Summer League wrapped up in Las Vegas with 11 days of highlights, first looks at rookies, and plenty of surprises. Some players seized their moment while others left more questions than answers. Here’s how each team’s young talent performed when the lights were brightest.
Which Rookies Made the Biggest Impact in Vegas?
Atlanta Hawks
Asa Newell Is Ready Now
The No. 23 pick in the 2025 draft, Asa Newell, wasn’t expected to contribute right away given the win-now approach the Atlanta Hawks took this summer. The Georgia Bulldogs product brought questions about his readiness after a solid freshman season, with his slight 6’11”, 220-pound frame and unpolished offensive game raising doubts.
However, Newell put those concerns to rest during Summer League. He averaged 13.5 points and grabbed 8.2 rebounds in four games while showing range from deep that caught everyone’s attention. The forward knocked down six of 14 attempts from 3-point range, displaying a skill that could elevate his entire game.
Most importantly, Newell proved the Hawks won’t be taking a risk by making him their primary backup big heading into the 2025-26 season.
Boston Celtics
Charles Bassey Earned Minutes
Charles Bassey has been searching for consistent playing time throughout his four-year NBA career. The second-round pick from 2021 has appeared in 113 games combined with the Philadelphia 76ers and San Antonio Spurs, but meaningful minutes have been hard to come by.
That changed in Las Vegas. Bassey dominated multiple Summer League games, with his 22-point, 13-rebound, three-block performance against the New York Knicks in just 22 minutes serving as the standout effort. With a massive void at center following trades and free agency departures, Bassey has positioned himself for a real opportunity.
The Boston Celtics currently have only Neemias Queta, Luka Garza, and Xavier Tillman as centers on their roster. Boston could give Bassey substantial playing time in the 2025-26 season to evaluate his potential for their future.
Brooklyn Nets
Still Questions About Their Five First-Rounders
The Brooklyn Nets raised eyebrows on draft night when they stood pat and used all five first-round picks. The common thread among their selections was that each player operated best with the ball in their hands.
Summer League didn’t provide the clarity Brooklyn hoped for. While No. 8 pick Egor Demin showed flashes with some highlight plays, none of the five rookies separated themselves from the pack. For a team with that much first-round talent, their 1-4 record and second-to-last place finish in the Summer League standings was disappointing.
The Nets still face significant questions about how all these ball-dominant players will fit together.
Charlotte Hornets
Drafting Liam McNeeley Was Tremendous Value
Liam McNeeley’s draft night fall to No. 29 looked questionable from the moment he stepped on the court in Las Vegas. The former UConn guard had been projected higher despite shooting struggles during his lone college season, connecting on less than 32% from beyond the arc.
McNeeley silenced his shooting critics immediately. In the Charlotte Hornets’ opening game, he knocked down three of six attempts from deep while scoring 22 points and showcasing his complete skill set with 12 rebounds and six assists. The performance set the tone for a strong week, making Charlotte look brilliant for selecting him at the end of the first round.
His showing throughout Summer League proved he deserved to go much higher in the draft.
What Did Summer League Reveal About Team Depth?
Chicago Bulls
Noa Essengue and Matas Buzelis Will Be a Force on the Wing
While Noa Essengue’s week will be remembered for the poster dunk that Indiana Pacers’ Johnny Furphy delivered, the rookie had a solid overall performance in Las Vegas. The forward’s length and athletic ability were on full display as he averaged 12.7 points per game, using his long strides to attack the rim and finish around defenders.
Meanwhile, Matas Buzelis entered Summer League with high expectations after his promising rookie campaign in 2024-25. The No. 11 pick from the 2024 draft didn’t disappoint, becoming the sixth-leading scorer with 22.5 points per game in two contests before being shut down.
Both players share similar profiles as lengthy, athletic forwards. With limited young talent elsewhere on the roster, the Bulls are counting on this wing duo to develop into key contributors. Their Summer League performances suggest they’re heading in the right direction.
