LAS VEGAS – The incoming players from the 2025 NBA draft stepped onto the court this past weekend at the Las Vegas Summer League, following the conclusion of the California Classic in San Francisco and the Salt Lake City Summer League events.
Predictably, the most significant talking point was the performance of the No. 1 overall draft pick, Cooper Flagg, and his debut for the Dallas Mavericks against NBA-level competition. After struggling with his shot in his initial game against Bronny James and the Los Angeles Lakers, hitting just 5 of 21 attempts, Flagg bounced back impressively, scoring 31 points in a matchup against the No. 2 pick, Dylan Harper, and the San Antonio Spurs. Sources confirmed to ESPN’s Tim MacMahon that the Mavericks plan to sideline Flagg after his two games in Las Vegas, but the 18-year-old from Duke clearly made a strong positive impression.
Both Harper, the No. 2 selection, and VJ Edgecombe, taken third overall, also delivered strong performances during the opening weekend. But as all 30 NBA teams converged on Las Vegas, which other players managed to distinguish themselves?
Here`s a look at the players who caught the attention of insiders Tim MacMahon, Michael C. Wright, Jamal Collier, and Jonathan Givony.
Top Pick Flagg Faces Challenge as Primary Ball-Handler
The Dallas Mavericks aimed to put the ball in the hands of their No. 1 pick, Cooper Flagg, as much as possible to assess his reaction to demanding situations as the main offensive creator. This goal was successfully met.
The 18-year-old forward attempted at least 20 shots in both of his Summer League appearances, a volume he reached only twice in his 37 games during his lone season at Duke.
“I`m worn out,” Flagg remarked after his 31-point effort in Saturday`s loss to the Spurs. “I`m not accustomed to dribbling the ball up like that, with someone guarding me for the full length of the court every time I receive it. So, that`s definitely a new experience, but I believe I handled the pressure reasonably well and tried to initiate our plays.” Despite a poor shooting performance in his debut (5-of-21), the Mavericks were pleased with his two outings. He consistently made smart decisions and generated open looks for his teammates, despite his low assist total of five overall. He limited his turnovers to just three in total and visibly became more comfortable facing ball pressure as the games progressed. A prime example against the Spurs occurred late in the third quarter, when Flagg eluded Carter Bryant`s backcourt pressure for an and-one layup and later drove to the basket for a dunk from a half-court setup.
Mavericks Summer League coach Josh Broghamer commented, “It`s incredible for a kid we told, `We`re giving you the ball, and they`re going to full-court press you.` Everyone has 10 fouls, so there`s little penalty for grabbing and holding. The officials can`t call every single thing, so it`s even more exhausting and difficult for him than a regular game.”
Harper Makes Debut Against Flagg
After missing the Spurs` games in the California Classic and their first game in Las Vegas due to a minor groin issue, No. 2 pick Dylan Harper returned just in time for the highly anticipated matchup against Flagg on Saturday. Limited to 20 minutes of play, Harper still demonstrated many of the skills that led him to be considered the clear second-best prospect behind Flagg.
Perhaps Harper`s most memorable play came on the defensive end, when he raced back in transition to deliver a chase-down block on Ryan Nembhard`s layup attempt, getting high off the ground to protect the rim. Offensively, his ability to draw contact stood out. He finished 6-of-7 from the free-throw line, including converting a three-point play despite being fouled by Flagg.
The primary question mark surrounding Harper remains his shooting, as he missed all four of his three-point attempts. The speed at which he improves this aspect will significantly influence how quickly he can join the established San Antonio veterans as a starter.
Bulls` Essengue Acknowledged as a Project
When the Chicago Bulls selected Noa Essengue at No. 12, they openly stated that the 18-year-old from France – the second-youngest player in the draft – was not yet a finished product entering the league. However, Essengue`s initial Summer League appearance on Friday clearly highlighted just how raw his talent is.
He scored only five points in 25 minutes, mishandled the ball off his foot, knocked the ball into his own rim while attempting to grab a rebound, and admitted after the game that the level of physicality surprised him. Essengue did show improvement and looked more at ease in his second game on Saturday, and the Bulls coaching staff was pleased with his adjustment. However, Chicago does not expect Essengue to be a key part of their rotation to start the season, and it`s uncertain if he will contribute much at all during the 2025-26 campaign.
Promising Early Flashes from Kings` Clifford
Leading up to the draft, Nique Clifford of the Sacramento Kings was described as a plug-and-play, versatile wing capable of contributing positively immediately due to his understanding of the game, perimeter shooting ability, and defensive versatility across different positions.
Clifford has fit this description through his first two games, accumulating 36 points, 16 rebounds, and 8 assists over 54 minutes in two victories for the Kings. The hope when drafting the 23-year-old was that he would be prepared to contribute from day one. He has demonstrated capability both with and without the ball, attacking the basket aggressively off pick-and-rolls and in the open court. He also performs the fundamental actions he was known for: pursuing rebounds outside his immediate area, guarding players ranging from point guards to power forwards, fighting through screens, and making simple passes to set up teammates for open shots.
As the first draft pick made by the new Sacramento Kings front office led by Scott Perry and B.J. Armstrong, Clifford will likely receive every opportunity to prove his readiness to step into a role early in his NBA career. Nothing he has shown in Summer League so far suggests otherwise, particularly if the Kings can address some of their depth chart congestion on the wing.
