NBA Summer League gives Alabama State alum TJ Madlock his first taste of the pros

After Alabama State guard TJ Madlock wasn’t selected in the 2025 NBA draft, a last-minute call changed his summer plans.

Instead of spending the summer working out while preparing to play professional basketball overseas, Madlock boarded a flight to Detroit to play with the Detroit Pistons in NBA Summer League from July 10-20 in Las Vegas.

Madlock was one of three players from historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) to participate in NBA Summer League this year. Former Howard forward Steve Settle III played for Miami, as did former Winston-Salem State guard Javonte Cooke.

“The moment I found out I was on the roster I was too excited,” Madlock told Andscape. “I was actually on the way to a workout. I got a call from my agent, and he was like, ‘I think we got a spot for you.’ Man, as soon as he told me that it just made me want to hurry up and get to my workout and get better, get ready professionally.”

Madlock, a 6-foot-3 playmaker who earned All-Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) second-team honors and helped Alabama State end a 14-year NCAA tournament drought, is known for his versatility and defensive intensity. In two games, Madlock finished Summer League averaging 6.0 points and shooting 50% from the field. His best performance occurred on July 19, when he scored nine points in 15 minutes during the Pistons’ consolation game against the San Antonio Spurs.

He hopes his play in Las Vegas proved to NBA teams that he can hold his own against elite-level talent.

“I want to show everybody that I’m a team player first,” Madlock said. “I would never go out there and try to be selfish and just think about myself. I try to be a team-first player that makes everyone better.” 

He played at Alabama State under his father, Hornets head coach Tony Madlock, who raved about his son’s basketball IQ but believes his greatest strength is on the defensive side.

“He’s a natural defender, he has long arms, and he rebounds really, really well for a guard,” Tony Madlock said. “Then he’s physical [and] he’s strong. He’s got to continue to work on his shooting, but I think those things that I talked about will help him be able to get on the floor somewhere.”

Andscape spoke with T.J. Madlock about the opportunity to participate in Summer League, what he hoped to showcase to NBA teams in Las Vegas, and what lessons he learned while beginning his professional basketball career.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

What was your mindset going into Summer League?

My mindset coming in was just to be a good teammate, good play overall. … Just do what I’ve been doing my whole career and try to be myself. The coaches and the players told us to always play hard and always make the right play. Don’t go out there and be selfish. It was a good [kind of] nervous, though, like, just ready to get out there, ready to live my dream for real. 

How would you describe your Summer League experience and learning from the Pistons’ coaching staff?

The way I’m growing is just learning, learning so much from this coaching staff and these players that’ve been here already, teaching me different defensive strategies, different ways to shoot, rebound and run. I’m just learning so much that I haven’t seen before.

What are some differences going from collegiate basketball to professional basketball?

Some differences from college ball to professional ball is that a point guard has to be able to guard on defense. That’s the main thing that point guards have to do, and [they also must] be able to facilitate. So just going out there and trying to go from a scoring guard in college to a point guard in the league, I’m just trying to make that adjustment out there and feel pretty good.

When I walked into the facility … coming here and seeing all the different stuff they have, coming from where I came from, it was overwhelming. Just seeing all the types of treatment they had and snacks and drinks and all that, man, it was unbelievable. 

How did playing at Alabama State and in the SWAC prepare you for your professional career?

Alabama State prepared me in a bunch of different ways. … Playing in the SWAC, you have to be a dog. Everybody that plays in the SWAC they play hard, and they go at it. So just playing there it really helped me get to this, the toughness level.

What lessons did you learn under your father that you’re applying to your pro career?

He taught me to always be a good teammate, no matter what I’m doing. If I’m playing 30 minutes a game or if I’m playing zero minutes a game, always be a good teammate. Always try to do the right things on and off the court. So I think that helped me a lot, just taking everything he taught me wherever I go. 

My dad told me don’t go out there and be nervous or be timid. Go out there, relax and play the game that I’ve been playing my whole life. 

What were your goals going into Summer League?

Earning a spot, man, obviously, that’s been my dream — especially from an HBCU that has just been the most to me — to represent those Black colleges. I want to go out [and] represent HBCUs and show that we can do anything and play with anybody.

After having the opportunity to play in Summer League, what advice would you give younger HBCU players to go pro?

I say always stay ready, always work hard, never give up and just be yourself. Don’t ever back down from competition. Stay consistent. Stay in the gym; don’t ever get out of the gym. It’s muscle memory.