Former Arizona State guard Josh Christopher was named the NBA 2K25 Summer League Championship Game MVP after helping the Miami Heat win the summer league title.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Christopher, who was drafted 24th overall by the Houston Rockets in 2021, notched 24 points (6-for-10 from 3), four rebounds, three steals and two blocks in a 120-118 overtime victory over the Memphis Grizzlies to cap off an undefeated 6-0 record for the Heat in Las Vegas.
The #NBA2KSummerLeague Championship Game MVP caught FIRE ????
Josh Christopher scores 24 PTS to go along with 6 3-pointers to lead the @MiamiHEAT to the ???? in Vegas! https://t.co/LQZMtKkzSM pic.twitter.com/UhGqS5jx6k
— NBA (@NBA) July 23, 2024
Christopher and former Arizona guard Pelle Larsson sealed the win for the Heat over the Grizzlies in overtime. In the summer league overtime rules, there is a target score set seven points above the final regulation score, which tonight was 120. With the game tied at 115, Christopher hit a 3 to give Miami a 118-115 lead. Then, the Grizzlies responded with a 3 of their own to tie the game back at 118.
Josh Christopher DEEP stepback 3.
Jake LaRavia answers back with his own.???? #NBA2KSummerLeague Championship TIED at 118 on ESPN!
NEXT BUCKET WINS ???? https://t.co/pIChNU6lUS pic.twitter.com/5RTDRoLbQN
— NBA (@NBA) July 23, 2024
With both teams needing only two points to win, Larsson, who had 16 points on 7-of-9 shooting, reached the target score on a tough, contested layup.
PELLE LARSSON ????
GAME-WINNER ???? https://t.co/47SdLji1MY pic.twitter.com/LNeKtI9wzL
— NBA (@NBA) July 23, 2024
Christopher’s MVP night came one day after he had a team-high 23 points in Sunday’s 102-99 semifinal win over the Golden State Warriors. He averaged 19.3 points while shooting an impressive 54.1% from the field and 52.5% from 3 (on 6.7 attempts), as well as 2.0 steals across Miami’s six summer league games.
The 6-foot-5 guard spent the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons with the Rockets, averaging 6.9 points across 138 games, but has since not appeared in an NBA game. He was traded to the Grizzlies after the 2022-23 season and eventually waived before the start of the year. The Utah Jazz then signed him, but waived him midway through this past season.
Christopher was then picked up by Miami in January on a two-way deal and averaged 15.8 points across 18 games for the Heat’s G League affiliate, the Sioux Falls Skyforce.
Christopher, who was formerly ASU’s highest-ranked recruit ever before the Sun Devils landed five-star Jayden Quaintance this year, will now hope his big performance helps him find his way back in an NBA rotation with the Heat.
Summer Suns dominate Bucks with 115-90 victory to improve to 2-2
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Brendan Mau is a senior writer covering the Phoenix Suns and more for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on X via @Brendan_Mau
