Air Force graduate Nwaelele playing in NBA Summer League

LAS VEGAS • They stood near their bench before the opening tip, each player listening attentively to the direction of their coaches.

Seemingly, each player has an equal opportunity to latch onto the team and earn an invitation to training camp, provided they have a strong showing in the NBA Summer League on the campus of UNLV.

But that’s where the circumstances change for Dan Nwaelele, a 2007 graduate of Air Force.

The former academy star is playing guard for the San Antonio Spurs summer league team in hopes of mustering a free agent contract and competing for a roster spot.

Air Force graduates, however, must serve on active duty for five years following graduation.  Air Force follows a Department of Defense policy, which allows graduates to pursue a professional sports career after two years of active duty in the player is offered a contract.

Nwaelele, though, has just completed one year of active duty.

“I think it’s hard waiting two years and trying to get back into it,” Nwaelele said Tuesday after a game. “They’re playing overseas and in the D-League. I’m down in Mississippi working in contracting all day, whenever I get off that’s when I go to work and play basketball.”

The disadvantage of having less time to practice has been challenging in Nwaelele’s quest to play pro basketball. But his determination has not gone unnoticed.

Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, also a former Air Force ball player and graduate, knows firsthand the challenges Nwaelele faces and has taken that into consideration in his evaluation.

“Of course I feel a kinship to him,” Popovich said. “People who graduated from the academy have a common bond that we all feel. He’s a good enough player that he belongs here. If he wasn’t good enough, I wouldn’t have him here. And he’s done a good job for us.

“He’s quality people. He’s committed to what he’s trying to do.”

Nwaelele scored two points in Tuesday’s game but didn’t play Wednesday.

Former Army strong safety Caleb Campbell was drafted by the Detroit Lions this year. Army’s controversial Alternative Service Option allowed Campbell to play immediately.

“Having set a precedent, hopefully it shows the Air Force that there’s other ways to serve,” Nwaelele said. “You could serve like Caleb Campbell and be a recruiter, go out there and get people to come to the Air Force and the Navy. So I think it’s perfect. It’s perfect.”

Possibly then, Nwaelele will have a fair shot at pursuing his NBA dream.