From media attention to front office interest, the spotlight at Summer League typically centers on the incoming rookies. As the saying goes, out with the old, in with the new—everyone’s eager to see the shiny new toys, while the veterans often fade into the background.
Sometimes it takes time for young players to develop andmake their mark on the league. Whatever the case may be withyoung rookies, sometimes the ones who don’t tend to get consistent rotation minutes tend to be left out by everyone in terms of how good they can be.
Reed Sheppard, the No. 3 overall pick in last year’s draft, saw limited action during his rookie season with the Rockets. As a result, many expected him to play significant minutes and make an impact in Summer League. Many expect him to be a key contribute
or off the bench next season, so everyone was keen to see how he would fare out in Vegas. In two games, he averaged 23 points on 31.8% from three. Perhaps most impressive was his on-ball defense—he averaged four steals and 1.5 blocks per game, exceeding expectations on that end.
Drafted eighth overall in the 2024 NBA Draft, Rob Dillingham was highly coveted by lottery teams last year. However, his inconsistent role off the bench in his rookie year led many to forget his potential, which was why he was drafted in the Top 10. In his opener against New Orleans, he scored 15 points with six assists, but turned it over seven times. He fared better in his second game, scoring 15 points and dishing out nine assists while showcasing much improved ball security.
His teammate, Terrence Shannon Jr., also returned to build upon his rookie year and has been a standout, scoring in three games. He has dropped three straight 20-plus point games and averaged an all-around 22.6 points, six rebounds, and five assists. As he showed glimpses in the playoffs, he displayed his playmaking abilities while scoring the ball more efficiently.
The No. 5 overall pick, Ron Holland, participated in this year’s Summer League and he did not disappoint. He was much more polished than in his rookie year, showing athletic finishes around the rim, more refined shooting efficiency, and being much more disruptive on the defensive end. In last year’s Summer League, Holland shot 40.8% while this time around, he shot 52.8% in two games.
With how productive Matas Buzelis was for the Bulls after Zach LaVine left, most people were shocked that the 2024 No. 11 pick was participating in this year’s Summer League. He dropped 17 points in his first game against Toronto, and then exploded for 26 points on 14 shots in his second and final game of the Summer League. In the games he didn’t suit up, he was very engaged–on his feet throughout, cheering on his teammates and trash-talking opponents.
Other notable second-year standouts included former first-round picks Kyle Filipowski of the Jazz and Ryan Dunn of the Suns. Filipowski led Summer League in scoring, averaging over 29 points per game, including a 35-point, 11-rebound performance in his third game against San Antonio. Dunn lived up to his Swiss Army knife reputation, contributing across the board with 17 points, five rebounds, four assists, and two steals in Phoenix’s opening game.