Cleveland Cavaliers
Nae’Quan Tomlin Showed Out
The Nae’Quan Tomlin story reads like something out of a movie. After skipping high school basketball, he took the junior college path before spending his final two collegiate seasons at Kansas State and Memphis. Following an undrafted status, he played in the G League during the 2023-24 season.
Tomlin earned a brief call-up with the Cleveland Cavaliers but appeared in just five games. Summer League provided him with a platform to showcase his abilities, and he seized the opportunity altogether. He quickly became Cleveland’s best player in Las Vegas, averaging 19.6 points while adding 8.2 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game.
Whether Tomlin can crack Cleveland’s rotation in the 2025-26 season remains to be seen, but he certainly grabbed attention throughout the league with his slashing ability and overall production.
Dallas Mavericks
Cooper Flagg is the Real Deal
We knew Cooper Flagg’s 5-of-21 debut should be taken with a grain of salt. We predicted that he’d be just fine, and he was. In his next game, Flagg scored a game-high 31 points and scored in various ways, including getting to the free throw line a remarkable 13 times.
As the focal point of the Dallas Mavericks’ offense, Flagg was appropriately aggressive and unselfish. He found open teammates when needed but also repeatedly dominated his one-on-one matchups.
There shouldn’t have been any doubt placed on Flagg’s Game 1, but the “generational talent” label carries much weight. There should be no more doubt after Game 2, which led to the Mavericks shutting him down. They’d seen enough. He’s pretty darn good.
Denver Nuggets
Lack of Young Talent Will Continue to Be An Issue
Whether they’d admit it or not, one of the widest gaps in agreement between now-fired head coach Michael Malone and general manager Calvin Booth was in Malone’s resistance to trusting Booth’s draft picks.
Both are gone, but the Denver Nuggets still lack young talent. This will continue to cloud their long-term view and force them to improve only through free agency, which is an expensive route.
You could argue that no player who suited up for the Nuggets’ Summer League squad will earn rotational minutes next season. None came in with that expectation, and none are leaving Las Vegas after a surprising surge. Yes, Denver has superstar Nikola Jokić. But the longer this inability to cultivate young talent persists, the harder it will be to contend.
Detroit Pistons
Daniss Jenkins Might’ve Played His Way Into Backup Point Guard Minutes
The Detroit Pistons’ main objective going into Summer League was to see the developmental progress of 2024 No. 5 pick Ron Holland II. And while Holland did his thing, averaging 21.7 points per game in three outings, point guard Daniss Jenkins might’ve been the team’s most valuable player.
A 6’3″ point guard, Jenkins ran the show, dishing out 27 assists in five games while scoring at a 14-point per game clip. He was in control and looked extremely mature, which are key characteristics in a backup point guard.
With Dennis Schröder gone, Jenkins may have earned his way to being the next one in line behind Cade Cunningham.
Golden State Warriors
Lacking Young Talent
The Golden State Warriors have done nothing (yep, zero transactions) during free agency. While that didn’t put all eyes on their Summer League team to make something happen, there was hope that one of their young prospects would pop.
None did.
They had two 2025 second-round picks in Alex Toohey (No. 52) and Will Richard (No. 56), but neither impressed much. With little to no young talent to cling to once the Steph Curry–Jimmy Butler III–Draymond Green trio retires in the next few years, the future in Golden State looks bleak.
Houston Rockets
Reed Sheppard is Ready For Minutes
Reed Sheppard, the third pick in last year’s draft, didn’t see much play time during his rookie season as the Houston Rockets ascended to the second seed in the Western Conference. But when he did get on the floor, his offensive talent was unquestioned.
That was the sentiment in his two games in Las Vegas, as he averaged 23.0 points per game and knocked down seven triples. His confidence was apparent; he believed he was the best player on the court.
The time is now for head coach Ime Udoka to roll out the talented Sheppard, who could help assist in turning a dormant offense into an explosive one with Kevin Durant now in the fold and Sheppard hoisting from deep.
Indiana Pacers
Johnny Furphy Grew Up
Johnny Furphy, a Melbourne native who spent one season at Kansas, is still just 20 years old, having completed his rookie season. He looked every bit his age as he struggled with efficiency and decision-making in limited minutes during his rookie season with the Indiana Pacers.
But in his second Summer League, he played with some major conviction. None more than when he put Essengue on the poster of the week, as the slam went viral. That’s certainly something that wasn’t seen a year ago from the gangly yet athletic Furphy.
Johnny Furphy with the absolute nasty tomahawk poster dunk on the rookie Noa Essengue (with replays).
OH MY GOD!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/lKPscWZ5bK
— MrBuckBuck (@MrBuckBuckNBA) July 14, 2025
With a de facto gap year ahead of the Pacers in the wake of Tyrese Haliburton’s Achilles injury, Furphy should get minutes on the wing. As a second-round pick in 2024, he has much higher potential than that draft positioning.
Los Angeles Lakers
Bronny James is a Real NBA Player
The social media chatter has to stop. Yes, Bronny James was drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers due to his father’s influence. But if not for suffering a cardiac arrest before his freshman season at USC, James would have been on his way to being selected in the mid-to-late first round, rather than being selected at No. 55 overall in 2024.
Last Summer League could’ve been constituted as a circus, with fans chanting for James to shoot the ball every time he touched it. He struggled under the pressure and failed to make an impact. But this summer and throughout his time in the G League last season, he made significant improvements. He averaged 14.3 points and 3.8 assists in Las Vegas while providing hounding defense.
That’s not something that a late second-round pick is supposed to be doing. Forget the nepotism: Bronny is a real NBA player and will get his chance soon enough.
Memphis Grizzlies
Young Guys Took a Leap, Per Usual
The Memphis Grizzlies have long been one of the top organizations in the league at developing young players with success stories including Desmond Bane, Santi Aldama, and Scotty Pippen Jr. They seem to have done it again with a trio of Jaylen Wells (15.7 points per game), G.G. Jackson (14.0 points), and Cam Spencer (17.8 points).
Spencer was the biggest surprise, and he was rewarded with a four-year deal last week after dominating in four games. Wells finished third in Rookie of the Year voting a season ago thanks to tough defense on the wing, but he showed improved self-creation and 3-point shot in Las Vegas. Jackson did his thing, putting the ball in the bucket at a high rate.
Though Bane is out the door, look for this young trio to help fill the void in production.
Miami Heat
Kel’el Ware Was Head-and-Shoulders Above the Competition
The game came extremely easily for Kel’el Ware this year, as he averaged 17.3 points and 10 rebounds per game. While there are concerns about his effort, the ease with which he played was a significant positive for the Heat. He quickly showed that he was better than the competition in Summer League.
Ware started 36 games as a rookie alongside forward Bam Adebayo and should slot in there for a while. A dynamic, high-rising athlete at seven feet with a 3-point range, Ware’s ceiling is much higher than people may think. If he can build off of Summer League into the regular season, the Heat will be very happy with their front-court duo.
Milwaukee Bucks
Depleted Young Talent
The Milwaukee Bucks Summer League squad was among several with few to no players who will contribute to the regular-season roster. Andre Jackson Jr. was one of them who played a role last season, but he disappointed greatly in averaging just 5.5 points in roughly 21 minutes of action.
Trading away promising young guard A.J. Johnson was gross mismanagement from the Bucks, as they sent him away to the Wizards in the Khris Middleton trade last season. Johnson scored 64 total points in four games for Washington’s Summer League squad, adding salt in the wound for Milwaukee, which ended their stay in Vegas with a 1-4 record.
Minnesota Timberwolves
Terrance Shannon Jr. Could Meet or Exceed Nickeil Alexander-Walker’s Production
The departure of combo guard and defender Nickeil Alexander-Walker was primarily due to the salary cap restrictions faced by the Minnesota Timberwolves, as well as the team’s evaluation of Terrance Shannon Jr. and what they believe he can accomplish in his sophomore season.
