The NBA Summer League becomes a proving ground for young players every summer. The exhibition circuit offers players a unique opportunity to impress coaches, executives, and fans with their development.
We’ve seen recent first-round picks finally start to flash the promise that got them drafted so high, as well as unproven players who have worked on their craft and are looking to carve out a larger role in 2025.
These eight players have raised their stock with strong Summer League performances.
Kyle Filipowski, Utah Jazz
Kyle Filipowski has significantly elevated his profile during the 2025 NBA Summer League with a string of dominant performances. Through three games, the Utah Jazz center leads all scorers with 29.3 points per game, shooting an efficient 56.1% from the field and 39.1% from 3-point range, per NBA.com.
Filipowski also averaged 7.7 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game. His aggressiveness stands out, averaging 19 field goal attempts and 7.7 3-point attempts.
WHAT A PERFORMANCE FROM UTAH’S KYLE FILIPOWSKI 🙌
35 PTS
11 REB
5 3PM
11-19 FGM pic.twitter.com/j60UyN0lvg— NBA (@NBA) July 15, 2025
The former Duke standout had good moments during his rookie season with the Jazz, averaging 9.6 points and 6.1 rebounds in 21.1 minutes per game across 72 contests. Utah was the worst team in the NBA last season, so it was only right that Filipowski saw playing time.
However, not many expected him to be this good in the Summer League. He’s not just putting the ball in the basket. He’s doing it efficiently. With John Collins gone, Filipowski will compete with Walker Kessler, Taylor Hendricks, and Jusuf Nurkic in the frontcourt.
Terrence Shannon Jr., Minnesota Timberwolves
Terrence Shannon Jr. performed well in last year’s Summer League but is even better this time. The Minnesota Timberwolves guard is among the highest scorers, posting 22.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, 5.0 assists, and 1.7 steals per game. He’s shooting the ball well, with a 47.6% field goal percentage and a 38.6% 3-point percentage.
Shannon’s ability to contribute across multiple categories speaks to his all-around skill set and shows he’s more than a gifted scorer.
The Timberwolves selected Shannon with the 27th pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, but the Illinois product played a minimal role in Chris Finch’s rotation last season. According to Basketball Reference, he averaged 4.3 points, 1.5 rebounds, and 1.0 assists in 10.6 minutes per game.
With an aging Mike Conley (37 years old), we could see increased playing time for Rob Dillingham and Shannon alongside superstar Anthony Edwards. Given Shannon’s physical profile and production this summer, it’s hard to justify not playing him more next season.
David Jones-Garcia, San Antonio Spurs
David Jones-Garcia’s breakout senior season at Memphis put him on the radar of NBA scouts. He averaged 21.8 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 2.2 steals per game under Penny Hardaway. He went undrafted but gained meaningful experience in the G-League.
Jones-Garcia played 31 games between the Mexico City Capitanes and the Salt Lake City Stars, finishing with 24.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 1.5 steals per game, shooting 48.4% from the field and 34.3% from deep.
READ MORE: 2025 NBA Offseason Grades: Rockets, Nuggets, and Hawks Are at the Head of the Class
Jones-Garcia carried that momentum to the NBA Summer League, averaging 24.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 1.7 steals for the San Antonio Spurs. He’s also shooting the lights out, boasting a 58.7% field goal percentage and an absurd 63.2% 3-point percentage on 6.3 attempts per game.
The Spurs have a deep, young core, so it will be difficult for Jones-Garcia to land a roster spot, but he could be auditioning for another team with his standout performance.
Drew Timme, Brooklyn Nets
After a dominant collegiate career for the Gonzaga Bulldogs, Drew Timme began his professional journey in the G League, where he spent most of the past two seasons. He appeared in 29 games for the Long Island Nets and averaged 23.9 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 4.1 assists. He finished the year with 18 double-doubles.
Timme’s performance earned him a spot on the Brooklyn Nets for nine games, where he posted 12.1 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 2.2 assists across 28.2 minutes per game. He also recorded three double-doubles during that span.
He has shown that same promise in the Summer League, putting up some gaudy numbers. He averaged 25.3 points (2nd in Summer League), 8.0 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 1.0 steals in 30.7 minutes per game through three contests.
