Rowan Kavner
PLAYA VISTA, Calif. – Branden Dawson and C.J. Wilcox have the rest of the month to make their mark in the NBA Development League.
Dawson said Wednesday the plan was for the Clippers’ duo to get seven games with the Bakersfield Jam before making their return sometime around or after Thanksgiving.
“Our last game here is the 28th, that’s the seventh game,” Dawson said. “Everything is going good. It definitely feels good just to be playing again after not playing for a while.”
Dawson is averaging eight points and 4.5 rebounds per game in two games, while Wilcox is lighting up the stat sheet with 23.3 points, 4.3 rebounds and four assists per game in three games. Wilcox has scored at least 22 points in each game he’s played, while shooting 52.2 percent from the floor.
He’s also been a valuable source for Dawson to lean on when it comes to understanding the ups and downs and pros of cons of going from the NBA to the D-League.
“It’s definitely helpful for him to be going through this process with me,” Dawson said. “He was there last year, so having someone to go through this experience with is definitely helpful. He’s told me all about it, about what to expect and what to prepare for.”
Dawson said he’s using this opportunity to try to get back into a playing rhythm. He said it can be challenging playing alongside guys he’s never played with before, but that’s to be expected.
Dawson posted 12 points and four rebounds in 27 minutes his first game and four points and five rebounds in the Jam’s most recent game. Bakersfield’s next game is Saturday.
“I have to keep playing through it,” said Dawson, who’s played in two of three games since being assigned to the D-League. “I think things are going to fall into place.”
Here are some highlights from Wilcox’s most recent performance: