NBA’s Las Vegas Summer time League is nearly within the books. The almost two-week occasion has showcased among the high rookies from the 2025 draft class, second-year gamers and NBA hopefuls trying to crack a rotation through the 2025-26 season.
The largest storyline heading into Sin Metropolis was the debut of No. 1 total decide Cooper Flagg dealing with off towards Bronny James and the Los Angeles Lakers. Flagg struggled in his summer season league debut, taking pictures simply 6 for 21 from the ground in a dramatic win over Los Angeles. Flagg responded the subsequent recreation with a 31-point outburst towards the San Antonio Spurs. He was shut down for the rest of the summer season league after that efficiency.
Whereas summer season league overreactions are extraordinarily widespread, it is secure to say there wasn’t a participant from the lottery portion of the draft who struggled like final yr when Washington Wizards ahead Alex Sarr averaged simply 5.5 factors per recreation — the bottom complete of any first-round decide who performed.
That stated, let’s leap proper into report playing cards for all of the lottery picks from the 2025 NBA Draft.
Flagg entered the summer season league with an incredible quantity of hype as one in every of 4 gamers in faculty basketball historical past to win Nationwide Participant of the 12 months throughout his freshman season. It is not stunning that Dallas determined to close down the No. 1 total decide after two games. He does not have a lot to show.
In his debut vs. the Lakers, Flagg shot 5 for 21 from the ground. He could not purchase a bucket, failing to report a area purpose after halftime. Nonetheless, one optimistic was that he constantly obtained to his spots. The second recreation was a special story. Flagg had among the finest showings of any participant on the occasion towards the Spurs. He flashed what he was able to doing on each ends of the ground and the way he would slot in as the purpose guard/main initiator. Total, his first recreation was a “C” efficiency, whereas his second recreation was a stable “A.” If he had performed in additional video games, he would’ve had an opportunity to enhance his grade. Grade: A-
No. 2 decide: Dylan Harper, San Antonio Spurs
The Spurs equally shut down Harper after simply two video games in Las Vegas. He did not take part within the California Basic however had an total robust exhibiting in his quick stint. One in every of his best strengths at Rutgers was his means to complete on the rim. On pictures on the rim in two video games, Harper shot 7 for 16 (43.8%), which is not superb, however a optimistic that he was capable of assault the basket.
I am very curious to see how San Antonio makes use of him throughout his rookie yr. I might be shocked if Harper did not come off the bench for a majority of the season, because the Spurs have already got De’Aaron Fox and reigning Rookie of the 12 months Stephon Castle on the roster. In his restricted minutes, Harper confirmed why the Spurs made the best determination to prioritize expertise over match. Grade: A-
It is unlucky that Edgecombe did not play in additional summer season league video games. He made his debut on the Salt Lake Metropolis Summer time League and had an unimaginable efficiency, flashing precisely what made him such a hyped prospect. Edgecombe is probably the most athletic participant on this draft class and had quite a few highlight-reel performs in the summertime league — together with a robust dunk in transition.
He solely performed in a single recreation every in Salt Lake Metropolis and Las Vegas because of a wrist/thumb harm. You might inform watching him play that it was nonetheless bothering him. Nonetheless, the primary recreation, during which he set the tone by recording 28 factors, 10 rebounds and 4 assists, was the whole lot the 76ers hoped for once they drafted him at No. 3. He did shoot 4 for 14 in his second recreation towards Washington, however he completed with 15 factors, six rebounds and 4 assists. Philadelphia ought to be thrilled with this choice. I am excited to see how he suits subsequent to Tyrese Maxey within the backcourt. His means to play off the ball and be a pest on protection is strictly what the 76ers want. Grade: A-
Knueppel’s summer season league debut was considerably uncharacteristic. He had an off taking pictures night time, which occurs, but it surely was uncommon to see him go simply 3 for six from the free-throw line. For context, Knueppel was among the finest 3-point and free throw shooters in faculty basketball final season, going 117 for 128 (91.4%) from the charity stripe.
After his lackluster opening efficiency, Knueppel performed extremely. He showcased how he could be the right connective piece subsequent to LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller in Charlotte. He completed with 16 factors and 10 rebounds towards Dallas after which recorded 19 factors, six assists and 5 rebounds the next recreation. In these two video games, he shot 6 for 13 from the 3-point line and solely missed one free throw. Grade: A
Bailey did not play in Las Vegas because of harm, so this grade is predicated solely on the 2 video games he performed in through the Salt Lake Metropolis Summer time League earlier this month. No participant in the complete course of had a extra fascinating lead-up to the draft than Bailey. After he reportedly canceled a exercise with the 76ers and declined to fulfill with different groups, the Jazz went daring and chosen him at No. 5 total.
Bailey performed respectable, although his total stats weren’t superb. Two performs specifically stood out. One in every of them was a no-dip 3-pointer. In the identical recreation, Bailey crashed the offensive glass, got here up with the rebound and threw down a two-handed flush. There is not a big sufficient pattern measurement (once more, as a result of he did not play in Las Vegas) to make an enormous overreaction both means. He was good, not nice. Time will inform if his pre-draft method will in the end show to be the best determination in each the quick and long run. Grade: B
No. 6 decide: Tre Johnson, Washington Wizards
Johnson was among the finest pure scorers in faculty basketball at Texas. He showcased why he could be among the finest scorers in his class throughout his quick stint in the summertime league. He solely appeared in two video games however completed with 18 factors in his debut and 21 factors within the second recreation.
