Former Illini Dain Dainja With Strong Showing for Miami Heat in NBA Summer League

The 6-foot-9 Dainja made the most of his opportunities on offense, scoring 13 points on an efficient 6-for-7 shooting, while adding three rebounds and two steals in just 16 minutes of action. His minus-16 plus-minus was more a reflection of the Heat’s overall struggles – every player on the roster finished in the negatives – than of his individual impact.Dainja stood out with his soft touch around the basket, strong physical presence inside and active hands on the defensive end, providing a much-needed spark in an otherwise frustrating game for Miami.

After going undrafted last month, Dainja joined the Heat’s Summer League squad hoping to earn a full-time roster spot or secure a role with the team’s G League affiliate, the Sioux Falls Skyforce. He is coming off a unique college career that saw him win a national championship at Baylor, star for Illinois’ 2024 Elite Eight team and finish up at Memphis as a graduate transfer.

Sharing the court with another former Illini in Kasparas Jakucionis, Dainja brought energy and poise in his pro debut (he took a DNP in Miami's first game). His performance was one of the few bright spots in an otherwise lopsided game, and it could be enough to earn him a longer look as the Summer League continues.

For a player fighting to make a roster, Dainja checked a lot of the right boxes in his first action. If he continues to produce with this level of efficiency and effort, he may just play his way into a spot with the Heat – or another NBA franchise.

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