Former Tennessee Vols guard Chaz Lanier’s latest NBA Summer League performance led to an unexpected new nickname
Former Tennessee Volunteers guard Chaz Lanier had a big performance in the NBA Summer League on Sunday, and it led to a new nickname for the former UT standout.
Former Tennessee Vols guard Chaz Lanier didn’t see much playing time as a rookie with with the Detroit Pistons last season.
Lanier, who started his college career at North Florida before finishing at Tennessee, averaged 2.4 points in 7.7 minutes per game.
The former Vol is hoping to take a step forward in his second season in the league, and he showed on Sunday in the Pistons’ 104-93 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA Summer League what he’s capable of doing.
Lanier scored 25 points after connecting on 7-of-12 three-point attempts. He also added three rebounds, three assists, and a steal (the Pistons were plus 18 points with Lanier on the floor).
The Nashville native started the game on a heater, scoring 17 points in his first five minutes of action.
After the game, Lanier got hit with a new nickname.
“Microwave” Chaz Lanier.
“He was a microwave — that was awesome,” said Pistons Summer League coach Steve Scalzi. “He carried us early, and we love it when he is aggressive. We ran a few more plays for him after we challenged him. He can really score.”
According to The Detroit News‘ Coty M. Davis, the Pistons see Lanier as a “core part of their future”.
“His impressive performance during the period demonstrated coach J.B. Bickerstaff’s confidence in him and highlighted why the Pistons see him as a core part of their future,” wrote Davis of Lanier. “By evaluating Lanier’s performance in the G League and in practice, Bickerstaff believes Lanier possesses the qualities to score 20-30 points as a movement shooter and off-ball threat.”
The Microwave will be back in action on July 15 when the Pistons take on the Phoenix Suns in Las Vegas.