In mid-February, during the NBA All-Star break, Philadelphia 76ers coach Brett Brown secluded himself for 72 hours, covered a table with paperwork and sought to plan out the rest of the season. Brown soon addressed each of his players individually. When he approached backup guard Shake Milton, the message was clear.

“You’re not playing,” Brown recalled saying. “You’re not in the rotation.”

Brown would play Ben Simmons, Alec Burks and Josh Richardson ahead of the 23-year-old Milton, a second-year player out of SMU. Milton, who had been playing in the NBA’s G League as recently as December, recalled hearing that message, saying, “It definitely sucks.” But Milton said he knew he could only stay ready should something happen.nfl authentic jerseys

On Sunday, in a nationally televised bout against the title-contending LA Clippers, and with Simmons yet again sidelined because of injury, Milton appeared more than ready, as he scored a career-high 39 points during a 136-130 loss at Staples Center.

“A hell of a story,” Brown would say afterward, recounting Brown’s improbable journey.

Milton’s G League career high is 36 points for the Delaware Blue Coats on Dec. 29, 2018. And he has had three different stints with the 76ers’ G League team this season alone.

Milton was understated afterward about his eye-popping numbers Sunday, saying in part, “Once you get in a groove, once you get in a rhythm, the rim looks big.“official nfl jerseys cheap

But he came out blazing with 26 points on 10-of-11 shooting in the first half, including 4-of-4 from 3-point range. In all, Milton made 14 of 20 shots, including 7 of 9 from 3-point range.

“Once the first couple ones knocked down,” he said, “I felt pretty good.”

At one point in the second half, Milton had made his first five 3-pointers and tied an NBA record for most consecutive 3-pointers made (13), a figure he set over the past three games.