text: Sixers rookie Marial Shayok can use Shake Milton as model for success
  https://sixerswire.usatoday.com/2020/03/09/sixers-rookie-marial-shayok-should-use-shake-milton-as-model-for-success/
  Will Newton/NBAE via Getty Images
  When you're selected in the second round of the NBA draft, your rise to being a rotational player in the league is a tough one. That is just the reality of the league.
  For Philadelphia 76ers rookie Marial Shayok, he is up against it as he was selected 54th overall in the 2019 draft and he is behind established talents such as Tobias Harris, Josh Richardson, and Furkan Korkmaz at his position. That means, his first season in the NBA has been spent shuttling between playing for the Delaware Blue Coats in the G League and spending some time in Philadelphia on a two-way.
  That's a tough challenge, but there is one current Sixer who had a similar journey and that is Shake Milton. The second-year guard out of SMU was also the 54th pick in his draft in 2018 and he was also on a two-way deal his rookie season. Now he's making history and turning heads while filling in for the injured Ben Simmons.
  Shayok should use Milton as a model for success.
  "For sure. I think a lot of people should," said Blue Coats coach Connor Johnson. "The fact that he came down here, he had a very successful season where he got a lot better, he was stretched in ways defensively, he was stretched in ways offensively in what his role was and being a point guard, having to run a team, and he gets up there and it takes him a while to get a real opportunity where he can consistently play, and he plays well."
  Shayok has had a similar G League season to Milton's. Milton averaged 24.9 points with the Blue Coats while Shayok is averaging 22.9 points through 34 games so far and is averaging 5.8 rebounds. It's all about continuing to develop for him, just like Milton did.
  "Recently, I'm starting to see a lot of different defenses," said Shayok. "I'm just trying to get better and make the right reads and fight through."
  The Blue Coats did reveal before Sunday's game that both Shayok and Zhaire Smith will be joining the Sixers once their season ends and Shayok's role will be to learn at the next level.
  "Just to be a sponge," he said. "I'm just a rookie on a veteran team so I just want to learn as much as possible and continue to get better and work on my game."
  He will also have conversations with Milton as they talk whenever they can.
  "Whenever I see him," he explained. "We obviously are going through four games this weekend, so it's hard to communicate, but whenever I do see him, it's always love and we're always talking about staying ready. Once I met Shake, I knew he had that confidence and once he got his opportunity, he took advantage of it."
  Not just for Shayok, but for everybody on the Blue Coats, to see guys like Milton or even Norvel Pelle, it is always a good example for them to see guys succeed at the next level.
  "Seeing that for all of our guys, even Norvel," Johnson added. "Making the jump, having some success, being able to stick at that level is important."