On Sunday night, a 100-93 Indiana Pacers overtime loss to the Sixers soured the taste after 99-93 Indiana Pacers win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday.
It was, however, an exciting return to the world of basketball. After finishing the season at 19-63 just a year after a Finals berth, it's fun to get in the win column, even if it's only in an exhibition campaign.
The Pacers' summer league team is not devoid of talent, with standouts in now third-year guard Jalen Slawson and Japanese legend Yuki Kawamura. While it would have been nice to watch a top-four pick wear Pacers colors this summer, the true test will come in a few short months. After all, talent can come from anywhere.
While the rest of the roster played their parts, it was Nebraska big man Rienk Mast who took over the game. He led Indiana in both scoring and rebounds. The Dutch product is sitting on an Exhibit-10 contract right now but is surely aiming for a two-way deal, or a spot in the G-League at least.
But where does this 6'10 forward come from? What is his story, and how can he find a place on a Pacers squad that is increasingly deep at both big spots?
Young European star breaks out
Mast joined the Dutch club Donar at 16 before immediately contributing to a cup-winning effort as a rookie. While his team took a step back, Rienk ascended as a second-year player and earned massive honors, becoming the Under-23 MVP and Most Improved Player all at once.
A few short months later, he took his talents to the international stage. To the basketball world's surprise, the Netherlands managed to win the FIBA Second Division gold medal.
As the captain of that team, Mast finally had the notoriety to claim a scholarship offer from Bradley University in Illinois, where he spent three years before transferring to Nebraska. While there, Rienk earned All-Big Ten honors both before and after recovering from a major knee injury.
Who can he be for the Pacers?
Those who watched Mast, either at Nebraska or last night, know what he offers. If he had the good fortune to be born in the 90s, he would have had a decent chance at being a bench big somewhere.
He is a monster out of the post, both as a passer and a scorer, with great balance under both rims. While he is undersized at 6'10, his frame and broad shoulders carry his weight well, and he moves better than one might think.
With nearly 10 years of professional experience under his belt, at the very least, Mast has been in these types of situations before. That is a vital skill that cannot be understated.
RotoWire.com compared him to Kelly Olynyk or Nikola Vucevic. While neither fits the rim-protecting mold that the Pacers seemingly covet, he could play a role for Indiana as a reserve center if depth gets injured, as it did this past year.
However, if that happens, the Pacers will have bigger problems than Mast can fix. In the meantime, though, he's certainly a fun watch and may now be the crown jewel of a Pacers Summer League squad.
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