Former Ohio State forward Justice Sueing made his professional basketball debut Tuesday, logging nine minutes for the Oklahoma City Thunder in their 105-92 NBA Summer League loss against the Houston Rockets.
Sueing, who signed a contract to join the Thunder’s Summer League roster on June 23 but missed the team’s first four games due to a “coach’s decision,” first entered the contest with 3:07 remaining in the first quarter.
Although the Honolulu native would see little action in his six minutes of first half play, attempting and missing just one shot with 9:04 left in the second quarter before being subbed out just over a minute later, he would make an immediate impact in his second shift of play.
Entering the game again with 5:12 remaining in the third period, Sueing wasted little time for his presence to be felt, collecting his first rebound just eight seconds later off a miss from Rockets guard Trevor Hudgins.
The former Buckeye forward would continue adding to the box score just over a minute later, swooping in for an offensive rebound off a Caleb McConnell miss and laying up his first NBA basket to grant the Thunder the 71-60 lead.
This active sequence was followed by a stout defensive play with 3:13 left in the third period where he swatted away a Jermaine Samuels layup to earn him his first NBA block.
After picking up two fouls late in the third quarter, Sueing would be subbed out with 1:36 left in the third period, ending his NBA debut. The Thunder forward produced a final stat line of two points, two rebounds and a blocked shot.
With his first appearance now complete, Sueing joins former teammates Malaki Branham and E.J. Liddell as former Ohio State products who have seen NBA Summer League action this month.
The former one-and-done Branham, who is entering his sophomore campaign with the San Antonio Spurs after being drafted by the franchise with the No. 20 pick in the 2022 draft, is averaging 17.3 points, three rebounds and 2.7 assists through three games of action.
Liddell has returned to the floor for the New Orleans Pelicans after missing the entire 2022 season with a torn ACL in his right knee. The forward is averaging 8.5 points, three rebounds and one block through two contests.
Former Buckeye and 2023 first-round draft pick Brice Sensabaugh, who was selected by the Utah Jazz with the No. 28 overall pick, is currently on the Jazz Summer League roster but has yet to play due to continued recovery on his surgically repaired left knee.
