The 2025 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas has been a hub of activity, featuring impressive rookie debuts, young talents vying for roster spots, and extensive discussions about the major narratives heading into the new season. Among the notable moments, Cooper Flagg led the Dallas Mavericks to victory against Bronny James and the Los Angeles Lakers in a highly anticipated debut for the top draft pick.
Beyond the on-court action, various NBA storylines are taking shape. Industry experts and scouts have been present, gathering intelligence from front office personnel as the league`s rising stars showcased their potential ahead of the 2025-26 NBA season. Key topics of discussion during the summer league included Victor Wembanyama`s unique kung fu training, the ongoing contract dispute between Josh Giddey and the Chicago Bulls, and other significant league developments. What were the most compelling discussions from the event? Here`s a rundown of the key insights.
Wembanyama`s Kung Fu Training Proves Beneficial
Victor Wembanyama was recently seen back in San Antonio on July 8th, exercising while new Spurs acquisition Luke Kornet held his press conference. This marked Wembanyama`s return to basketball activities following a distinctive 10-day training period with monks at a Shaolin temple in Zhengzhou, China, and a subsequent vacation in Japan, which generated several viral moments. Expect to hear more about Wembanyama`s unconventional training approaches throughout the upcoming season.
Sources indicate that those familiar with the French prodigy are recognizing his eagerness to explore physical and mental limits. This drive reportedly motivated his decision to train in China, where the 21-year-old sought a novel training methodology to deepen his self-understanding. Reports suggest that Wembanyama found the training highly beneficial.
He credits the kung fu discipline not only with enhancing his mental concentration but also with teaching him movements that improve body positioning and range of motion, potentially boosting his on-court performance. Wembanyama, who led the NBA in blocked shots last season with 176 despite being limited to 46 games due to deep vein thrombosis in his right shoulder, has made significant recovery progress. He confirmed his official clearance to return to the French newspaper L`Équipe in a Monday publication.
On Thursday, Wembanyama`s courtside appearance at the summer league alongside teammates Jeremy Sochan, De`Aaron Fox, Harrison Barnes, Julian Champagnie, and Keldon Johnson drew a roar from the crowd, as his Spurs maintained a lead of over 20 points against the Philadelphia 76ers in the second quarter of their opening game. San Antonio ultimately secured a dominant 111-70 victory.
Lauri Markkanen`s Future Amidst Utah Jazz`s Rebuild
The Utah Jazz have continued their youth movement this summer by trading veterans Jordan Clarkson, John Collins, and Collin Sexton. This strategy aims to provide their young draft picks with more development opportunities and evaluation time, likely positioning the team for favorable lottery odds next season. This series of moves has led many scouts and executives to speculate whether the Jazz would next move Lauri Markkanen, 28, especially with Austin Ainge assuming the role of president of basketball operations and primary decision-maker for the franchise`s reconstruction.
However, reports indicate that the Jazz do not currently plan to trade Markkanen. While Markkanen isn`t considered “untouchable,” the All-Star forward remains a projected cornerstone for Utah`s future core. Last summer, Utah entertained offers for Markkanen, but none were substantial enough to persuade CEO Danny Ainge and GM Justin Zanik. The Jazz ultimately signed Markkanen to a five-year, $238 million maximum renegotiation and extension on August 7th, making him untradeable until after last season`s deadline.
Jazz governor Ryan Smith, whose roster is primarily composed of rookie contracts, isn`t concerned by the new deal. Yet, rival executives suggest the contract`s size could decrease Markkanen`s theoretical trade value, especially after he experienced his career`s worst shooting season, albeit under difficult conditions. Moving Markkanen would necessitate a significant return for the Jazz. Such offers would likely only materialize if he regains and demonstrates his prior form on the court. Ultimately, Utah hopes Markkanen will still be with the team when they achieve competitive status once more.
Victor Oladipo Eyes NBA Comeback
Victor Oladipo, 33, last played in the NBA in 2023 for the Miami Heat, where he sustained a torn left patellar tendon during a playoff game against the Milwaukee Bucks. On Monday morning in Las Vegas, the two-time All-Star participated in a private workout, drawing a considerable presence of NBA and European team representatives. Oladipo engaged in full-court five-on-five play during a session with other international professionals. Several team sources who observed the workout were reportedly impressed, noting Oladipo`s excellent physical condition as he seeks to make yet another return.
Drafted second overall in 2013, Oladipo`s career peaked in 2018 when he earned NBA Most Improved Player, All-NBA Third Team, and All-Defensive Team honors. However, this peak was cut short by recurring knee injuries the following season. His extensive injury record has prolonged his potential return, yet there is growing sentiment within the league that he could secure a roster spot as teams complete their depth charts for the upcoming season. Oladipo himself expressed optimism about a potential comeback via social media on Sunday.
