Breakthrough Performances in Las Vegas
In Las Vegas, the NBA Summer League came to an end last night, as the Miami Heat defeated the Memphis Grizzlies 120-118 in overtime. The event featured some of the NBA’s brightest young talent, including high draft picks from the college ranks and G-league players looking to claim a spot on an NBA roster. Here are some players who left Sin City having made a great impression.
Reed Sheppard, Houston Rockets
THE STORY
• Electrifying debut against Bronny James and the Los Angeles Lakers
• Flashed Impressive playmaking ability
•first-team all summer-league
the stats
• 4 Games Played
• 20.0 PPG, 5.3 APG, 4.8 RPG
what they’re saying
• “I was high on Sheppard’s potential during the draft process, and he showed with his play in Las Vegas why the Rockets should be very excited about his future in Houston” – Tim Bontemps, espn
Kel’el Ware, Miami Heat
THE STORY
•Led miami heat to summer league championship
•first team all-summer league
•likely played his way into major role for the Heat
the stats
•6 games
•18.0 PPG, 8.3 RPG, 1.5 BPG
What they’re saying
•”He’s been great to be around. I’m really excited to see everything that he can do for us., He’s got a lot of skills on both ends of the floor. It’s exciting to watch his growth. We’ve seen a lot of that already.” – Heat Summer League Coach Don Bisaccio
Rob Dillingham, Minnesota Timberwolves
THe story
•demonstrated breath-taking speed off the dribble
•25-point, 12-assist summer league finale after starting slow
the stats
•5 Games played
•13.6 PPG, 7.6 APG, 4.2 RPG
what they’re saying
•”he’s gonna be a prolific scorer in the nba one day.” – Minnesota timberwolves summer league coach chris hines
Scottie Pippen Jr., Memphis Grizzlies
the story
•took his playmaking to the next level as memphis grizzlies made run to the final
•recordED sixth triple double in summer league history
•first team all-summer league
what’s next
•6 Games played
•21.5 PPG, 8.7 APG, 5.0 RPG
•led summer league with 3.3 steals per game
what they’re saying
•“Scotty P is not like his daddy, He’s been doing extremely well. Great locker room guy giving us pointers during the game from the bench and stuff.” – grizzlies teammate gg jackson
Dalton Knecht, Los Angeles Lakers
The story
•showed high-ceiling as shot creator and shot maker
•gave himself a chance to earn role on depth-hungry los angeles lakers
the stats
•3 games played
•21.3 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 3.0 3pm
what they’re saying
•“We would have never imagined a player as skilled and perfect for our needs would be there (at 17th pick of 2024 nba draft) – rob pelinka, los angeles lakers general manager
