It took 82 games, until the final regular season game of the season for Pacers rookie Edmond Sumner to make his NBA debut. For the 22-year-old who spent most of the season recovering from a torn ACL, it was a sweet reward for everything he’s gone through over the last 14 months.
With 2:10 left in the Pacers’ home loss to the Charlotte Hornets Tuesday night, Nate McMillan sent his third rookie into the game. Sumner took off his shooting shirts and checked in, replacing Lance Stephenson.
His first ever line on an NBA boxscore is a foul, coming 33 seconds later. Soon after, he grabbed a rebound and used five dribbles to get to the other end of the floor – finishing with a finger roll.
Two points.
“It’s something you dream about,” he said afterwards. “This is a hard thing to accomplish so for me to actually finally get out there and play a little bit, it’s a great feeling.”
After the game, coach McMillan gave Sumner a keepsake. It was the game ball.
“It’s still a surreal feeling. Just to get out there and even get a bucket. It’s great.”
Because it was a special Hickory night, Sumner still has not work a Pacers uniform for game action.
Sumner appeared in 14 games, including seven starts for the Mad Ants. He averaged 7.2 points, 2.3 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 1.1 steals per game.
First points in @EdmondSumner's @NBA career! https://t.co/FUXDBPTGEO
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) April 11, 2018