Indiana Pacers` Transitional Season Ahead
A recent Saturday afternoon summer league game between the Pacers and Oklahoma City Thunder evoked memories of the thrilling NBA Finals concluded just weeks prior, while also prompting questions about Indiana`s prospects for the 2025-26 season. With Tyrese Haliburton sidelined by an Achilles tear and Myles Turner departing as a free agent to the Bucks, the Pacers face a challenging path to defend their Eastern Conference title and reshape their roster.
The team anticipates a significantly altered offensive approach next season, which will likely be less high-octane without Haliburton`s playmaking, according to team sources. Instead, Indiana is expected to rely on Andrew Nembhard`s strengths as a ball handler. While Nembhard lacks Haliburton`s scoring explosiveness, he is a composed decision-maker with excellent timing in half-court sets. Several executives also highlighted Bennedict Mathurin as a player expected to compensate for the scoring void created by these absences. His performance in a primary scoring role will be closely monitored throughout the season.
Josh Giddey, Chicago Bulls Continue Contract Talks
The contract impasse between Josh Giddey and the Chicago Bulls persists, reflecting a stagnant market for restricted free agents. Giddey was recently in Las Vegas, where he reportedly lunched with Bulls coach Billy Donovan. Bulls executives were also slated to meet with Giddey`s agent during the week.
Despite some positive discussions, multiple reports suggest that Giddey and the Bulls are expected to reach an agreement eventually. Giddey has reportedly sought an annual salary of around $30 million. However, limited cap space across the league this summer has quickly diminished Giddey`s alternative options, granting the Bulls significant leverage to secure a more favorable deal.
Concerns Rise Over the 2027 NBA Draft Class
Even as executives conclude evaluations for the 2025 NBA draft, their focus has already shifted intensely to upcoming draft cycles. A packed summer schedule awaits, featuring FIBA tournaments, grassroots competitions, prominent sneaker company camps, and college practices. The most proactive executives are already signaling apprehension regarding the 2027 NBA draft, which is perceived as a particularly underwhelming group of rising high school seniors and international prospects born in 2007 and 2008.
One seasoned talent evaluator, with extensive experience in amateur youth basketball, characterized this as “one of the weakest high school classes I`ve seen in a long time.”
The same evaluator added, “There might not be a single All-Star in this group, and beyond the top few prospects, I`m uncertain how many NBA starters will emerge from the remaining five-star recruits. While new talents always surface, by this point, we typically have a clear sense of the elite prospects, and this class appears to offer very limited options, even more so than the less robust 2024 draft, which at least featured several high-caliber international players.”
College coaches attending the summer league have voiced similar concerns, expressing disappointment at the scarcity of star potential among the top-ranked prospects in the 2026 recruiting class. This trend is prompting them to pursue transfer portal acquisitions more aggressively, instead of heavily investing in five-star prospects who may not immediately contribute as college freshmen.
This revelation could significantly impact how eager NBA teams are to trade their 2027 first-round picks, and it might also reduce the incentive for teams considering a “tanking” strategy to secure a high draft pick. It places substantial pressure on rebuilding franchises to position themselves for a top-five selection in the talent-rich 2026 draft, which includes five prospects with All-Star or franchise-player potential: high schoolers Darryn Peterson, AJ Dybantsa, Cam Boozer, Nate Ament, and Mikel Brown. NBA teams are looking to the upcoming FIBA U18 EuroBasket tournament in Belgrade, Serbia, hoping to discover emerging prospects. Last year`s tournament produced six first-round draft picks, plus Egor Demin, an international talent who would have participated had Russia`s national team not been banned.
Yang Hansen`s Impressive Debut
One of the draft`s notable surprises was the Portland Trail Blazers` selection of 7-foot-2 big man Yang Hansen with the 16th pick, just a year after drafting fellow 7-foot-2 center Donovan Clingan in the lottery, a move perceived by some as a reach.
Nevertheless, Hansen quickly showcased his impressive skill set to rival coaches and executives, notably his passing abilities. While he remains a developmental prospect, his early performance illuminated Portland`s interest. Some observers question his long-term adaptability to the NBA`s pace. However, Hansen, who has expressed admiration for Nikola Jokic, will be a player to watch next season, particularly regarding his adjustment to the league and how he and Clingan will complement each other on the court.
NBA Expansion and Conference Realignment: A Key Discussion
With the NBA exploring expansion, with Las Vegas and Seattle as leading candidates, a significant debate revolves around which current Western Conference team might relocate to the Eastern Conference to balance the new additions. While this shift isn`t immediate, its potential impact feels heightened given the anticipated growing disparity between the two conferences next season, partly due to injuries to key East stars like Haliburton and Jayson Tatum, and the departure of former Bucks guard Damian Lillard.
One team employee recounted that their front office previously discussed the significant assets they would be willing to surrender to move from the West to the East, concluding it would be “a lot.” However, during a recent “Hoop Collective” live show in Las Vegas, new Timberwolves co-owners Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez seemed hesitant to position their team as a prime candidate for such a move.
Lore commented, “I think you`ve got to be careful what you wish for. It will be what it will be.”