The Nets are in the middle of a rebuild and are looking to see what they have in their young players. Timme is on a non-guaranteed deal, but Brooklyn could give him a serious look after watching him dominate.
Reed Sheppard, Houston Rockets
Many people would argue that Reed Sheppard doesn’t belong in the Summer League, and they would be correct by most accounts. However, last year’s No. 3 overall pick had a shaky rookie season with the Houston Rockets.
Sheppard played 52 games in 2024, making three starts. He averaged 4.4 points, 1.5 rebounds, and 1.4 assists in only 12.6 minutes per game. That production is disappointing for a top-three selection, and his minimal role suggests he wasn’t ready for a larger workload.
However, he has turned some heads with his Summer League play. The Kentucky product appeared in two games, averaging 23.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 4.0 steals, and 1.5 blocks. Even though his pedigree suggests he was too good to be out there, seeing him impact the game on both ends of the floor was encouraging.
The Rockets are expected to be legitimate contenders in the Western Conference. If Sheppard can continue to play well through training camp, he should carve out an increased role in the rotation, especially with Jalen Green gone.
Kyshawn George, Washington Wizards
The Washington Wizards were among the NBA’s worst teams last season. However, their roster features some promising young talents, including Kyshawn George. His versatility and polish were on full display in the Summer League.
George recorded 17.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 4.0 steals per game in two games, highlighting his potential as a two-way contributor.
George, who played his college ball at the University of Miami, carved out a rookie role in the Wizards’ rotation. He played 26.5 minutes per game, averaging 8.7 points, 4.2 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.0 steals.
New general manager Will Dawkins is building a young core that features a slew of other former first-round picks, including Alex Sarr, Bub Carrington, and Bilal Coulibaly. Alongside them, George has a chance to take a notable step forward in 2025.
Ron Holland II, Detroit Pistons
Ron Holland II entered the NBA last season with plenty of hype. The Detroit Pistons took him with the 4th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft after a standout 2023-24 campaign with the G League Ignite. He averaged 20.6 points, 6.6 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 2.5 steals there.
Ron Holland II SHOWED OUT for the Pistons in Las Vegas!
🔥 28 PTS
🔥 11 REB
🔥 3 STL
🔥 4 3PM pic.twitter.com/XfUyuzR6wy— NBA (@NBA) July 12, 2025
Holland appeared in 81 games for Detroit as a rookie but struggled to land a consistent role in J.B. Bickerstaff’s rotation. He finished the year with 6.4 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 1.0 assists in 15.6 minutes per game. However, when scaled to per-36-minute marks, he averaged 14.8 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 2.3 assists.
Holland looked significantly more confident in three Summer League games. He posted 21.7 points, 6.0 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 4.0 steals per game. His game has seemingly made strides with his efficiency. Perimeter shooting was a weakness in Year 1, but he shot 52.8% from the field and 46.7% from deep in the Summer League.
The sample size was small, so it’s too early to rejoice. Still, Holland’s performance hints at drastic improvements on the offensive end of the floor. He could see more meaningful minutes for a Pistons team looking to contend in the East.
Jaylon Tyson, Cleveland Cavaliers
Jaylon Tyson is another former first-round pick who saw limited minutes during the 2024 season. The Cleveland Cavaliers drafted Tyson out of California with the 20th pick in last year’s draft. However, he played just 9.6 minutes per game across 47 contests.
Tyson has flashed his potential during the Summer League, averaging 19.7 points, 6.7 assists, 6.0 rebounds, 1.3 steals, and 1.3 blocks. He wasn’t super efficient from the field, but shot 34.8% from beyond the arc.
Despite a second-round playoff exit, the Cavaliers are expected to be title contenders in the Eastern Conference again in 2025. With Sixth Man of the Year candidate Ty Jerome leaving in free agency and Isaac Okoro traded to the Bulls, Kenny Atkinson’s rotation should have minutes available.
Tyson’s ability to put the ball in the basket this summer is difficult to ignore, and he’s also displayed some playmaking chops. He logged multiple double-digit scoring games as a rookie, suggesting he could make an impact with a larger role.
