led the team among players who suited up regularly.

As VigilantSports.com reported one year ago, the Pacers wanted to bring Marquis in for free agent mini-camp but he was sidelined with an ankle injury.

“I’m fine now,” he said. “I got everything back to 100 percent. I’ve been good.”

His last game played in the NBA was back on April 16, 2014 for the Brooklyn Nets. Just 23, but he’s been out of The Association for two years.

“I mean it’s frustrating but I don’t look at it like that,” said Teague. “I just try to do what I do, work on my game, and continue to grow. I know it’ll come because I’m talented and I can play so when it comes, I just have to be ready.”

Through two Orlando Summer League games, he’s averaging 13 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game coming off the bench. He’s spent the offseason home in Indianapolis and works out daily.