Johnson was additionally very environment friendly. He completed 14 for twenty-four (58.3%) from the sector and went 5 for 11 from past the arc. I needed to see extra of Johnson in the summertime league, however he left little question that his scoring has an opportunity to translate to the subsequent stage. Grade: A-
Fears is an enchanting prospect. I nonetheless suppose he has one of many largest boom-or-bust potentials from this class. When watching him play, you’ll be able to see how clean he’s with the basketball in his palms. He’s a artful guard who had his greatest efficiency in a loss to Oklahoma Metropolis: 22 factors, six rebounds and 6 assists. It was additionally his best recreation throughout summer season league, as he completed 8 for 15 from the ground.
Level guards, particularly on this surroundings, are traditionally inefficient. Fears completed 4 for 12 in his debut and 5 for 21 in his subsequent recreation. I believed he confirmed actual indicators of enchancment as he continued taking part in and obtained extra snug. Nonetheless, his assist-to-turnover ratio was nonetheless dangerous. He completed with simply 9 assists, in comparison with 20 turnovers. That is one thing he must clear up as he develops. Grade: C+
Out of all of the lottery picks, this one was nonetheless probably the most stunning to me. I do not suppose it was a large attain taking Dёmin at No. 8, however there are nonetheless query marks about Brooklyn’s draft course of. Let’s dive into the nice first. Dёmin wasn’t an amazing shooter at BYU, taking pictures 27.3% on 4.3 makes an attempt per recreation from past the arc. That was one in every of his largest knocks popping out of college.
Nonetheless, through the summer season league, he confirmed that pattern measurement may very well be an outlier, going 10 for 23 (43.5%) from the 3-point line. Our James Herbert had a nice breakdown of his summer league showing. If Dёmin develops as a shooter, it will be a large improvement for Brooklyn. I nonetheless do not know precisely what he will probably be within the NBA, as a result of he isn’t a real level guard. He completed with a destructive assist-to-turnover ratio, which paradoxically was one in every of his strengths (facilitating) popping out of college. Grade: B-
Murray-Boyles was one in every of my favourite gamers on this draft class as a result of his defensive instruments are off the charts. His flooring goes to be so excessive as a result of he is able to guarding one of the best ahead on the ground always.
The knocks on him through the pre-draft course of have been his measurement and taking pictures. He is undersized for the place and his taking pictures wants work. His greatest exhibiting in Las Vegas got here towards the Nuggets. He completed with 20 factors, 9 rebounds and 4 steals. Grade: B+
The Suns obtained nice worth by deciding on Maluach at decide No. 10. You might make the case that Brooklyn or Toronto ought to’ve taken him at 8 or 9, but it surely appeared like him touchdown in Phoenix was by design.
Right here is the factor about Maluach: his stats will not measure the affect he has in a recreation. That was the case when he was at Duke and through the summer season league. His lengthy body permits him to disrupt pictures on the rim with out recording blocks. He completed with 4 complete in three video games. He was additionally extremely environment friendly across the rim final yr at Duke. Summer time league additionally proved an emphasis on stretching the ground. Certain, he shot solely 3 for 13 from the 3-point line, however even exhibiting a willingness to stretch the ground is optimistic. Grade: B
Coward didn’t play in summer season league, as he’s recovering from a shoulder harm. Grade: N/A
When individuals consider Essengue’s exhibiting at summer season league, they are going to (sadly) most likely keep in mind Pacers second-year ahead Johnny Furphy throwing down a poster dunk on him. The unlucky a part of that recreation is that it was Essengue’s greatest exhibiting at summer season league, as he completed with 21 factors and three rebounds.
Essengue is the youngest prospect on this class. He wants time to develop. After recording extra turnovers (seven) than factors (5) in his debut, he had two good bounce-back performances in Las Vegas. Grade: B-
No. 13 decide: Derik Queen, New Orleans Pelicans
From a pure stats perspective, Queen was good. He recorded a double-double in every of his three video games in the summertime league and showcased what he can do whereas being a focus of an offense. Queen was one in every of my favourite gamers to observe final season at Maryland, however I nonetheless have some considerations about his total recreation.
First, let’s discuss in regards to the turnovers: Queen turned the ball over seven occasions in his debut and eight occasions towards the Trail Blazers. Whereas the turnovers themselves aren’t completely regarding, the best way they occurred at occasions was. It is a double-edged sword asking Queen to deal with the rock extra. Whereas that was one in every of his strengths in faculty, his deal with was free at occasions whereas making an attempt to get to the bucket. The considerations about what he will probably be on the defensive finish of the ground are additionally legitimate. Total, what he showcased was largely what we noticed at Maryland. Queen goes to be a really entertaining participant to observe on the subsequent stage, however there will probably be some rising pains alongside the best way. Sadly, an harm suffered throughout summer season league will hold him out till at the least October. Grade: B-
No. 14 decide: Carter Bryant, San Antonio Spurs
From an offensive standpoint, Carter wasn’t nice. Nonetheless, in case you watched him at Arizona, that wasn’t that a lot of a shock. I am nonetheless an enormous believer in what Bryant can do on the NBA stage as an offensive participant as a result of he has actual upside as a shooter. He’s mechanically sound and confirmed glimpses of what he can do off the catch and off the bounce from the perimeter.
Now, let’s get to the place Bryant goes to make his cash subsequent season and the subsequent 5 years. It is on the defensive finish. Bryant is without doubt one of the greatest defenders on this class. He makes use of his size and athleticism to protect smaller and greater gamers on the perimeter. He is wonderful at navigating screens and may get better rapidly to disturb a shot on the rim. As humorous as this sounds, he will probably be higher fitted to a job on the NBA stage than in summer season league. He’ll be a nightmare for opponents. If his scoring was somewhat extra constant final week, I might’ve given him a better grade. And regardless of these offensive struggles — which once more, will take time to develop — his flooring is so excessive due to what he can do on protection. Grade: C+