Las Vegas native Milos Uzan might have ended his prep career in California, but he started his NBA career last week in his hometown.
Fine by him.
“I’m not even going to lie,” he said, smiling, at Cox Pavilion, sweaty and clad still in Boston Celtics garb, “it’s so dope. … I came to all these summer leagues. So it’s kind of cool to be playing in it. It’s definitely a dream come true.”
Once an underclassman point guard leading Desert Pines to league titles for his father, Michael, Uzan, 23, is a rookie point guard with Boston after two years apiece at Prolific Prep, Oklahoma and Houston. Though unselected in the NBA draft amid second-round projections in media mocks, he signed an Exhibit 10 deal with the Celtics and will head this fall to their training camp.
As a calm, collected 6-foot-4 conductor who plays his position like a coach’s son, Uzan logged 31 minutes Sunday to go with 13 points, four rebounds and six assists against the Charlotte Hornets in NBA Summer League. In Boston’s debut Friday afternoon against the Toronto Raptors at Thomas & Mack Center, he had five assists without a turnover in 30 minutes he won by 17 points.
Yes, he’s disappointed he wasn’t drafted, but no his will hasn’t wavered one bit.
Said the elder Uzan, who retired from coaching in 2021 after 20 years and three state titles: “Obviously, he wasn’t happy about it at all, but … that’s just part of the journey. We’ve got to keep the journey going.”
The younger Uzan was 4 or 5 when he started sitting on his father’s bench and admired — and competed with — his brother Capri, a former Jaguars star guard turned boys basketball coach. They talked through hoops throughout his college tenure as they would after games at Desert Pines, for which he started as a freshman and sophomore — leading back-to-back state tournament trips.
If not for the COVID-19 pandemic cancelling the high school basketball season, Uzan wouldn’t have left for Prolific Prep in Napa, California. His upperclassmen years were spent playing top competition on a national circuit, though he thought about playing one more year for his dad and would’ve never left intially if not for the virus.
“It was a no-brainer,” the elder Uzan said. “And it was time to go let him get better opportunities. … He played against guys he’s seeing today in the prep league.”
A four-star propsect with a host of top offers, Uzan first went to Oklahoma, starting two years before transferring to start his junior and senior seasons at Houston. He dabbled with the draft last year as a junior — working out for nine NBA teams — after helping the Cougars to the national championship game, but opted to withdraw to improve and learn another year under coach Kelvin Sampson.
Among the teachings he’s championed: “If you want to play on the floor anywhere, you’ve got to be able to defend. And that’s something I take with a lot of pride and I feel like I got better at over there.”
Stagnant production as a senior last season came with a dip in efficiency for Uzan, who worked out for 15 more teams this cycle. Though disappointment filled the Hardwood Suite inside Palms Casino Resort when he wasn’t drafted, he liked the optionality that free agency grants.
And also the way his workout went with the Celtics, who inked him to his deal the morning after the draft.
“Even during the pre-draft (process), this was my best workout,” he said, noting he hoped they drafted him 40th. “My voice was loud in that, I made a lot of shots and I looked good defensively. Didn’t have too many mistakes.”
On to Boston later this fall, but right at home for one more week.
“I had a good opportunity here with the Celtics,” Uzan said. “It’s working out the way I planned it would. Just got to keep working.”
Contact Sam Gordon at sgordon@reviewjournal.com. Follow @BySamGordon on X.
