by WICHITA, Kan. – Former Wichita State guard Ron Baker (Citizen Potawatomi) will join another former Shocker, Cleanthony Early, on the New York Knicks’ roster for next month’s Orlando (Fla.) Pro Summer League, July 2-8, at the Orlando Magic’s practice facility. The club released its complete list on Monday afternoon.
Baker, Early and the Knicks will take part in five games over seven days against squads representing eight other NBA franchises.
With chapters in Orlando, Las Vegas and Salt Lake City, the NBA Summer League’s abbreviated exhibition scheduled serves as a training ground for young professionals and gives executives an opportunity to evaluate their own players, as well as potential free agent pickups, in a competitive environment.
The Knicks open against the Detroit Pistons on Saturday, July 2 and continue July 3, 5, 6 and 8th.
Knicks’ entry at the 2016 Orlando Pro Summer League pic.twitter.com/6hkpegzY4m
— NY_KnicksPR (@NY_KnicksPR) June 27, 2016
Baker continues a recent trend of Shockers in a Knick uniform. Early was a 2014 Knicks draftee and has spent portions of the past two seasons on the team’s regular season roster. Prior to that, Toure’ Murry appeared in 51 games for New York during the 2013-14 season.
Nate Bowman (1967-70), Xavier McDaniel (1991-92) and Dave Stallworth (1965-67, 69-71 and 74-75) have also been Knicks, with Stallworth and Bowman teaming up on New York’s 1970 NBA Championship squad. Paul Miller attended training camp with the Knicks in 2006, shortly after leading the Shockers to a Sweet 16.
Follow the Action from Orlando:
Live streaming of all Orlando Summer League games is typically available for purchase through the NBA’s website.
Fans can also access box scores, game recaps and cumulative statistics by visiting nba.com/summer league.
New York Knicks – Orlando Pro Summer League Schedule
July 2 / 2 p.m. CT vs. Detroit
July 3 / 2 p.m. vs. Miami – 2 p.m. CT
July 5 / 2 p.m. vs. LA Clippers – 2 p.m. CT
July 6/ 12 p.m. vs. Orlando White – 12 p.m. CT
July 8/ TBA (Placement Round)
Shockers in the NBA Summer League:
A total of four Shockers competed in the 2015 NBA Summer League: Darius Carter (Nuggets/Las Vegas), Tekele Cotton (Thunder/Orlando), Cleanthony Early (Knicks/Las Vegas), and Nick Wiggins (Jazz/Utah).
Early turned in the best performance of the group, averaging 10.4 points and 3.8 rebounds to lead the Knicks to a 4-1 finish in Las Vegas. (Full 2015 Recap)
In 2014, Early – a New York Knicks draftee – averaged 11.5 points over four contests. Gal Mekel played for the Dallas Mavericks, and Wiggins saw time with the Sacramento Kings.
In 2013, Toure’ Murry turned his summer audition with the Knicks into a free agent contract. Mekel (Mavericks) and Garett Stutz (Kings) were also active.
All About Baker:
An unheralded recruit from Western Kansas who blossomed into one of college basketball’s premier guards… Helped lead Wichita State to a golden age of prosperity with three conference titles and nine NCAA Tournament wins in four trips, including a 2013 Final Four appearance… A year later, played a key role on a 2013-14 Shocker squad that opened the year with a (then) national record 35-straight wins and claimed the program’s first-ever No. 1 seed… Alongside teammate Fred VanVleet, became the first Shockers in over three decades to be named first team All-Missouri Valley Conference in three-consecutive seasons… Earned John R. Wooden and USA Today All-America honors and was an honorable mention selection by the Associated Press as a junior in 2014-15… One of the most versatile guards to ever wear a Shocker uniform… Despite missing 20 games as a freshman to a stress fracture injury, finished high on WSU’s all-time list in nearly every meaningful category… Ended his career ranked in the top-10 in scoring (8th, 1,636 points), wins (5th, 106), three-point makes (2nd, 242), three-point attempts (1st, 655), assists (9th, 345) and steals (4th, 163)… Also ranked high on the list for field goals (11th, 522), free throws (11th, 350) and blocks (13th, 76)…
