When it comes to the NBA Summer League, it is typically young players who are trying to prove their worth and secure an NBA roster spot. Alternatively, it allows top draft picks to showcase their skills before the season begins.
Jon Elmore doesn’t fit either of these narratives. Elmore isn’t a young man. He is 30 years old, which makes him the oldest player in the Summer League.
Elmore also was not a top draft pick. In fact, Elmore went undrafted in 2019. In four years at Marshall University, Elmore averaged 19.8 points per game, including a 22.7 points per game average during his junior season.
Elmore had a great collegiate career. He became the all-time leading scorer in Conference USA play. He also became the conference’s all-time assist leader. This made him the only player to lead a conference in both categories.
Elmore is also the first player in NCAA Division I history to score over 2,500 points and hand out over 750 assists. Elmore became Marshall’s all-time leading scorer in 2019, an achievement that would be later surpassed by Taevion Kinsey.
Jon Elmore’s Journey After College
After not being drafted in 2019, Elmore joined the Boston Celtics Summer League team. He didn’t see much playing time, only averaging 6.1 minutes and 0.2 points per game. He wasn’t given a spot on the roster.
Elmore then took his talents to Lega Basket Serie A, a professional Italian league. He played for Pallacanestro Trieste where he averaged 7.5 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game.
In 2020, Elmore joined Ionikos, a Greek Basket League team. He put up 17.3 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 1.1 steals per game.
Elmore’s hard work overseas would pay off as he earned a spot in the NBA G League with the Sioux Falls Skyforce in 2022. In 31 games, Elmore averaged 10.5 points and 5.5 assists, while starting in eight games.
In 2024, Elmore was traded to the Cleveland Charge, where he played in four games with the Charge averaging 6.3 points, 2.5 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game. Elmore was traded again to the Stockton Kings, where he averaged 2.8 points, 1.9 rebounds and 1.3 assists while playing just 11.2 minutes per game.
Elmore Joins Lakers Summer League
Elmore continued to bounce around the G League, trying desperately to make an NBA roster. This year he joined the Los Angeles Lakers Summer League team and instantly caught attention by being the oldest Summer League player at 30.
In his first game against the Warriors, Elmore handed out seven assists, while grabbing two steals as the Lakers fell to Golden State 104-72.
Elmore has an uphill battle of making the Lakers’ or any other NBA team’s roster this year, as his age likely will deter them from signing him. Still, Elmore isn’t going to quit on his dream.
Elmore will continue playing and showcasing his skills in the minutes he’s on the floor. Maybe he can defy the odds and finally make the roster of an NBA team.
