The Las Vegas Summer League, an annual highlight for NBA aficionados, is coming to a close. The 2024 draft class, comprising budding talents and seasoned second-year players, showcased their abilities with hopes of securing a spot for the much-anticipated 2024-25 NBA season. With performances ranging from dazzling to disappointing, the league offered a glimpse into the future of professional basketball.
Top Picks Highlight Mixed Outcomes
Houston Rockets' guard Reed Sheppard, the third overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, made a significant impression. Over four games, Sheppard averaged an impressive 20 points per game, along with 5.3 assists and 4.8 rebounds. His performance positions him as a promising prospect for the Rockets' upcoming season.
Conversely, the No. 2 overall pick, Washington Wizards’ forward Alex Sarr, experienced a challenging summer league. With a game where he failed to make a single shot, ending 0 of 15 from the floor, Sarr averaged just 5.5 points per game. His performance underscores the volatility and pressure young athletes face in proving their worth on the court.
Atlanta Hawks' top pick, Zaccharie Risacher, provided a balanced performance despite limited action. Risacher appeared in only two games, but his shooting accuracy, 11 of 27 from the field, bodes well for his transition to the professional level. Meanwhile, Detroit Pistons' No. 5 pick, Ron Holland, struggled with his long-range shooting, managing just 4 of 17 from beyond the arc.
Promising Debuts and Notable Performances
The Charlotte Hornets' sixth pick, Tidjane Salaun, faced difficulties from three-point range, going 1 of 10 across three games. Despite this, he maintained an average of 9.0 points per game, hinting at potential that could be harnessed with further development. For the Portland Trail Blazers, No. 7 pick Donovan Clingan showcased his defensive prowess, averaging 8.8 rebounds and 4.3 blocks per game. Clingan also demonstrated some range by making three three-pointers during the league.
Rob Dillingham, the eighth pick by the Minnesota Timberwolves, had standout moments, including a team-high performance of 25 points and 12 assists in a game against the Magic. Similarly, Matas Buzelis, the Chicago Bulls' No. 11 pick, turned heads with a stat line of 28 points, five rebounds, and two steals in one of his five games, underscoring his potential as a key player for the Bulls.
Challenges for Other First-Round Picks
Zach Edey, the ninth pick by the Memphis Grizzlies, had his summer league stint marred by an unfortunate ankle injury against the Pelicans. Despite this setback, Edey exhibited promise during the Salt Lake City Summer League, recording 14 points, 15 rebounds, and four blocks in a standout performance.
Other players encountered more severe obstacles. Nikola Topić of the Oklahoma City Thunder didn't participate due to a torn ACL, and Devin Carter of the Sacramento Kings missed the league following shoulder surgery.
Carlton Carrington, selected 14th by the Washington Wizards, displayed his versatility and youthfulness with a remarkable game against the Bucks, recording 13 points, 15 rebounds, five assists, and two steals just after turning 19. Cody Williams, Utah Jazz's tenth pick, demonstrated efficiency with an impressive 73.9% shooting from within the paint over seven games in both the Salt Lake City and Las Vegas Summer Leagues.
Additional Standouts and Future Prospects
Finally, Stephon Castle split his time between the Las Vegas Summer League and the California Classic. In his lone Las Vegas appearance, he tallied 22 points, five rebounds, four assists, and two three-pointers, capping off a solid run in summer action.
As the Las Vegas Summer League concludes, these emerging talents have offered glimpses of potential, resilience, and the challenges that lie ahead. With the groundwork laid during the summer league, NBA teams and their newest recruits now turn their focus to the forthcoming season, where the true test of their summer preparations will unfold.