Minnesota Viking wide receiver Randy Moss might not have enough skills to play in the NBA right now, but he's athletic enough not to embarrass himself playing in the Southern California Summer Pro League.
Thanks to a special arrangement with the league, Moss played his second of three games Thursday at the Long Beach Pyramid and finished with nine points and nine rebounds in 15 minutes to help lead the NBA Pros to a 103-88 victory over Passing Lane.
"He has skills. He played well," NBA veteran Bo Outlaw said about Moss, his teammate for a day. "I don't know if he could play [in the NBA], but that really doesn't matter because he is great at what he does. You don't need to put in people's head that he can play [pro basketball]."
Even though the summer league is more laid back than intense, Moss has approached his basketball excursion with vehemence. After the game Thursday, he stormed past autograph seekers, refused to talk to reporters and walked straight out of the gym. He will play his final game today with the Magic Johnson All-Stars, who take on Play 2 Win at 12:45 p.m.
Although the contract Moss signed as a rookie with the Vikings does not address his playing organized basketball in the off-season, Minnesota Coach Dennis Green said he doesn't have a problem with Moss' activity.
"Randy talked to me about playing summer league basketball games to let me know that he intended to do that," Green said. "I think it's a great opportunity for Randy to play with the legendary Magic Johnson. It's an opportunity that people will really jump at.
"Randy's 100% committed to the National Football League and the Minnesota Vikings. He's playing these three all-star games for fun and enjoyment and then he'll be 100%, full speed ahead for training camp."
Moss, listed at 6 feet 4 and 198 pounds, has put up pretty good numbers in two basketball games. He's averaging 11 points and 6.5 rebounds after having 13 points and four rebounds in 19 minutes in his first game with Pro Advantage on Wednesday.
On Thursday, however, Moss had problems with his perimeter game and turnovers. He made only four of 13 shots, with his four baskets coming on putbacks near the rim or on fastbreaks.
Passing Lane's Marlin Kimbrew, who matched up against Moss on Thursday, gave Moss some credit.
"In basketball, if you can run and jump, you can go out and play. But he's solid," Kimbrew said. "He didn't do any talking, he just worked hard. He's kind of quick. . . . I don't think he's a three-point shooter, but he kept shooting them. But you can tell he's an athlete."
