NBA Hopes: Alex Ducas drives against Davidson. He set the record for the most games played as a Gael. / Photo by Tod Fierner for SMC Athletics
On the Court: Alex Ducas Signs Two-Way Deal with Oklahoma City Thunder
He was a standout for Gaels Men’s Basketball and helped propel the team to multiple WCC titles and NCAA Tournaments. And he's not the only Gael playing summer ball. You'll see Moraga magic in the NBA Summer League and the upcoming Paris Olympic Games.
Following the culmination of the 2024 NBA Draft at the end of June, longtime Gael Alex Ducas has signed a two-way deal with the Oklahoma City Thunder. A two-way contract allows for a player to play for both the NBA and the G League—the official minor league organization of the National Basketball Association—while being under the control of an NBA franchise for the duration of the season.
The Thunder are well acquainted with the skill and spark that Saint Mary's players bring. Last year, Logan Johnson played for their G-League Affiliate, the Oklahoma City Blue, after being selected by the Blue in the 2023 G-League Draft.
The Gael with Most Games Played
Ducas spent five seasons in Moraga, setting the program record with 150 games played. The Geraldton, West Australia native scored 1,353 points over the course of his illustrious college career, appearing in three NCAA Tournaments. Known for his incredible three-point shooting accuracy, he finished second all-time in program history with 278 three-pointers made (including one from half court) and 11th in program history with a 40.6% three-point shooting clip.
Ducas will now begin the path he hopes will lead him to the NBA. That would enable him to join the ranks of Gaels who have appeared in an NBA contest across the decades: Frank Kudelka ’49, Tom Meschery ’61, Peter Thibeaux ’83, David Cooke ’85, Patty Mills, Matthew Dellavedova ’13, Malik Fitts ’20, Jock Landale ’18, and Jordan Ford ’20.
Ducas and Fellow Gaels in the Summer League
Ducas has a chance to show Oklahoma City what he has this summer: The “sharpshooting wing,” as Sports Illustrated describes him, is part of the summer roster for the Thunder. He’s not the only Gael playing summer ball.
Jordan Ford is on the court for the summer league with the Sacramento Kings; he racked up 39 points over two games in the California Classic. Logan Johnson is playing with the Phoenix Suns. And Tommy Kuhse ’22, who has been playing in Europe the last few years, is back stateside this summer playing for the Los Angeles Lakers.
While Lebron James’s son Bronny James got the headlines in his summer league debut with the Lakers, scoring four points, Kuhse racked up serious numbers. As USA Today noted, he was close to a double-double with 15 points and eight assists, shooting 6 of 10 overall.
Aussies in the Olympics
One trio of Gaels is playing summer basketball of the Olympic sort: Patty Mills is captaining the Australian Olympic squad for the Paris games. That squad includes fellow Gaels Matthew Dellavedova and Jock Landale. Expect the team to deliver fireworks, as one Australian news outlet puts it—calling this crew “the most talented Australian basketball line-up ever assembled.”
Add two more members of the Gael community to the coaching roster: Adam Caporn, the first Australian to play for Saint Mary’s, is an assistant coach for the Boomers. So is David Patrick, who served as associate head coach at SMC.
Story updated July 12, 2024 at 9 am Pacific to include additional links.