Other Notable Rookie Performances
Here are some other rookies who impressed in their initial Summer League action:
Liam McNeeley | Forward | Charlotte Hornets
McNeeley recorded 22 points and 12 rebounds coming off the bench in his Summer League debut on Friday against the Utah Jazz, showcasing a promising two-way skillset over 28 minutes. The 29th pick was then included in the starting lineup the following day in a win over the Philadelphia 76ers, finishing with 14 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, and a steal.
Kasparas Jakucionis | Point guard | Miami Heat
Jakucionis had a difficult start at the California Classic (1-for-15 shooting, six assists, 12 turnovers across three games). However, he appeared to be a completely different player in Las Vegas, scoring 24 points on 12 shots – including 5-for-9 from three-point range – in 28 minutes, showing the expected improvements in his decision-making and assertiveness. Jakucionis` pace, court awareness, and skills were evident as he effectively utilized and sometimes rejected ball screens to get to his desired spots on the court. He created opportunities for big men rolling to the basket or shooters stationed in the corners and scored in the lane using his size, strength, and crafty finishes. He confidently took catch-and-shoot three-pointers but also hit a difficult pull-up three in transition and an isolation step-back jumper, displaying impressive self-assurance. At 6-foot-6 with a quick release and the ability to elevate and shoot over strong defense, his capability to play without the ball adds valuable lineup versatility for Miami`s coaching staff as his shot creation continues to develop against larger, more athletic opponents. While his defensive performance will likely be a major factor in defining the exact role he can carve out as a rookie, his opening performance in Vegas offered considerable reasons for optimism.
Noah Penda | Forward | Orlando Magic
The Magic moved up to select Penda at No. 32 early on the second day of the draft. He averaged 10.2 points per game in France at age 20. He displayed a variety of skills on Sunday, grabbing a game-high 14 rebounds and recording three steals against the Toronto Raptors, although he sometimes attempted to do too much, resulting in five turnovers. On an Orlando team that aims to be a contender, Penda should have time to develop, potentially spending time in the G League.
Joan Beringer | Center | Minnesota Timberwolves
It took mere seconds for Beringer to demonstrate why the Timberwolves selected the raw big man with the 17th pick: he blocked two shots on his very first Summer League possession. The 18-year-old finished with 6 blocks, along with 11 points and 8 rebounds, in a victory over the New Orleans Pelicans. Beringer needs significant refinement, having only started playing basketball four years ago, but his physical gifts are tremendous: 6-foot-11 height with a 7-foot-5 wingspan and fluid mobility. He possesses the potential to become an impactful center who can run the floor and protect the rim and can develop under the guidance of fellow Frenchman and four-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert.
Carter Bryant | Forward | San Antonio Spurs
Assigned the task of defending Flagg, Bryant effectively showcased his potential on that end of the floor on Saturday. In one notable early possession, he prevented Flagg from gaining separation and then harassed him into committing a turnover. Later, multiple defensive efforts by Bryant on the perimeter contributed to forcing a Dallas shot clock violation. Bryant`s shooting has been poor this summer (3-for-22 from three), but his strong perimeter defense could earn the No. 14 pick playing time as he continues to develop his offensive game.
Other Notable Summer League Storylines
Spurs` Jones-Garcia Proves He `Belongs on an NBA Court`
Dylan Harper refers to David Jones-Garcia as “a bucket,” while Spurs assistant Mike Noyes has stated on multiple occasions this summer that the 23-year-old forward “belongs on an NBA court.” Before arriving in Las Vegas, the undrafted Jones-Garcia was named to the All-California Classic summer league team after averaging 22.7 points over three games and shooting 8-for-17 from three-point range. Jones-Garcia followed up these performances with 24-point and 21-point outings in San Antonio`s first two games in Las Vegas. A native of the Dominican Republic, Jones-Garcia played collegiately at DePaul, St. John`s, and Memphis. This strong scorer could potentially secure San Antonio`s final two-way roster spot.
Rockets` Sheppard Shows Defensive Improvement
Although not a rookie, Houston Rockets second-year guard Reed Sheppard appeared on ESPN`s NBA Today and explained that “the biggest thing this summer was getting in the weight room and just working on defense.” He shared that his training included “probably a two- to three-week stretch [where] my workouts were straight defense” in his program. Sheppard demonstrated the results of this hard work on Friday, observed courtside in Las Vegas by Houston coach Ime Udoka, general manager Rafael Stone, and Patrick Fertitta, son of the team owner. Houston`s leadership is confident in Sheppard`s shooting ability. However, to earn minutes on a team coached by Udoka – which is now loaded with high-level talent – players must exhibit a defense-first mentality, which is exactly what Sheppard did in the Rockets` Summer League opener against the LA Clippers. Sheppard shot just 5-for-14 in the first half but managed to collect three steals and register two blocks. His tenacious defense seemed to ignite his offense in the second half, where he shot 5-for-8 for 13 points, including 3-for-6 from three, while adding another steal and a block. Houston planned for an expanded role for Sheppard heading into the offseason, and the guard is confirming the team`s belief in him through his Summer League performance.