Shannon will be 25 when the season starts and showed his maturity on the court in Las Vegas, scoring 22.7 points, grabbing 6.0 rebounds, and dishing out 5.0 assists per game in three outings. He was another sophomore who revealed himself as too good for Summer League before being shut down.
Also, a pesky defender with a good frame, he very well could fill Alexander-Walker’s minutes. In reality, it’s something the Timberwolves need out of him, and it seems like he’s on the track to fulfilling that need.
New Orleans Pelicans
First-Round Duo Largely Disappointed
Though Derik Queen (selected 13th overall) came away injured, and Jeremiah Fears (selected seventh overall) is just 18 years old and was expected to have difficulties, it’s hard to say the New Orleans Pelicans came away from the week feeling good about the pair’s chances of contributing in Year 1.
Queen didn’t show the creative skillset we saw at Maryland, and Fears struggled mightily with efficiency, maturity, and turnovers. They’ll both need time to develop, but considering the draft capital New Orleans gave up to select Queen (a 2026 unprotected first-round pick), this was far from a promising weekend for Pelicans brass.
New York Knicks
Tyler Kolek Earned Play Time
Impact sophomores are supposed to dominate Summer League, and that’s exactly what Tyler Kolek did with the New York Knicks squad. He was especially good against the Brooklyn Nets, scoring 25 points with five triples and adding four assists and four steals.
As the lead ball-handler, Kolek had a considerable hand in the Knicks’ offense. He spread the ball around admirably and hit his open 3-pointers. With new head coach Mike Brown presumably deploying a deeper lineup than former head coach Tom Thibodeau, Kolek should get an extended look as the backup point guard early in the season.
Oklahoma City Thunder
Scarily Good Talent
We knew this would happen at some point with general manager Sam Presti stockpiling first-round draft picks. But coming off a championship, the Oklahoma City Thunder weren’t expected to have a good Summer League team. They’re supposed to be left with a low first-round pick instead of rolling out several first-rounders, and a guy who played in the NBA Finals.
Ajay Mitchell, although playing limited minutes in the finals, looked comfortable in Las Vegas, averaging 20.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 4.3 assists in three games of action. 2024 No. 12 pick Nikola Topić also impressed after missing his entire rookie season with a torn ACL, showing off his passing ability and slashing to the rim with ease.
That all came without 2025 No. 15 pick Thomas Sorber, who was sidelined due to injury, another young, talented prospect that the Thunder have stashed in their back pocket.
Orlando Magic
Jase Richardson Could Be a Rotational Player Right Away
At just 19, Jase Richardson faces an uphill battle to contribute to the defensive-minded Orlando Magic. But he did everything in his power last week to show that he deserves a look at a rotational spot.
He was dynamic offensively, averaging 16.5 points per game in two games of action. The lefty consistently got to his dominant hand and finished with scoop layups at the rim, showing his potency from beyond the arc.
The Magic backcourt is crowded with defensive guards — but after registering as one of the worst offenses in the NBA last season, they could use Richardson in a limited role simply for his offensive pop.
Philadelphia 76ers
Johni Broome is an NBA Player
It’s weird that a Naismith Award finalist and someone who was neck-and-neck with Flagg in the race for the honor would have a nice showing in Summer League. That’s precisely what former Auburn star and current Philadelphia 76ers Johni Broome did, as he averaged 13.5 points and grabbed 7.8 rebounds per game, looking comfortable at center.
There were questions about what his fit would be in the pros and what his ceiling would be, but after four games, he has proven himself willing to do the dirty work on the floor and play a role. He fell all the way to 35th overall in the draft but could figure into the 76ers’ lineup immediately, filling the vacancy left by power forward Guerschon Yabusele.
Phoenix Suns
Khaman Maluach is Very Raw
This is far from a groundbreaking statement, but Khaman Maluach may not even be able to be on the floor early in his rookie season. A stint in the G League should be in the future instead.
While he averaged 10.0 points and 5.7 rebounds, there were several moments when he looked his basketball age, as he had first picked up a basketball at the age of 13. The South Sudan native will require considerable time and development to adjust to the pace of play in the NBA and life off the court.
