Each week, “Coat Check” will highlight the Delaware Blue Coats, the NBA G League affiliate of the Philadelphia 76ers.
CHECKING IN
Marial Shayok has been turning heads in the NBA G League from the jump. In doing so, the 76ers’ rookie two-way contract player earned the league’s very first award of the young season.
After averaging 35.0 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 3.7 assists in three appearances for the Blue Coats in games played Nov. 8 – 17, the 2019 no. 54 pick was named NBA G League Player of the Week.
Where we last left off, the Blue Coats (currently 2-3) sat at an even 1-1 heading into the team’s first road game of the season on Nov. 15 at the Long Island Nets (Brooklyn Nets). All the team did that night was go out and post the second-highest point total in franchise history in a 152-137 victory. Jonah Bolden, on assignment from the 76ers, made his season debut for the Coats and tallied 34 points (12-18 fg, 5-9 3fg, 3-5 ft), nine rebounds, and three steals in 31 minutes.
Shayok reached an early career milestone in the win, and details can be found in our Two-Way Tracker section below. Haywood Highsmith scored 19 of his 26 points (11-18 fg, 2-4 3fg, 1-1 ft) in the second half against the Nets, while Jared Brownridge poured in 22 of his 25 points (9-14 fg, 6-10 3fg, 1-1 ft) for Delaware during the game’s final 24 minutes.
Following a 123-111 home loss to the Canton Charge (Cleveland Cavaliers) last Saturday, a game in which Bolden racked up a double-double with 16 points and 16 boards, there was plenty of added excitement surrounding the team’s roster for Tuesday’s meeting with the Capital City Go-Go (Washington Wizards). The Sixers’ Shake Milton was assigned to Delaware and 76ers two-way contract player Norvel Pelle re-joined the Blue Coats. Bolden would suit up again, plus Shayok and 76ers assignment player Zhaire Smith returned to the lineup.
The Blue Coats, however, were unable to bounce back against Capital City, falling by a final score of 125-105 at 76ers Fieldhouse. Along with Pelle (see Two-Way Tracker), Smith was a bright spot with an efficient night for the Coats. The second-year player finished with 15 points (7-10 fg, 1-3 3fg) and a pair of rebounds in a game-high 32 minutes.
76ers General Manager Elton Brand sat courtside.
Dating back to the start of last season, Smith (14 games, 8.3 ppg, 3.2 rpg) and Bolden (11 games, 16.0 ppg, 11.0 rpg) have now each played in double-digit G League contests.
TWO-WAY TRACKER
Marial Shayok
The G League Player of the Week recorded his first career double-double with 29 points and a season-high 13 rebounds in the victory over Long Island. Including a 13-point performance last time out, Shayok currently ranks second in the G League in scoring average (29.5 ppg), while shooting 45.7 percent (43-94) from the field, 31.0% (9-29) from 3-point territory, and 85.0 percent (17-20) from the free throw line. Shayok’s 17 free throws place him fourth in the league in that category. The Ottawa native has played at least one fewer game than each player ahead of him on the list.
Norvel Pelle
Pelle suited up for the Blue Coats for the second time this season on Tuesday night. The energetic center made his presence felt in defeat, notching a strong double-double with 18 points (6-11 fg, 3-4 ft) and 14 rebounds in 26 minutes of action. He also blocked six shots. Last season with the Coats, Pelle swatted three shots or more on 18 occasions.
BLUE QUOTE
76ers General Manager Elton Brand, on the value of the Blue Coats:
"We take pride in having the Blue Coats as an extension of the Sixers. And that's what the Blue Coats are, a true extension."
To read the full piece – “Building a Pipeline: How the 76ers are Going All In With the Blue Coats” – by Sixers.com’s Brian Seltzer, click HERE.
AT THE BUZZER
Highsmith throws it up, Bolden throws it down.
UP NEXT
Next up for the Blue Coats is a Thursday night road meeting against the College Park Skyhawks (Atlanta Hawks), the G League’s newest franchise. This game will mark the first-ever home game for the Skyhawks, and tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. ET at the recently-completed Gateway Center Arena @ College Park.
The Blue Coats return to 76ers Fieldhouse on Saturday night when they host the Wisconsin Herd (Milwaukee Bucks) at 7:00 p.m. ET.
For information on Blue Coats tickets, visit SIXERS.COM/BlueCoats.