Last summer, Marcus Bingham Jr., Jaden Akins, and Jase Richardson were supposed to team up with the Orlando Magic Summer League team but one of them signed a contract overseas and never joined the roster.
Bingham signed a deal with UNICS Kazan of the VTB United League in Russia after previously playing in the EuroLeague. Many questioned his decision, but it looks to be paying off.
The former Michigan State big man — and fan favorite (I know I’m not the only one) — was named the Rookie of the Year in the VTB United League after averaging 15.8 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.8 blocks, and 1.4 steals during the 2025-26 season. He also led his team to a 33-7 record which was good for second place in the standings.
While he could get another look in either a top league in Europe or the NBA, this is a nice career step for Bingham. He continues to prove that he’s good enough to play at the highest levels.
It also worked out for the other two Spartans who teamed up with the Magic in last year’s Summer League as Richardson signed a rookie deal with Orlando and made the NBA Playoffs as a rookie and Akins became an All-Star at the G-League level with the Motor City Cruise.
Marcus Bingham Jr. would have benefitted from a 5-year window
When you think of players that could have benefitted from the proposed NCAA five-year eligibility window, Bingham is one of the first guys that come to mind.
The athletic big man was a late-bloomer and was one of those Xavier Booker-types that needed a couple of years to really come into his own. He never played more than 12 minutes through his first three seasons in East Lansing and then broke out a little as a senior with 9.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks in a little over 18 minutes per game. He also shot almost 42 percent from three.
Imagine what one more year of growth as a starting big man in Izzo’s system would have done for his game. He tripled his production from his junior to his senior years and I think he could have been a 15 and 10 guy if he got to stay for five years instead of four.
A 15 and 10 guy who shoots 40 percent from three and averages over two blocks per game would have done wonders for the 2022-23 team.
Unfortunately, that will be filed in the “what ifs” folder.
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