Story by Blake Sandlin, Sports Editor
Former Murray State guard Jonathan Stark didn’t hear his name called during Thursday night’s NBA Draft, but that won’t stop him from competing for his spot this summer.
Shortly after the Draft ended, Stark got a call from his agent, Travis King, informing him of a potential opportunity with the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Timberwolves invited Stark to join their NBA Summer League team, an invitation he quickly jumped at.
“I loved the vibe there; I got a great vibe,” Stark said. “I loved the coaching staff, they were very excited about me being there when I was there for my workout. I’m ready to get things going and learn more about the organization and things of that sort. I’m ready to do it.”
I will be playing summer league with the Minnesota Timberwolves. ? pic.twitter.com/tIR9HMUDKP
— Jonathan Stark (@jonathanstark02) June 22, 2018
Stark said King fielded some interest from several potential suitors, but his agent ultimately urged him to join Minnesota.
“Boston (Celtics) said something about Summer League,” he said. “That was really the main other team, and I got the notice from them kind of late. Orlando said something about me if they didn’t draft a guard, and they didn’t draft a guard, so that could’ve been an option. But my agent called and said this is probably the best look for me in Minnesota.”
The former Racer is currently residing in Memphis with his family, where he watched the draft last night. Heading into Thursday night, Stark said he was uncertain of his NBA chances, but as more and more teams began selecting point guards in the second round, earlier than projected, he grew increasingly optimistic of hearing his name called.
“When I saw some of the guards go early in the second round like (Devonte’) Graham and Jevon Carter from West Virginia, when I saw them go early in the second round I thought maybe I have a chance,” Stark said. “There weren’t many guards left for them to draft.”
The Munford, Tennessee native also voiced optimism about the potential of landing with the Washington Wizards leading up to the draft, but he said the Wizards’ Summer League team had already been filled when he accepted the opportunity with the Timberwolves.
In the weeks leading up to the draft, Stark conducted workouts with the Timberwolves, New York Knicks, Wizards, Memphis Grizzlies and Orlando Magic. Being a smaller guard competing for an NBA spot, organizations were naturally skeptical of Stark’s 6 foot, 180 pound frame, but it didn’t take long for him to ease their minds.
“A lot of teams said that my size would be my only problem if I had one, but in the workouts I went to, size really wasn’t a factor,” Stark said. “They seen that I was a dog on the defensive end and that I showed a lot of toughness, so they really liked that about me. They didn’t really bring up much about size, but at first that was one of the things. They didn’t realize I was so small, and things of that sort. After the workout, they got a different perspective.”
NBA Summer League is set to kick off on July 6 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Timberwolves will open up play on July 6 against the Denver Nuggets, and will meet the Toronto Raptors and Brooklyn Nets on July 8 and 9.
Although the opportunity could only be temporary, Stark said he’s prepared to work relentlessly in pursuit of his NBA dreams - and he knows just the recipe.
“Every team wants to know if you can defend and just go out and play hard if you’re a small guard,” Stark said. “You’d be surprised how many players in the NBA don’t really play hard and care about the defensive end, and I think that’s one of the ways I can get in the NBA. And once I get in the NBA, I can show other things on the offensive end, but I think that’d be a great way that I can get in.”
A turbulent career is nothing new for the former Racer. After playing two losing seasons at Tulane, Stark transferred to Murray State, where he was forced to undergo a year of ineligibility before playing his final two years as a Racer. After another losing season his junior year, Stark averaged 21.4 points per game to will the Racers to a 26-6 record, an OVC championship and an NCAA tournament birth.
Members of that 2018 NCAA tournament team were quick to congratulate the former Racer star when he announced his news on Twitter Friday morning.
Congrats to the 2018 OVC Player of the Year & Tournament MVP!#Racers ??? https://t.co/BtAQhWipRd
— Matt McMahon (@CoachMcMahon) June 22, 2018
congrats big bro .. ?? https://t.co/FqhhZ6Uk5u
— Ja Morant (@JaMorant) June 22, 2018
I’m proud of you bro @jonathanstark02 https://t.co/WFwSfKvOgR
— Shaq Buchanan (@ShaqLeroy) June 22, 2018
Stark will remain in Memphis and continue training at home for the next several days until he receives a call to head to Minnesota. While he’s grateful he has a home to further his NBA aspirations, Stark is quick to remember the teams who passed on him; and this summer, he’ll get a chance to prove it.
“I know that there are some players in the draft that I can definitely compete with,” Stark said. “I think I’m going to have a chip on my shoulder in Summer League, and just show them that they missed out on me.”
