News Summary
The 2025 NBA Summer League closed with notable performances from top rookies, including Cooper Flagg’s historic scoring feat. Flagg tied for the most points by a No. 1 pick with 31 points, while other top draft picks also made their mark, setting the stage for an exciting upcoming season. Injuries raised concerns heading into the regular season, but the talent displayed promises a bright future for the league.
Las Vegas – The 2025 NBA Summer League concluded with excitement surrounding a highly anticipated rookie class, headlined by the No. 1 overall pick, Cooper Flagg, who stole the spotlight with his record-tying performance. Flagg scored 31 points during his second game for the Dallas Mavericks, setting a historical milestone by tying John Wall for the most points ever scored by a No. 1 pick in Summer League history. This came after a challenging debut where Flagg struggled with his shooting, finishing the game with just 5-of-21 from the field.
In addition to Flagg, other top draft picks made their mark. Dylan Harper, selected second overall by the San Antonio Spurs, made a noteworthy entrance into the league by scoring 16 points in just 20 minutes of play. Nique Clifford of the Sacramento Kings caught the attention of fans and scouts alike, averaging 18.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 5.0 assists throughout the Summer League while showcasing impressive shooting accuracy—hitting 53% of his three-point attempts.
Liam McNeeley, playing for the Charlotte Hornets, also had a standout performance, recording 22 points, 12 rebounds, and 6 assists, eclipsing his college career high in rebounds. Cooper Flagg further asserted his presence by topping usage rates, providing glimpses of his potential as a versatile point forward.
Other notable performances included Tre Johnson of the Washington Wizards, who excelled with an impressive shooting percentage, converting 69% of his two-point attempts and hitting 5-of-11 from three-point range. Meanwhile, Yang Hansen, a 7-foot-1 rookie from China selected 16th overall, displayed exceptional playmaking skills with 15 assists and dominated defensively with an average of 2.3 blocks per game.
Several players faced injuries during the tournament, raising concerns as the regular season approaches. Eli John N’Diaye, who signed a two-way contract with the Atlanta Hawks after going undrafted, managed to score 12 points and grabbed six rebounds in one game before a wrist injury sidelined him. Darius Bazley of the Los Angeles Lakers also encountered a setback, collapsing during a game against the Boston Celtics after driving to the basket, requiring him to be taken off the court in a wheelchair. Before his injury, Bazley averaged 11.2 points and 8.4 rebounds across five Summer League games.
Jeremiah Fears of the New Orleans Pelicans bounced back from a rugged start to finish strong, scoring 22 points against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Kyle Filipowski of the Utah Jazz emerged as the leading scorer in the Summer League, averaging 29.3 points per game and demonstrating a remarkable offensive skill set throughout the tournament.
The Summer League showcased a plethora of talent, with standout performances from players such as Jahmir Young of the Chicago Bulls, who recorded a whopping 40 points, and Tyrese Proctor of the Cleveland Cavaliers, who put up 35 points in his game. Emerging rookies such as James Bouknight and Kon Knueppel also shone brightly for their respective teams.
The NBA Summer League not only provided a platform for rookies to highlight their skills but also set the stage for the highly anticipated 2025-26 NBA season. With the draft concluded and teams eager to finalize their rosters, the performances turned heads and added excitement for fans as they look ahead to the upcoming campaigns.
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Additional Resources
- ESPN: 2025 NBA Summer League Superlatives
- Wikipedia: NBA Summer League
- NBA.com: Summer Standouts July 17, 2025
- Google Search: 2025 NBA Summer League
- CBS Sports: Redrafting the 2025 NBA Draft
- Google Scholar: NBA Summer League 2025
- Fox News: Darius Bazley Exits NBA Summer League
- Encyclopedia Britannica: NBA
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