The opening day of the NBA Las Vegas Summer League supplied fireworks and the debut of No. 1 total decide Cooper Flagg, who struggled to seek out his shot in a dramatic win over the Los Angeles Lakers. Day 2 of the multi-week occasion from Sin Metropolis on Friday supplied an additional look into extra prospects from final month’s draft making their debut in summer time league, in addition to returning gamers seeking to enhance their inventory throughout their second and perhaps even third stint collaborating on this occasion.
The sport with essentially the most intrigue got here Friday, and it additionally had essentially the most gamers prone to contribute to their respective NBA teams this season: the matchup between the Utah Jazz and the Charlotte Hornets. Utah was with out star ahead Ace Bailey, however this recreation nonetheless had loads of star energy. No. 4 total decide Kon Knueppel did not rating his first discipline purpose till halfway via the fourth quarter and completed with 5 factors towards the Jazz.
Cooper Flagg vs. Bronny James takeaways: No. 1 pick struggles to find his shot in summer league debut
Cameron Salerno
It did not take lengthy for Miami Heat level guard Kasparas Jakučionis, the No. 20 total decide within the 2025 NBA Draft, to bounce again from a lackluster displaying on the California Basic — which serves as a prelim to the primary occasion in Las Vegas. The previous Illinois star made only one discipline purpose in three video games however responded on Friday by scoring a team-high 24 factors. He added 4 rebounds, 4 assists and two steals in a 105-98 loss to the Atlanta Hawks.
One of many sophomore stars from the second day was Detroit Pistons ahead Ron Holland, who completed with a double-double (28 factors, 11 rebounds) and in addition made an impression on the defensive finish by recording three steals. Holland, the previous No. 5 total decide final summer time, seems to be poised for a breakout marketing campaign heading into his sophomore marketing campaign.
Listed below are the most important takeaways from Day 2 of summer time league from Las Vegas.
Knueppel cannot discover his shot, one other former Duke star shines
Lower than 24 hours after his former teammate at Duke struggled to seek out his shot towards the Lakers, Knueppel additionally struggled to do the identical. He recorded his first discipline purpose of summer time league with 6:45 remaining off a breakaway dunk and completed 1 for 8 from the ground. Whereas his taking pictures struggles aren’t something alarming long-term and could possibly be chalked up merely due to first-game jitters, it was uncommon to see him go 3 of 6 from the free throw line. For context, Knueppel was top-of-the-line 3-point and free throw shooters in faculty basketball final season. In complete, he went 117 for 128 (91.4%) from the charity stripe.
Briefly, there is no cause to panic about Knueppel. He was elite at Duke in creating his shot inside the circulation of the offense. In an NBA setting, he’ll discover his shot.
Whereas Knueppel received off to a gradual begin in summer time league, one other former Duke product (Kyle Filipowski) shined. The second-year ahead was the most effective participant on the ground for Utah. He completed with 32 factors, six rebounds and 5 assists. On the opposite facet, former UConn standout Liam McNeeley, the No. 29 decide final month, supplied a set off the bench for Charlotte. He completed with a double-double (22 factors and 12 rebounds) and knocked down three 3-pointers.
Yang Hansen makes electrical cross throughout the ultimate recreation of Day 2
It didn’t take lengthy for Portland’s large man to get the Las Vegas crowd going. On Portland’s first possession, Hansen threw a candy bounce again, which resulted in a layup by Sidy Cissoko. Hansen, the No. 16 decide in final month’s draft, was some of the stunning picks of the primary spherical. He was a projected second-round decide coming into draft evening, however Portland determined to be daring and convicted and choose a participant with a novel ability set in the course of the primary spherical.
Jakučionis bounces again from his first summer time league outing
In the course of the California Basic final weekend, Jakučionis didn’t play his greatest basketball. The previous Illinois star missed all 11 of his makes an attempt from past the arc, dedicated 12 turnovers and could not discover a rhythm. In his summer time league debut in Las Vegas, he regarded like a totally completely different participant. He knocked down three consecutive 3-pointers within the first quarter, performed in management and performed like somebody who was a projected lottery decide earlier than he finally fell all the best way to select No. 20.
The turnover half was essentially the most spectacular a part of his bounce-back efficiency. At Illinois, turnovers have been his greatest weak point. Jakučionis turned the ball over 3.7 occasions per recreation throughout his lone season of school basketball. If he can clear up that space of his recreation, it’s going to do wonders for his total inventory. This efficiency towards Atlanta is why it was so stunning that he fell to the 20s on draft evening.
Holland seems to be a breakout candidate for Detroit
The previous No. 5 total decide from the 2024 NBA Draft appears primed for a breakout sophomore marketing campaign and, within the course of, regarded like somebody who’s already too good for summer time league. Holland scored 18 of his 28 complete factors within the third quarter in a 104-86 win towards the New York Knicks. Maybe essentially the most spectacular a part of his efficiency was his taking pictures from past the arc. Holland completed 4 of 5 from the 3-point line.
General, it is a constructive growth as a result of Holland’s taking pictures was certainly one of his weaknesses as a rookie and as a prospect with G League Ignite. He shot 23.9% from the 3-point line (1.9 makes an attempt per recreation final season. There isn’t a query what Holland gives exterior of his taking pictures. He is an elite athlete with a excessive motor, able to being a standout defender for years to come back. If he can develop his jumper, it’s going to do wonders for his recreation. Overreactions (good and dangerous) are widespread throughout summer time league, but it surely appears like a 12 months 2 leap from certainly one of Detroit’s younger items is on deck.
Koby Brea could possibly be a second-round steal for Phoenix
The Phoenix Suns are going via modifications this offseason. The franchise traded Kevin Durant to the Houston Rockets, and it appears guard Bradley Beal could be nearing a buyout with the team. The Suns acquired the No. 10 decide within the Durant commerce — used to draft Duke large man Khaman Maluach — however Phoenix was additionally aggressive within the second spherical. The Suns traded as much as draft Rasheer Fleming and Koby Brea within the second spherical.
Brea was arguably Phoenix’s greatest participant throughout its blowout win over the Washington Wizards. The previous Dayton and Kentucky product confirmed his taking pictures capability with an environment friendly 19 factors in 24 minutes. Brea knocked down 4 3-pointers on solely 5 makes an attempt and showcased how he can impression profitable on the subsequent degree. Brea was top-of-the-line shooters in faculty basketball all through his profession. That ability seems to have translated to (at the very least) the summer time league.
Flagg vs. Dylan Harper headlines Day 3 in Las Vegas
The headliner recreation for Day 3 of the summer time league from Las Vegas might be a matchup of the No. 1 and a couple of picks from final month’s draft. Harper did not take part within the California Basic as a consequence of harm and missed San Antonio’s opener towards the Philadelphia 76ers due to it. Harper is expected to return Saturday and make his summer time league debut. Historically, the marquee matchup of the primary day of summer time league is the sport between the highest picks within the draft. As a substitute, the league determined to spice it up and schedule Flagg vs. Bronny James‘ Lakers because the primetime recreation.
It is no secret that Flagg struggled in his first summer time league recreation. He did not make a discipline purpose within the second half and shot a lackluster 5 for 21 from the sector. One constructive about Flagg’s efficiency was he was routinely attending to his spots within the mid-range space however simply could not convert. Flagg did provide you with a clutch play throughout the ultimate two minutes of motion by recording a spotlight block that led to a go-ahead 3-pointer by Ryan Nembhard to safe the win. All eyes might be on Flagg and Harper.