The NBA Summer League in Las Vegas concluded recently, showcasing the 2026 rookie class. The top four prospects from the draft demonstrated strong performances, with several other players also making an impression.
The event, which ran from July 9-19, featured all 30 teams playing at least five games. The top four teams advanced to playoffs starting on July 18, culminating in a championship game on July 19. Other teams played a fifth game between July 17 and July 19.
Rookie standout performances
AJ Dybantsa, the No. 1 pick for the Washington Wizards, played two games in Las Vegas. The 6-foot-9 wing consistently drove to the basket and broke down defenses, often playing on the ball. He also showed poise in allowing plays to develop before scoring at the rim. Dybantsa’s jumper was inconsistent, shooting 1 of 11 from beyond the arc, indicating an area for development in the coming years. Despite this, his athletic ability and capacity to draw fouls were evident.
Darryn Peterson, the No. 2 pick for the Utah Jazz, participated in four games across the Salt Lake City and Las Vegas Summer Leagues. Peterson demonstrated his shooting ability, hitting 38.5 percent of his nearly seven 3-point attempts per game and averaging 25 points per game. He frequently played on the ball, showcasing athleticism to create space for pull-up jumpers. Peterson also displayed passing skills, averaging 5.5 assists per game, including a 12-assist performance against the Memphis Grizzlies. While he drew fouls at a high rate, averaging eight free-throw attempts in two Las Vegas games, he often settled for floaters rather than driving all the way to the rim.
Cameron Boozer, the No. 3 pick for the Memphis Grizzlies, played five games across his two summer league appearances. He averaged 18 points, seven rebounds, and nearly four assists per game, shooting 51 percent from the field, 45 percent from 3, and 80 percent from the free-throw line in 27 minutes per game. Boozer’s play was described as structurally sound, making consistent decisions and threatening defenses in multiple ways. He showcased versatility from ball screens, as a roller, a passing hub, and occasionally in the post.
Caleb Wilson, the No. 4 pick for the Chicago Bulls, was noted for his competitive character. The 2026 NBA Draft class generated considerable excitement, and the summer league allowed fans to see these players in NBA jerseys for the first time.
Evaluating summer league performances
Evaluating summer league performances involves considering whether a player’s showing is an outlier. The top four players, along with some lower-drafted players, appeared to be outliers in their performances. Defensive play in these exhibition games is often not indicative of NBA regular season games due to a lack of defensive cohesion and chaotic play.
Summer league statistics should also be viewed with caution. In previous years, leading scorers in summer league have not consistently translated to NBA All-Stars. For example, Tyrese Maxey in 2021 was the only player since 2018 to finish in the top five of summer league scoring and become an All-Star. Past performances by players like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Cade Cunningham, Chet Holmgren, and Jalen Williams in summer league did not always reflect their later NBA success.
The NBA Summer League in Las Vegas tipped off on July 9 with a matchup between Washington’s AJ Dybantsa and Utah’s Darryn Peterson.
Source: nytimes.com