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He forced a turnover at one end and drove into the lane to score at the other.
He drove and finished against a much taller defender.
He did it again.
He drove, was fouled and scored.
This was Keshon Gilbert on Thursday as the NBA Summer League opened play in Las Vegas.
This was the former UNLV and Iowa State point guard who would contribute 10 points, five rebounds and five assists for the Hawks in a 93-66 rout of the Spurs at Thomas & Mack Center.
This is what hes trying to do more of.
Have an impact at the games highest level enough so that hes noticed.
Make the sort of difference that might allow him to stick in the league.
Its a long and difficult and unknown road for most with such hopes and dreams to travel.
Its tough, man.
(Gilbert) had a great game today, Hawks summer coach Sanjay Lumpkin said.
He got into the paint and had some great finishes.
He can use his athleticism to get inside and has been shooting the ball well.
Were empowering him to shoot.
Take those shots, let it fly.
You can see the growth.
Hes been working.
He has been great this summer.
Guys get rewarded for their hard work.
Summer League is a great time to show it.
The past Gilbert averaged 15 points, four rebounds and three assists as a sophomore at Durango High and played 63 games over two years at UNLV.
He would then transfer to Iowa State to play for former Rebels coach T.J.
Otzelberger.
It was there Gilbert would shine most, being named the most outstanding player at the Big 12 Tournament after leading the Cyclones to a conference title in his first season with the team.
But this is a different world now.
This is where so few prove good enough to first make it and then stay around.
Its really about not knowing whats going to happen next, Gilbert said.
Going from being the main player to coming off the bench and just staying ready for when your time is called.
Its about getting better every day, honestly.
Thats all Im trying to do.
Get better, keep improving my game.
Thats my only focus.
His NBA journey thus far has been like many.
Filled with uncertainty.
Upon leaving Iowa State, he signed a training camp contract with the Wizards, was waived and then added to the teams G League affiliate.
He then in February of this year signed a 10-day contract and made his NBA debut that same day.
He would then agree to a two-way contract with the Hawks in March.
He would appear in one game for Atlanta, go for 11 points and nine assists against the Heat and then later underwent core muscle surgery.
Yep.
Its all so unpredictable.
The physicality is (different), Gilbert said.
I kind of knew what to expect coming in.
Nothing really surprised me about (the league).
Everyone has something to prove.
Its a dog-eat-dog world.
With this game, you have to bring it every night and prove yourself.
Thats why you have to play with a chip on your shoulder.
Shoot more He was 17 when first arriving at UNLV and said on Thursday there was much to learn.
His numbers would improve from his freshman to sophomore seasons, the latter in which he averaged 11 points, four rebounds, three assists and two steals in 27.5 minutes.
But no matter how well things then went at Iowa State Gilbert would make second-team All-Big 12 as a junior and third team the following season none of it guarantees anything now.
He might be empowered to shoot more, but he has to do so.
He has to separate himself in some manner.
Even then, it might not be enough.
There are players everywhere.
The thing that separates Keshon is his competitive spirit, Otzelberger said.
Hes tough, hes a winner, hes a competitor and hes really smart.
He started college a year early and has always been like a younger guy.
He still has a lot of growth and development and upside in front of him.
Hes just a find-a-way guy.
I believe in my heart theres going to be a team out there that sees that spirit and that every-day competitive guy and recognizes how valuable he would be for their organization even beyond his basketball talent.
People are aware of him.
If he gets a real opportunity and people put him in that position, they wont be sorry.
Hes going to keep getting better.
And yet its still a long and difficult and unknown road to travel.
Its tough, man.
Ed Graney, a Sigma Delta Chi Award winner for sports column writing, can be reached at [email protected].
Follow @edgraney on X.