Cooper scored 16 points off the bench as Memphis lost to Golden State
An NBA Summer League championship isn't much to brag about, but it is a title nonetheless, and the only one up for grabs in major professional American basketball this summer.
Michigan State's Carson Cooper came up just short of the prize in Las Vegas.
Cooper's Memphis Grizzlies suffered a 94-90 loss to the Golden State Warriors on Sunday in the championship game of NBA Summer League. The former Spartan center contributed 16 points, one rebound and two steals in 17 minutes off the bench in the loss. Cooper shot 7-for-8 from the field, 1-for-2 at the free-throw line and the Grizzlies were five points better than Golden State when he was on the floor.
Memphis got 19 points apiece from No. 3 overall pick Cameron Boozer and second-year guard Cedric Coward. Golden State's top draft pick, Michigan forward Yaxel Lendeborg, turned in 21 points and 10 rebounds, while guard Deivon Smith posted 21 points and nine boards off the bench.
Cooper, who was picked up by the Grizzlies after going undrafted last month following a four-year MSU career, was one of several Spartans competing at NBA Summer League in Las Vegas. Jaden Akins (New York Knicks), Frankie Fidler (Portland Trail Blazers), Jase Richardson (Orlando Magic) and Jaxon Kohler (Utah Jazz) also were competing, as well as guards Tre Holloman and AJ Hoggard, who finished their college careers elsewhere after starting at MSU.
A native of nearby Jackson who came to MSU initially expecting to redshirt as a low-profile recruit out of IMG Academy, Cooper developed into a key contributor his final two seasons with the Spartans, winning 57 games, a Big Ten championship and twice reaching the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament. Last year as a senior, Cooper served as a captain and averaged 11.1 points and 7.1 rebounds per game.
"This day and age, they don't know it now, because I wasn't happy during the game, but I love those guys just about more than anybody because everybody can leave now," MSU head coach Tom Izzo said of Cooper and Kohler in March after MSU's season-ending loss to Connecticut. "Hell, everybody can leave. They stood strong, never did we even think about them leaving, and they got better and we got better. So they stand for everything I believe in. As the years go on, they'll be even more special to me, to be honest with you."
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