Milos Uzan would go to Las Vegas Summer League; now he’s playing in it

Milos Uzan, a Las Vegas native, finished his preparatory career in California and began his NBA journey last week in his hometown. Speaking at Cox Pavilion while still wearing a Boston Celtics jersey, he smiled and said, “I’m not even going to lie… it’s so dope. … I came to each these summer leagues. So it’s kind of chill to be playing in it. It’s definitely a dream come true.” Uzan, who once served as an underclassman point guard leading Desert Pines to league titles under his father Michael, is now a 23‑year‑old rookie point guard for the Celtics after spending two seasons each at Prolific Prep, Oklahoma and Houston. Although he went undrafted despite being projected as a second‑round pick in many mock drafts, he signed an Exhibit 10 contract with Boston and will report to training camp this fall. Described as a calm, collected 6‑foot‑4 floor general who approaches the game like a coach’s son, Uzan played 31 minutes on Sunday against the Charlotte Hornets, finishing with 13 points, four rebounds and six assists in Summer League action. In Boston’s opening game Friday morning versus the Toronto Raptors at the Thomas & Mack Center, he recorded five assists without a turnover in 30 minutes while his team prevailed by 17 points. Although disappointed not to hear his name called on draft night, Uzan’s determination remains unchanged. His father, Michael Uzan, who retired from coaching in 2021 after twenty years and three state championships, remarked, “Obviously, he wasn’t happy about it at all, but … that’s just part of the journey. We’ve got to keep the journey going.” The younger Uzan began sitting on his father’s bench at age four or five, admiring and competing with his brother Capri—a former Jaguars standout turned boys‑hoops coach. The two discussed basketball throughout his college career, often reviewing games after Desert Pines matchups where he started as a freshman and sophomore, helping the team to consecutive state‑tournament appearances. Had the COVID‑19 pandemic not cancelled the high‑school basketball season, Uzan might never have attended Prolific Prep in Napa, California. Instead, his upperclassmen years were spent competing on a national circuit; he had considered staying another year to play for his father but opted to leave once the virus disrupted schedules. “It was a no‑brainer,” the elder Uzan said. “And it was time to let him get better opportunities. … He played against guys he’s seeing now in the prep league.” A four‑star prospect with numerous high‑major offers, Uzan initially committed to Oklahoma, spending two seasons there before transferring to Houston to start his junior and senior years. As a junior he experimented with the draft process, working out for nine NBA teams after helping the Cougars reach the national title game, but ultimately withdrew to refine his game another season under head coach Kelvin Sampson. Among the lessons he has taken to heart, Uzan noted, “If you want to play on the floor anywhere, you’ve got to be able to defend. And that’s something I take with a lot of pride and I feel like I got better at it there.” His senior season saw a dip in production, and he logged workouts with fifteen additional teams this cycle. While disappointment lingered in the Hardwood Suite at the Palms Casino Resort after going undrafted, he appreciated the flexibility free agency provides. He also praised the workout he had with the Celtics, who signed him the morning after the draft. “Even during the pre‑draft (process), this was my best workout,” he said, adding that he had hoped to be selected 40th overall. “My stroke was great in that, I made a lot of shots and I looked good defensively. Didn’t have too many mistakes.” Uzan will join Boston early this fall but will remain in Las Vegas for one more week. “I had a good opportunity here with the Celtics,” he said. “It’s working out the way I planned it would. Just got to keep working.”