Following a less-than-thrilling 2024 NBA rookie class, where second-round pick Bronny James surprisingly garnered the most attention in the Las Vegas Summer League, anticipation surged this month with the debut of 2025`s highly-regarded No. 1 pick, Cooper Flagg, and other promising talents.
After a challenging shooting outing (5-of-21) in his initial Dallas Mavericks game, Flagg rebounded strongly with 31 points on Saturday before being sidelined by the team. This performance matched John Wall`s record for most points by a No. 1 pick in Summer League history. In the same contest, No. 2 overall pick Dylan Harper impressed in his San Antonio Spurs debut, contributing 16 points in just 20 minutes.
With the Summer League concluding for Flagg and several other top rookies prior to Sunday`s championship game, this report will highlight key performers from the Las Vegas portion of the event, excluding the earlier California Classic and Salt Lake City leagues. We`ll also examine the prospects for these standout players heading into the 2025-26 NBA season.
Best Rookies in Vegas
- 1. Nique Clifford, Sacramento Kings
- 2. Cooper Flagg, Dallas Mavericks
- 3. Liam McNeeley, Charlotte Hornets
The 23-year-old Clifford, a seasoned player with five years of college experience, was one of the most refined rookies, averaging 18.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 5.0 assists in Las Vegas. His improved shooting from deep was notable, hitting 9-of-17 (53%) from the NBA three-point line. While sustaining this percentage is unlikely, his intelligent playmaking will be a significant asset as long as defenders respect his shot.
Cooper Flagg`s role in Summer League was intentionally designed to mimic that of a second-year player, with increased on-ball opportunities. As a point forward, Flagg recorded the third-highest usage rate. To effectively play this role in regular NBA games, he`ll need to improve his ball-handling. However, against the Spurs, he demonstrated remarkable efficiency at high volume, impressively earning 13 free throw attempts.
Liam McNeeley has outshone his teammate Kon Knueppel, the No. 4 pick, who struggled initially but later improved. Drafted 29th, McNeeley delivered an impressive debut with 22 points, 12 rebounds (a career high, surpassing his UConn record), and 6 assists. He also consistently made three three-pointers in both games he played, an encouraging sign given his 32% shooting from the college line.
Most Promising Rookies
- 1. Cooper Flagg, Mavericks
- 2. Dylan Harper, San Antonio Spurs
- 3. Tre Johnson, Washington Wizards
Cooper Flagg`s immense potential is self-evident. Dylan Harper, however, matched Flagg with an even higher usage rate (39%). Although his efficiency suffered under this heavy workload (36% shooting, including 1-of-8 from three), he showcased many of the skills that made him the No. 2 pick. When Harper plays alongside talented teammates like Victor Wembanyama and Stephon Castle, who were court-side observers, he is likely to accumulate more assists than his 2.0 per game average and take fewer shots.
While No. 3 pick VJ Edgecombe displayed significant promise in his Salt Lake City Summer League debut (28 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists), for the purpose of focusing solely on Vegas performances, No. 6 pick Tre Johnson gets the nod here. Johnson`s physical attributes, including a wingspan exceeding 6-foot-10 measured at the combine, distinguish him from other score-first shooting guards who might struggle to create their own shots. He shot an impressive 69% on two-pointers and 5-of-11 from three, demonstrating a smooth offensive game.
Most Intriguing Rookie
- Yang Hansen, Portland Trail Blazers
After Flagg, Chinese player Yang Hansen, the highest draft pick (No. 16) from China since Yi Jianlian in 2007, drew the most attention. Standing 7-foot-1, Hansen`s passing from the perimeter was particularly impressive, tallying 15 assists across four games, many of which were highlight-worthy. He also demonstrated better shot-blocking than anticipated (2.3 per game) and shot 4-of-12 from beyond the arc.
While he needs to improve his rebounding, averaging only 5.0 per game, his Summer League performance indicated he was not a reach at his draft position.
Best Undrafted Rookie
- Eli John N`Diaye, Atlanta Hawks
N`Diaye, a Senegalese native who previously played for Real Madrid, signed a two-way contract with the Hawks after going undrafted. Despite playing only one game in Vegas due to a wrist injury, he managed 12 points and six rebounds in 21 minutes, showcasing his potential.
Slowest-Starting Rookie
- Jeremiah Fears, New Orleans Pelicans
The New Orleans Pelicans` dominant frontcourt featuring first-round picks Yves Missi and Derik Queen, both primary centers, limited Jeremiah Fears` offensive opportunities. His shoot-first approach, however, raised questions about his immediate impact. Fears maintained a usage rate over 30%, including a 5-of-21 shooting performance against the Los Angeles Lakers. He recorded only three assists in his first three Summer League games, coupled with 16 turnovers. He did, however, have his strongest game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, scoring 22 points on 8-of-15 shooting with 6 assists and just 4 turnovers – a performance closer to what New Orleans expected from their No. 7 pick.
Best Veterans
- 1. Kyle Filipowski, Utah Jazz
- 2. Terrence Shannon Jr., Minnesota Timberwolves
- 3. Nae`Qwan Tomlin, Cleveland Cavaliers
Kyle Filipowski led all Summer League scorers with 29.3 points per game. He also famously hit a game-tying dunk in the final seconds of overtime against San Antonio, though his heroics were ultimately overshadowed by Riley Minix`s buzzer-beating three-pointer for the win. Having averaged 21 minutes as a rookie on a rebuilding team, Filipowski is certainly not “too good” for Summer League, but he remains one of the most offensively skilled players in action. He shot an impressive 56% overall despite attempting 23 three-pointers in three games, converting them at a 39% clip.
Terrence Shannon Jr., who was drafted by the Minnesota Timberwolves with the 27th pick in the 2024 NBA draft and is expected to take on a larger role following Nickeil Alexander-Walker`s free agency departure, looked the part in Vegas, averaging 22.7 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 5.0 assists per game. Shannon`s combination of quickness and strength allows him to drive to the basket effectively. He also improved his three-point shooting, hitting 10-of-26 (38.5%) after shooting 35.5% as a rookie for the Timberwolves.
Nae`Qwan Tomlin played only 63 minutes in the NBA last season, ending it on a two-way deal with Cleveland. The Memphis product impressively filled the stat sheet during Summer League, averaging 20.3 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game. Most notably, Tomlin made nine three-pointers in four games, an encouraging sign given he shot only 34% from beyond the arc in the G League.
Best Free Agent
- Daniss Jenkins, Detroit Pistons
As an undrafted rookie, Daniss Jenkins` strong performance in last summer`s Vegas League earned him a two-way contract with the Pistons, though he saw only 23 minutes of regular-season play. Now a restricted free agent, Jenkins remains with Detroit and made life difficult for the Rockets` Reed Sheppard on Sunday, limiting him to 6-of-19 shooting with six turnovers. Offensively, Jenkins was effective in creating opportunities for others, recording 26 assists against just seven turnovers. While his shooting struggled in the G League last season (43% overall, 33% on threes), his play merits a more extended look in the NBA.
Jenkins` performance suggests a higher likelihood of translating to an NBA role compared to the high-scoring efforts of the Spurs` David Jones-Garcia, who averaged 24.3 points over his first three games with an exceptionally high usage rate. Charles Bassey, who led all players with 11.3 rebounds through three games for the Boston Celtics after three seasons with San Antonio, also stood out.