The 21-year-old from Toyama Prefecture scored 22 points in the first half and impressed Detroit Pistons head coach Dwane Casey. ”I think he’s going to be a heck of a player, the NBA is a physical game, a tough game. He’s got a great body for the NBA,” Casey, who is in Japan for a coaching clinic and was at the game as a spectator, told Kyodo News. ”I see Rui … developing his game to move out to the 3-point line. Because that’s where the NBA is. Great kid, great work ethic.”
Dwane Casey Rumors
Drummond clicked with Casey, and there is optimism in their second season together could produce another level for the two-time All-Star who has struggled with inconsistency in seven seasons. “I joked that maybe I should get hit in my head more often, but I just think it was a sense of urgency,” Drummond said of last season. “We slipped a little bit in the playoff run and when I came back, if I didn’t play at a high level, we wouldn’t make it in. A switch turned on and started playing the way I was supposed to play. It was taking it to the next level and taking matter into my own hands. That’s the type of intensity I need to have for Game 1.”
Rod Beard: #Pistons Tim Frazier on playing for Dwane Casey: I”t’s huge. You’ve seen what he did in Toronto. I think about Fred Van Vleet and coming in the same way undrafted. Casey gave him an opportunity and you saw what he did.”
Vincent Ellis: Dwane Casey says Sekou will play summer league.
Rod Beard: #Pistons Dwane Casey on getting credit for helping build #Raptors: “I appreciate that. I know how hard we worked to develop a lot of players there. … It’s reinforcing and I appreciate it. We want to see that here – that’s our goal now.”
