MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Less than a week after completing the NBA Summer League season in Las Vegas, former WVU guard Erik Stevenson wanted to get back on the court in competitive games as quickly as possible.
That opportunity awaited him with a standing offer to join the WVU alumni team Best Virginia in The Basketball Tournament. After a cross country flight and just seven days removed from his last game with the San Antonio Spurs’ Summer League squad, Stevenson was in the starting lineup in Best Virginia’s TBT opener in Wheeling Tuesday evening.
Radio affiliates carrying tonight's Best Virginia-Herd That TBT Regional semifinal game:
Tony Caridi and Brad Howe on the call at WesBanco Arena in Wheeling. pic.twitter.com/TWjawAORCU
— MetroNews (@WVMetroNews) July 27, 2023
“It was always that if the dates allowed me to play, I was going to come out here and play. I am just a hooper, man. I just go out and play and I don’t worry about the rest of the stuff. Whatever gym is open and we are playing, I am probably there,” Stevenson said on Wednesday’s Citynet Statewide Sportsline.
Stevenson stole the show in his TBT debut. With Best Virginia trailing DuBois Dream, 68-67 in the Elam Ending, Stevenson grabbed a defensive rebound to give his team possession and a chance to win the game. On the next trip down the court, Stevenson raised up and connected on the game-winning 3-pointer to give the No. 1 seeds a 70-68 win.
“I really wasn’t thinking a whole lot. Let’s just get a bucket. If it is the game-winner, it is the game-winner. If not, let’s get a stop. The opportunity presented itself for me to come off the handoff with KJ [Kevin Jones] and rise up. I had a pretty clean look at it and it was able to fall.”
Stevenson was signed by the Spurs as a free agent following the NBA Draft last month with an invitation to compete on their Summer League team. He played in four of the team’s five games, averaging 21.9 minutes and 8.3 points per game.
“Playing in Vegas, I learned a lot. A lot of NBA guys and a lot of NBA eyes. There were some very, very important eyes out there. Pressure was on.
“Shoot it. If I am open, I’ve got to shoot it. If I am partially open, I’ve got to shoot it. The guys in the NBA, G-League, Summer League, however you want to word it, if you can shoot it you are very valuable. The NBA is full of super athletes trying to get downhill and tear the rim off. So guys that can space the floor really, really help.”
Stevenson is hoping to make an impact with the San Antonio franchise, likely starting with the team’s G-League affiliate in Austin.
“I will have ample opportunity to bounce back-and-forth with the parent club or I will have ample opportunity with their G-League squad and earn my way that way. All I need is my foot in the door.”
Best Virginia will face Herd That in the West Virginia Regional semifinal round Thursday at 7 p.m.
“They’ve got some very high-level overseas guys. Rob Gray, he used to play Wichita when he was at Houston. I know that name. Obviously [Jon] Elmore, he can play. They’ve got some other guys, some bigs that can play and play above the rim. We’re going to have to be physical with them and match their intensity. I think if we don’t turn the ball over like we did [Wednesday], we should be okay.”
MetroNews will have radio broadcast coverage of Thursday’s regional semifinals at wvmetronews.com.