Ex-Rebel Terry seeks spot with Mavericks

Getting his foot in the NBA’s back door is proving to be a difficult task for Curtis Terry.

Four years ago, Terry was a freshman walk-on at UNLV. He earned a scholarship before his sophomore year and became the starting point guard last season as a senior.

The jump to the next level is a higher hurdle for the 6-foot-5-inch Terry, who is trying to stick with the Dallas Mavericks’ summer league team.

Terry is one of 18 players in camp this week in Dallas. The Mavericks plan to bring 12 to 14 players to the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas.

"I’m just hoping to get there," Terry said. "There’s a full house here."

Terry expects to learn today whether he is picked to make the trip. The Mavericks open play against the Los Angeles Clippers at 7 p.m. Friday at Cox Pavilion.

Terry suffered ligament damage to his right ankle while playing basketball on the UNLV campus May 18. He was forced to delay some tryouts before the NBA Draft, and he said the injury still bothers him.

"I’m trying to play hard and show what I can do, but I’m limited," Terry said. "I’m playing through it because what I don’t have is time."

Terry started all 35 games for the Rebels last season and was third on the team in scoring at 11.1 points per game. He played in a Mountain West Conference-record 133 games in his career.

His half-brother is Mavericks veteran guard Jason Terry.