Memorial High alum Robert Upshaw makes Lakers summer debut

Ex-Memorial High star Robert Upshaw made his NBA debut Friday night, albeit in a summer league game.

The 7-foot center, who went undrafted in June, finished with two points and three blocks in a little less than 13 minutes of action in the Los Angeles Lakers’ 81-68 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas.

Upshaw entered late in the first quarter and scored his first basket on a turnaround jumper with 2:46 left in the period.

Late in the second quarter, Upshaw recorded his first block and picked up two more on back-to-back possessions in the fourth — including one against Timberwolves’ No. 1 overall pick Karl-Anthony Towns with 7:59 remaining in the game.

Upshaw played 19 games for the University of Washington last season, averaging 10.9 points and 8.2 rebounds. He shot 59.3% from the field and also was averaging 4.5 blocks before being dismissed by the team for violation of team rules. He also was kicked off the team at Fresno State for similarly unspecified team violations after his freshman season.

Friday’s game was more closely watched nationally for the debut of Towns and the Lakers’ D’Angelo Russell, who went second overall in the draft. Towns scored 12 points and Russell eight.

Minnesota’s Zach LaVine and Los Angeles’ Jordan Clarkson ended up stealing the show. LaVine, the league’s reigning Slam Dunk champion, led all scorers with 24 points, while Clarkson finished with 23.

This story was originally published July 10, 2015 at 9:42 PM with the headline "Memorial High alum Robert Upshaw makes Lakers summer debut."