FILE – Wayne Selden #14 of the Chicago Bulls drives past Khris Middleton #22 (L) and Ersan Ilyasova #77 of the Milwaukee Bucks at the United Center on February 25, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images/AFP
MANILA, Philippines—NLEX is tapping another former NBA player who will be tasked to fill the void once Jonathon Simmons completes his four-game stint in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup.
Former Memphis Grizzlies cager Wayne Selden Jr. is due to arrive in the next day or two to begin the Road Warriors’ transition after Simmons agreed to play the initial stages of the season-ending conference.
Team representative Ronald Dulatre confirmed before NLEX took on TNT on Wednesday at Philsports Arena in Pasig City Selden’s signing, which was first bared by coach Frankie Lim in a television interview.
The 28-year-old is expected to make his debut on February 8 against Commissioner’s Cup champion Barangay Ginebra at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Selden was brought in with Simmons set to make a return to China after receiving offers prior to his Road Warriors debut.
What NLEX can hope is that Selden can bring the same pedigree that Simmons provided.
After being left undrafted in the 2016 NBA Draft, Selden played for the New Orleans for three games in 2017 before being signed by the Grizzlies where he spent two more seasons.
He was traded to the Chicago Bulls in 2019 before bouncing around the NBA G-League, Israel, Turkey and Italy.
Simmons is due to play against TNT before wrapping up his short tour of duty on February 4 against slumping NLEX at Ynares Center in Antipolo City.