Matt Janning

Matt Janning

Perennial summer leaguer Janning has himself a quality European career going. He's improved his three point shot since college and now cuts it in Italy, one of Europe's better leagues, as a versatile "just a guard" type of guard. Last year he averaged 6.6 points for Serie A champion Siena, rising to 8.4ppg in Euroleague player. The book on Janning is fairly well written - he's a very solid player best suited to Europe. Yet his presence here would suggest he would rather be back in the NBA. This is fine, yet, notwithstanding the one year he spent in it with Phoenix, it doesn't seem likely.

Matt Janning - Janning won a roster spot from the Suns in preseason on account of the calibre of his jumpshot. He lasted only three weeks before being waived to open up money for Earl Barron, whom Phoenix needed after Robin Lopez went down with injury, and Janning unfortunately never managed to play any regular season minutes for the team. Upon being waived, he went to the D-League to play for the Maine Red Claws, which has proven to be rather an unfortunate location for him. Every big man Maine acquires seems to get injured, yet they survive with an acceptable 8-9 record anyway due to the strength in depth of their backcourt. Janning is a part of this depth, yet the depth also hinders them; he has to share court time and the ball with Mario West, Jamar Smith, Lawrence Westbrook, Champ Oguchi, Paul Harris, Kenny Hayes, and for a while Bobcats assignee Sherron Collins. Nevertheless, Janning is putting up 8.1 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.2 assists in his 22 minutes per game, shooting a sizzling 49% from three point range.

Janning went to summer league with both the Suns and Celtics, and impressed. He averaged 12.6 points and 5.4 rebounds for Phoenix, alongside 11.5 points and 5.0 rebounds, and when both teams tried to sign him afterwards, he took the one offering the most guaranteed money ($25,000). Craft and guile more than size and speed were the reasons behind Janning's surprising success; versatility, sense, and decent jumpshot/ballhandling are skills that translate, even if 6'4 and 195lbs don't. He probably can't defend his position, but then again, J.J. Redick never used to be able to do that either. Yet he can now.

Matt Janning

Janning was covered in the Celtics summer league roster round-up from earlier. In two games for the Celtics team, Janning averaged 11 points and 5 rebounds, reportedly earning a training camp invite in the process. Did not see that coming.

Matt Janning

Seeing as it's customary to give the hometown boy a summer league spot, Northeastern's Matt Janning is here, ready to live a fleeting NBA dream. Janning is 6'4 and under 200lbs, with average athleticism and not much of an ability to create for himselft. Good luck to him, though, and live the dream for as long as you can.