Eric Mika Miami Heat Orlando NBA Summer League Update

As previously reported, Eric Mika signed on to play in the NBA Summer League with the Miami Heat. He is listed as one of two centers on the roster (yes, they have him as a center, not a forward, as many expected).

He played his first game with the Heat on Saturday, logging 13 minutes off the bench. Mika recorded 6 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 assists in a 74-67 loss to the Charlotte Hornets. The Miami Summer League frontcourt has Bam Adebayo (the 14^th pick of the 2017 draft) and Okaro White, a G-League player who was on the Heat NBA roster for a couple of stints this past year. Because of this, Mika will probably not be expected to be a major factor in the summer league, as the Heat will be focusing on the development of those players.

Mika’s competition at center, Norvel Pelle, is a journeyman who has played in the G-League, Taiwan, and Italy since leaving college in 2014.

Mika did not play on Sunday, while Pelle did. Pelle posted a line of 1 point, 0 rebounds, 0 assists, 1 block, 2 steals, and 6 fouls in 11 minutes. They have only played one game each, and during the first weekend, Mika outplayed the competition on his team.

He is also outplaying much of the Summer League. Out of the 91 players that have played in the Orlando Summer League, Mika’s Per 36 stats for points, rebounds, and assists rank 32^nd, 14^th, and 12th, respectively. His overall production puts him 20^th in the league and 8^th out of the players 6’ 10” and taller.

Mika still has a long way to go to earn a spot on an NBA roster, but he is off to a good start.