Just two weeks ago, Casper Ware was in Italy, playing for the Serie A team Virtus Bologna.
Now he’s in Philadelphia, ready to make his NBA debut for the 76ers.
The 76ers announced Monday that they had signed Ware to a 10-day contract, helping the former Long Beach State point guard fulfill a lifelong dream of playing on basketball’s biggest stage.
“I’ve been dreaming about putting on an NBA jersey,” Ware said. “When my agent told me, I was like ‘dang.’ But it didn’t hit me until this morning when I actually signed the contract. It was a rush.”
Ware, who has spent the first two years of his professional career playing in Italy, said he talked to his agent in early March about the opportunity to sign a 10-day contract with an NBA team. He and Virtus Bologna parted ways so that he could work out, and he boarded a flight to Philadelphia.
That was on March 10. After nearly two weeks of waiting and negotiating, Ware has his first NBA contract.
Because he signed a 10-day contract, Ware can be activated immediately. Two of the 76ers upcoming games are against the Houston Rockets and Detroit Pistons, a pair of teams Ware played for during the NBA summer league.
Asked if he will have any extra motivation when playing against two teams that didn’t offer him a contract, Ware said there were no hard feelings.
“I was just happy they gave me an opportunity,” he said.
Ware now has 10 days to prove he belongs in the NBA, which amounts to six games. The 76ers, which have the league’s second-worst record at 15-55 and have lost their last 24 games, are in a position to let Ware make the most of his opportunity.
“I just need to play my game and play hard,” Ware said. “[My brand of] basketball got me here, and if they offer me an extension, great.”
Ware, who will wear No. 17 with the 76ers, will become the 19th player from LBSU to play in the NBA. Ware will be the first LBSU alumnus to play for an NBA team since Bryon Russell retired following the 2005-06 season.
“It means a lot; I learned a lot from Long Beach State,” Ware said. “Now I’m a brand for the university.”
Ware’s first game will be tonight when he travels with the 76ers to San Antonio to face the Spurs. Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m.
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