This was known when the Phoenix Suns selected him at No. 10 and likely had a hand in them trading for fellow center Mark Williams, but Maluach will need time. Don’t be surprised if it takes two-plus years for him to have a steady hold on a rotational spot.
Portland Trail Blazers
Yang Hansen Was Not a Reach in the Draft
Arguably, the biggest surprise on draft night was the Portland Trail Blazers’ decision to move back in the first round and select Yang Hansen, a 7’1″ center from China. Projected by many, including us at PSFN, to be a mid-to-late second-round pick, Hansen took steps towards proving the Trail Blazers correct in four games of action in Las Vegas.
Already one of the most popular players at the event, his dazzling passes to cutters gave the crowd something to cheer about. He also registered multiple slams, using his length and deceptive athletic ability to finish with conviction.
Coming out of Summer League, Portland seems largely justified in selecting Hansen, as he looks to be a talented player with loads of potential that will be unlocked soon.
Sacramento Kings
Nique Clifford is NBA-Ready
Playing five years in college was a major reason for Nique Clifford’s rise to the Sacramento Kings at No. 24, but the pick is paying off. Clifford dominated in every aspect of the game, averaging 18.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 5.0 assists.
A surprising part of his game was the polished nature of his offensive self-creation, as he revealed a deep bag of moves to get his shot off at the rim or mid-range. He also converted 10 of his 20 3-point attempts, an auspicious sign.
The Kings badly need an emerging prospect to cling to and keep them from becoming irrelevant; Clifford could be that guy.
San Antonio Spurs
Dylan Harper Will Be a Problem for Opposing Defenses
Dylan Harper, after missing the beginning of Summer League with an injury, quickly showed why he was the No. 2 pick and why the San Antonio Spurs were adamant about not trading the pick.
In two games, he scored 32 combined points, and while his shooting percentages weren’t pretty, he easily got to his spots. Those shots will fall, as will his passes to players in the regular season, as he repeatedly found the open man just for the shot to miss.
Harper’s positional size is a tremendous advantage in many ways, which will continue to confound opposing defenses in the NBA.
Toronto Raptors
Defense, Defense, and More Defense
While the starting backcourt of Jamal Shead and Ja’Kobe Walter won’t be seen in the starting lineup of the regular-season Toronto Raptors, they very well could be a duo coming off the bench. They wreaked havoc defensively, making it tough for opponents to bring the ball up the floor.
Walter was also impressed with his offensive game, averaging 16.0 points in five games. His 27.5% from 3-point range is concerning, but he slashed to the rim more than usual and scored on run-out steal opportunities.
If Toronto is to adopt a defensive-minded squad, it’d be wise to lean into the Shead-Walter duo off the bench in the backcourt.
Utah Jazz
Kyle Filipowski Ascended
Second-round picks in their second go-round at Summer League usually aren’t shut down after just three games, but that’s exactly what the Utah Jazz did with Kyle Filipowski. It was for good reason, as he was clearly the best player in Las Vegas after averaging 28.6 points and converting on 39.1% of his 3-pointers.
The 6’11” forward still has a ways to go on the defensive end, but for the rebuilding Jazz, he’s someone who has to receive significant burn this upcoming season. His size and offensive skill set fit the modern NBA exceptionally well, and if he can continue his upward trajectory, he’ll have a very successful sophomore campaign in Utah.
Washington Wizards
Tre Johnson Should Start From Day 1
Coming out of Texas, everyone knew that Tre Johnson could get buckets. And that’s precisely what he did in Las Vegas, cooking defenders on his way to scoring 19.5 points per game on excellent efficiency: 58.3% from the field and 45.5% from 3-point range. The No. 5 pick got wherever he wanted on the court and was sat down after just two games.
He should be firmly entrenched there now if he wasn’t already slotted into the Washington Wizards’ starting lineup. With how he performed, there’s a possibility that he enters his rookie season as Washington’s number one scoring option — making him a prime candidate to give Flagg a run for his money in the Rookie of the Year race.
