NBA Summer League: How to watch the league's rookies and rising stars in showcase event
The NBA draft has come and gone, free agency continues to blow in the wind, fireworks have popped off, hot dogs have been consumed. That only means one thing: it's time for Summer League.
While the California Classic and SLC Summer League delivered a hint of what's to come, the main event is here: 31 games in Las Vegas from Thursday to Sunday and then the action just keeps pouring in next week.
No matter how you feel about Summer League, it's hard to deny it's continued growth. As a matter of fact, when I played at UNLV (yes I did, yes it was a long time ago, please respect my privacy), there were moments where you could walk through Thomas & Mack Center and Cox Pavilion unbothered. Those days are long gone; it's highly likely that anybody who is anybody will pop up and that anybody who wants to be somebody will be along for the ride. There's an energy that's hard to explain; the polos, the notebooks, the shuffle between arenas. The mix of Summer League veterans and people experiencing it for the first time delivers a unique charm.
Who will make the most of opportunity?
Part of the charm is how much Summer League is about opportunity. There is the obvious nature of the headlining rookies — AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, Cam Boozer, Caleb Wilson, etc. — showcasing what they can do (and starting the weekend trying to do it against each other). It goes beyond that, though. There is a chance for returning players to focus in on different aspects of their game in a different role and a different context. There's value in being able to get more on-ball reps, to carry more of a responsibility on both ends of the floor. You can lay a foundation that could pay off down the line.
How does that serve a defense and energy-first guy like the Lakers' Adou Thiero? Do the extra opportunities give more wiggle room for Boston's Hugo Gonzalez or San Antonio's Carter Bryant to build on top of the things that earned them rotation minutes as rookies? Is this the right environment for Utah's Cody Williams to build on the aggression he showed early last season? Can Orlando's Jase Richardson show the flashes are hiding just how bright he could become?
There is always a player who comes to Vegas on a mission: to never enter that building again unless they're sitting across from the bench watching. Some graduate early, and some are reminded they are playing a lot of guys looking for any sort of opportunity possible. Humility can come quick and swiftly. You also have the opportunity to experiment and just try things in a different environment. We pour one out for the Detroit Pistons' run of playing two bigs at the same time with the hope that one of them will show they can space the floor. New coaches and acquisitions have an opportunity to come together. Staff members have an opportunity to elevate into a different role, a chance to find their voice and showcase their potential. Everyone is playing or working for a chance to be seen.
And then the ball is tipped and the annual "overreactions" start to flow in. Do you need to take Summer League play with a grain of salt? Absolutely. Do you have to scream and yell about a singular Summer League game? Probably not. So how does one absorb what happens on the court? For one, embrace the beginning. There are rookies who will showcase their skill early. There are returning players who will look to show they have graduated from playing early. There are players hoping for a chance who will look to make their name known early. Embrace that.
The real fun of Summer League comes in taking note of the little things that happened. I'm sure teams would love for their young players to put up the type of numbers that get the people going. What I would say is it's more key to take note of what you see. This is an opportunity to get an idea of what skills may translate, what skills may have been slept on, what may pop in a different context. If it goes well or if it goes poorly think of it as a bookmark for later down the line.
Rookies to watch
I say that because we have a strong draft class, some who have already shown what they can do in early Summer League action. Evaluating or breaking them down was a lot easier when you knew rookies were going to play 4-5 games. Now it's the building blocks of a base. Avoid looking for one specific thing initially because if you start there, odds are you will stay there.
Think of it as a rolling check list. What are the drives looking like? What are the reads in pick-and-roll? How quickly is the ball moving when they see help defense? Are they even forcing help in the first place? It's easy to look at a prospect like Sacramento's Darius Acuff, point to the field-goal attempts and the defense, and call it a day. What happens if you dive a little deeper? What went on top of that? How did he get to his shots? What was the comfort level?
For a player like Dallas' Morez Johnson Jr., what's the activity like on defense on-ball and off-ball? Think about what a team likes to do and how a player's skills could translate in that environment. Track if there is improvement when navigating screens or showing help on the weakside. Little things can show growth, continued errors can show a need for more reps. That's what this time is for.
And that's the fun of seeing what some players have already displayed and will look to continue to display in Vegas.
Darryn Peterson has already shown how his game can translate to the next level. Strong drives, a willingness to turn the corner, an ability to not only play at his own pace but be shifty. In the two games he played in Utah, you saw a growth in the playmaking. It went from predetermining his passes (which almost every young guard is going to do in this environment) to seeing the attention defenses were showing him.
Cameron Boozer showcased his versatility as the Grizzlies moved him around the board and he operated with confidence. His on-target passing allowed them to play through him, his ball-handling opened up grab-and-go and inverted P&R, and the confident shooting glued everything together.
Kingston Flemings was known for his lightning speed, but displayed a patience in working to get downhill that should serve him well. That's just the appetizer for what AJ Dybantsa, Caleb Wilson and others could display this week.
The key is to enjoy the show and embrace the charm. Few things are better than tripping into an overtime thriller. Discovering a scoring guard who has decided to make the most out of the opportunity. A big who stands out just by playing hard. The subtle squeaks you hear from the building. Defenses clapping as an isolation has turned into a failed attempt. Summer League is a rite of passage and we get the opportunity to see who makes the most of it.
