By Jerry Zgoda

Star Tribune

Just two games — in Las Vegas, in the summer that is — into his professional career, new Timberwolves draft pick Josh Okogie sees the two things that differentiate this new NBA game from the one he knew in college.

“Strength and speed,” he said.

At almost 6-5 and with a 7-foot wingspan, he said he believes he can handle bigger, stronger players, even if he is yet to turn 20.

The speed might be a bit different.

“I think for me the adjustment is more the speed than the strength,” said Okogie, whom the Wolves drafted 20th overall out of Georgia Tech last month. “Physically, I’m able to hang around these guys, but the game is really fast. It’s like, ‘Whoa, whoa, whoa.’ You’re making the same decisions you’re making in college, but you have five less seconds to do it. It’s going to take a lot of time. That’s what summer league is for.”

You couldn’t tell if he really was a step or two behind in the Wolves’ second NBA Summer League game in Vegas, Sunday’s 103-92 victory over Toronto.

He came from behind, out of nowhere — a very poor man’s LeBron, dare we say — to block a shot late in Sunday’s game vs. the Raptors. He was called for a foul on the play, although, of course, both Okogie and Wolves Summer League coach John Lucas disputed that.

“He never gives up on a play,” Lucas said. “Even on that last block, I felt like it was a clean block. The referees called a foul, but he could have given up on that. He did not. He went and contested. He did it last game, he did it this game. He’s diving on the floor, giving his body up, sacrificing his body for the sake of the team. What more can you ask from him?”