Spurs second-round pick knows he needs to bring the energy

SALT LAKE CITY — It was almost like Jaron Blossomgame was reading from a script.

Before the Spurs arrived at the Jon M. Huntsman Center, site of the Utah Summer League, the 2017 second-round pick was asked provide a synopsis of his skill set.

“I’m a hard-working energy guy that is able to do multiple things defensively,” Blossomgame said. “Use my versatility offensively and defensively, able to shoot the ball, attack and get the free-throw line. Just be an energy guy.”

The keyword in that description: Energy.

It’s one of few things Blossomgame will be required to provide entering his rookie season. He doesn’t need to score much. The Spurs won’t require astronomical stats. Just bring energy.

“There’s a lot about the NBA that he won’t know yet,” Spurs summer league coach Will Hardy said. “Obviously there is plenty that he can work on, but I think energy, especially on the defensive end, is something that you can control, and it’s important to (coach Gregg Popovich) and our program. Starting there will be great for Jaron.”

The 23-year-old Clemson product made his Summer League debut in the Spurs’ 87-74 loss to the Jazz on Monday. Blossomgame attacked the glass and did his best to be a disruption on defense. He finished the game with eight rebounds.

The Spurs are hoping they found one of the steals of the draft.

The 6-foot-7 Blossomgame has the potential to transform into solid perimeter defender who can guard four positions, and his body already is somewhat NBA-ready.

“Normally they’re not there at 59,” Spurs GM R.C. Buford said, referring to the spot where Blossomgame was drafted.

Blossomgame led the Tigers in scoring each of his past three seasons. After his junior year, many expected Blossomgame to enter the draft after averaging 18.7 points, 6.7 rebounds and 1.3 blocks and shooting 44.1 percent from beyond the arc. It was his best season at Clemson, and got him on the Spurs’ radar.

Blossomgame's numbers slipped his senior year, especially his 3-point percentage, which plunged to 25.5 percent. That left some NBA scouts wondering whether his junior year shooting percentage was a fluke, but it didn’t deter the Spurs from taking a chance.

“Our evaluation of his junior year, he was better shooting the ball than he did his senior year,” Buford said. “Hopefully we can help him get back to a point.”

It could take some time to develop Blossomgame, who went scoreless on 0-for-8 shooting in his summer league debut, on the offensive end. But the presence of Spurs shooting guru Chip Engelland couldn’t hurt.

“The offensive side will be down the road,” Hardy said. “For him to have a good chance, start with a focus on defense and rebounding.”

In other words, supplying energy.

“In this league, we need dudes that know their role whether it’s running the team or its scoring the basketball on a nightly basis,” guard Dejounte Murray said. “Somebody that is an energy dude — wants to lock up the best player, wants to get every rebound, every loose ball — I love dudes like that. I feel like I got a little bit of all of that in my game, so I can sense people who want to play hard.”

Asked why he plays that way, Blossomgame responded: “It’s just who I am. Every time I come in the game I’ve been an energy guy. In high school, I was an energy guy. … It kind of just stuck with me. Block shots. Grab rebounds. Play defense. Get the guys going. That’s who I’ll always be.”

And he’ll be that way even if the shots aren’t falling, as in Monday’s opener against the Jazz.

Blossomgame said he realized it was tough shooting night in the third quarter. On a two-on-one fast break, he drove to the basket for what appeared to be an easy layup, but the ball rolled around the rim and off. It dropped into the hands of Livio Jean-Charles, who recorded the putback.

Blossomgame could do nothing but laugh it off after the game.

“I mean it’s tough, but next play, man,” Blossomgame said. “You got to keep playing. They’ll fall. It’s just basketball. You can’t make every shot. You just can’t let it affect the next play.”

In Blossomgame’s case, it can’t affect the next game, either. He’ll get another chance to score his first summer league points today.

But if nothing else, he already showed he can bring the energy that just might land him a spot on the regular-season roster.