Summer League’s Early Winners and Losers (Too Soon to Call)

Winners:

• Carter Bryant

  Carter Bryant’s defense has been on full display throughout the California Classic and the first two days of the Las Vegas Summer League. For being 6'8" and weighing 220 pounds, Bryant has shown surprising quickness on the perimeter. He slides his feet very well and beats his matchup to the spot more times than not. He slides his feet well and consistently beats his matchup to the spot. Bryant has also demonstrated relentless effort on defense—if he’s beaten off the dribble, he doesn’t give up, continuing to lock in and trail the offensive player. His persistence has led to some impressive blocks and deflections.

• Ryan Nembhard

  Nembhard is a spitting image of his brother, Andrew. How he went undrafted remains a mystery, especially considering he started every game for four years at Gonzaga and nearly averaged a double-double his senior year. Nembhard showcased his poise and basketball IQ in the first game against the Lakers, hitting timely shots and dishing out five assists. Although he struggled in the next game against the Spurs, scoring only two points, it’s worth noting that everyone, except for Cooper Flagg, had a tough outing. If Ryan Nembhard can bring the same traits to the Mavericks that his brother, Andrew, brings to the Pacers, the Mavs will have serious depth at the guard position—a spot many are questioning heading into next season.

• Cooper Flagg

  Cooper Flagg has been shut down for the rest of the Summer League after playing just two games, but he showed enough to justify why he was the consensus number one overall pick. In the first game against the Lakers, Flagg didn’t have his best performance, scoring 10 points on 5-for-21 shooting. While those numbers might raise some eyebrows and spark concerns, it’s important to remember that it was just one game, and Flagg contributed in other ways. Late in the game, Flagg blocked DJ Steward’s drive to the basket and then made the assist that ultimately gave the Mavs the win. In the second game against the Spurs, Flagg showcased his offensive skillset much more effectively. He scored 31 points, nearly half of the Mavericks' total of 69 points. Most of his scoring came from downhill attacks to the rim, where he’d often get fouled, in transition, or off catch-and-shoot jumpers. The jumper is impressive for his size though. While Flagg’s offensive game is still a bit unpolished—struggling to shake defenders and not being the most effective in the half court—his ability to develop that aspect of his game is clear. With time and as he continues to adjust to NBA defense, that skillset will undoubtedly grow. It’ll also help when he’s not the focal point of the other team’s defense.

• OKC Thunder

  Coming off their first championship in franchise history, the Thunder now face a good problem to sort out heading into the regular season. Ajay Mitchell and Nikola Topic have been impressive during the Summer League, first in Utah and now in Vegas. While Topic has yet to play in an NBA game, he’s shown his playmaking ability and impressive frame at 6’6” during the Summer League. Ajay Mitchell, a great story for the Thunder, played a handful of games last season and was more than serviceable. OKC already has a long list of backup guards, making it difficult for either Mitchell or Topic to crack the rotation. But if it comes down to it, which player gets the nod?

• Bronny James

  Bronny has gradually ramped up his minutes throughout the Summer League and continues to show signs of potential. Compared to last year’s Summer League, Bronny appears more confident overall. While he can still be passive at times, when he chooses to be aggressive, it’s really something special. Bronny electing to take the game-winning shot against the Mavs in the first Summer League game is all I needed to see in terms of his growth in confidence. He’s mentioned that if he wants to see the court, he needs to be a menace on the defensive side of the ball. The Lakers have reportedly expressed their intention to include Bronny in the rotation during the season. This season will show just how accurate the Davion Mitchell draft comparison really is.

• David Jones-Garcia

  David Jones Garcia is a bucket. Remember the name. He’s averaging 23.5 points, 5.2 assists, and 3.5 rebounds across six Summer League games, all while coming off the bench and playing just 25 minutes per game. Once he’s subbed in, he wastes no time getting buckets. He almost looks too good to be playing Summer League. Unfortunately, the Spurs are stacked at the guard position with players like De’Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle, Devin Vassell, and Dylan Harper. So, even if they give him a shot, he might not see many minutes. But if the Spurs don’t, I hope he gets signed somewhere else—because he can hoop!

• Pelle Larsson

  I’ve been watching Pelle Larsson since the California Classic earlier this month and he looks very comfortable playing Summer League. All-around solid player who can score, pass, play defense. I expect him to contribute and to consistently be a part of Miami’s rotation. Hopefully, they don’t do him like they did Jaime Jaquez Jr. last season.

• Reed Sheppard

  Reed Sheppard is another player who has been shut down after just two games in the Summer League. After spending most of last year in the G-League, Sheppard came into this Summer League and dominated. Coming out of Kentucky, everyone knew he could shoot, but in what will be his second year, his defense has been better than expected. In two games, he’s averaging 4 steals and 1.5 blocks. Standing at 6'1", he may be on the shorter side, but he brings the kind of tenacity that great guard defenders are known for.

Losers:

• Fans

  Summer League is getting expensive… The players that fans are traveling to see aren’t even playing. It’s not really fair.

• Sixers

  VJ Edgecombe suffered a left thumb sprain in Utah during the early part of Summer League and has been sidelined ever since. While Edgecombe looked like the truth in his limited minutes, Sixers fans, more than anyone, get sick to their stomach whenever any injury happens to any player. He’ll be fine, but as a fan, you want to see him play as much as possible to see just how legit he is.

• Dalton Knecht

  Sophomore slumps are common in the NBA, and hopefully, Knecht doesn’t fall into that trap. It’s still too early to tell, but so far, Knecht has struggled during this Summer League, with the exception of one game. Knecht is one of the few assets the Lakers have that could draw trade interest, so if his performance continues to decline, it could hurt a significant part of LA’s business. Even if he isn’t traded, it would still negatively impact the team on the court.

• Jazz (minus Kyle Filipowski)

  Isaiah Collier has been struggling with his efficiency, Cody Williams is trying to improve, Ace Bailey and Walter Clayton Jr. are injured, Bryce Sensabaugh isn’t playing in Vegas. Kyle Filipowski is going to work though.

• Jeremiah Fears

  It’s only been two games, but Jeremiah Fears has struggled to find his rhythm. In 27.5 minutes of action, he’s averaging 14.5 points on 27.3% shooting and just 18.2% from three. While he’s not known for his shooting, 18.2% is a tough mark to overcome. Additionally, his playmaking hasn’t been at the highest level. As the point guard, he’s averaging just 1 assist per game with 5 turnovers. With more reps, he should get a better feel, but so far, it’s not looking too good.