News Summary
The 2025 NBA Summer League drew attention with standout performances from top rookies like Cooper Flagg and Dylan Harper. Flagg had a historic game, scoring 31 points against the Spurs, while other prospects like Nique Clifford and Kyle Filipowski also showed great potential. Despite some challenges, including injuries, the tournament set up an exciting atmosphere for the upcoming NBA season with emerging young talents taking center stage.
Las Vegas, Nevada – The 2025 NBA Summer League attracted significant attention this year, especially following a lackluster performance from last year’s rookie class. The league, held annually in Las Vegas, serves as a platform for young talent to showcase their skills and for fans to get an early glimpse of potential stars.
The spotlight of the league shone brightest on Cooper Flagg, the highly touted No. 1 overall pick who made his debut with the Dallas Mavericks. Flagg’s first performance was a challenging one, as he struggled against the Los Angeles Lakers, shooting just 5-of-21 from the field. Despite the rough start, Flagg demonstrated resilience and talent in his next outing, where he made history by scoring 31 points against the San Antonio Spurs. This performance allowed him to tie John Wall’s record for the most points scored by a No. 1 pick in summer league history.
Flagg’s fellow top picks also made notable debuts, including Dylan Harper, the No. 2 pick, who scored 16 points in his first game with the Spurs. However, as multiple top rookies concluded their participation early before the championship game, the excitement shifted to other standout players in the league.
Nique Clifford, representing the Sacramento Kings, had an impressive summer league, averaging 18.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 5.0 assists throughout the tournament. Meanwhile, Flagg showcased versatility in a point forward role, demonstrating high usage on the floor with the third-highest touches among players and effectively drawing fouls, which led to 13 trips to the free-throw line in his second game.
Other rookie performances that stood out included Liam McNeeley, the 29th pick, who had a remarkable debut by outperforming the No. 4 pick, Kon Knueppel. McNeeley contributed 22 points, 12 rebounds, and 6 assists in his initial game. Kyle Filipowski emerged as the leading scorer of the summer league, averaging an impressive 29.3 points per game and notably delivering a crucial game-tying dunk during an overtime match.
Terrence Shannon Jr. made a name for himself, averaging 22.7 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists, while Nae’Qwan Tomlin also put up notable averages of 20.3 points and 8.5 rebounds. In a twist of fate for undrafted players, Eli John N’Diaye signed a two-way contract with the Atlanta Hawks after scoring 12 points in his only game before sustaining an injury.
Jeremiah Fears, playing for the New Orleans Pelicans, improved significantly over the course of the tournament, finishing strong with 22 points from 8-of-15 shooting in his final match. Meanwhile, Yang Hansen, a 7-foot-1 rookie from China (the 16th pick), showcased his skills with impressive passing and shot-blocking abilities, averaging 2 blocks per game.
Despite the excitement, the tournament wasn’t without challenges. For instance, Fears struggled with a high turnover rate early on, which affected his overall performance. In other action, the Boston Celtics triumphed over the Los Angeles Lakers with an 87-78 victory, led by Jordan Walsh‘s 17 points. Notably absent from the summer league was Quinten Post from the Golden State Warriors, who did not participate due to an ankle injury but stayed engaged with the team throughout the event.
This year’s summer league featured a series of thrilling matchups filled with intense competition and the emergence of promising rookies, setting the stage for an exciting upcoming NBA season. With the performances delivered this week, many enthusiasts now eagerly await the regular season to see how these young talents will continue to develop.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
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Additional Resources
- USA Today: Cooper Flagg NBA Summer League
- Wikipedia: NBA Summer League
- The Guardian: Cooper Flagg Debut
- Google Search: Cooper Flagg NBA Summer League
- ESPN: 2025 NBA Summer League Superlatives
- Encyclopedia Britannica: NBA
- NBA: NBA 2K26 Summer League
- Google News: 2025 NBA Summer League
- ESPN: NBA Summer League Game
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