The NBA Summer League in Las Vegas serves as a crucial platform for young talents and recent draftees to gain experience against top-tier competition, preparing them for the rigors of the NBA. It also provides valuable insights into which 2025 rookies are poised for immediate impact in fantasy basketball leagues or for betting purposes. Furthermore, the league highlights other developing players, often in their second or third professional year, who might be ready for an expanded role on their respective NBA teams.
Observing the Summer League firsthand is essential for assessing emerging players and forecasting their future contributions. Below are my observations from Las Vegas and how I anticipate they will influence the upcoming season.
Impact Rookies
Cooper Flagg, SF, Dallas Mavericks
Cooper Flagg undoubtedly possesses star quality. A significant advantage of attending games in person, as opposed to simply checking box scores or watching on TV, is the immersive experience of the entire environment – from the players on and off the court to the crowd`s energy and the overall atmosphere of the arena. It’s about feeling the moment. During the second quarter of Flagg`s debut, he took a powerful step into the paint, teeming with Lakers defenders, and prepared to explode upwards for a dunk. The entire arena collectively held its breath, and fellow analysts and I instinctively reacted, recognizing the imminent spectacle. It was a truly unforgettable moment.
Beyond that highlight, Flagg’s skill level was particularly impressive. In his first game, he delivered a strong all-around performance despite a slightly off-shooting night. In his second game, he showcased his scoring potential by dropping 31 points when his shot was on target. I was also struck by Flagg’s physical size; in person, he appeared more robust than anticipated, which bodes well for his readiness to compete against professionals. All these factors are highly significant.
For elite prospects, it is rare for someone who truly “has it” in Vegas not to make a significant impression in their rookie season. We have eagerly awaited Flagg`s arrival for several years. He was considered the frontrunner for Rookie of the Year as soon as his name was called on draft night, and after witnessing his performance in Vegas, I am entirely convinced of his potential.
Barring injury, anticipate a monumental rookie season from Flagg for a Mavericks team that truly needs his contributions. I would conservatively draft him in the fourth round of fantasy basketball leagues right now.
Dylan Harper, PG, San Antonio Spurs
Having scouted the Las Vegas Summer League for two decades, one of the most remarkable early performances I witnessed was by Brandon Roy in 2006. Roy did not win the Summer League MVP that year; that honor went to Randy Foye, for whom Roy was acquired on draft night. However, while Foye was explosively spectacular in his ability to create shots off the dribble, it was Roy who quietly delivered the more compelling performance.
Roy, a tall guard at 6-foot-6, demonstrated in Summer League that he could effectively run a team as the point guard. He seamlessly navigated the court, utilizing picks or angles to gain an advantage over defenders and drive past them, completely dominating the action. He went on to exhibit this same capability at the NBA level, earning the 2007 Rookie of the Year award.
The highest compliment I can pay to Harper`s performance in Vegas is that it strongly echoed what I observed from Roy in 2006.
Harper is another tall, incredibly smooth guard who effortlessly controls the game without appearing to force anything. He consistently penetrated the paint off the dribble, either using screens or simply breaking down his defender. Once at the rim, his size and explosiveness made him a constant threat to score or draw fouls. He also skillfully drew in defenders before dishing to open teammates. His athleticism translated to both ends of the court; in fact, he produced one of the tournament`s highlights with a ridiculous, circus-level blocked shot as the sole defender on a fast break.
On draft night, I didn`t initially project Harper to generate significant fantasy basketball statistics as a rookie due to the Spurs` depth at his position. They have All-Star De`Aaron Fox at point guard and several talented wings, including reigning Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle. It remains challenging to envision Harper getting enough minutes to compete with classmates like Flagg for Rookie of the Year honors.
Nevertheless, Harper`s Summer League performance was exceptionally impressive, and he appears ready to contribute in whatever role the Spurs assign him. If that role is substantial, Harper possesses the game to contend for a favored spot in the Rookie of the Year race and ascend in fantasy basketball rankings. That was the crucial question answered for me in Vegas.
Tre Johnson, SG, Washington Wizards
Neither No. 3 pick VJ Edgecombe nor No. 5 pick Ace Bailey participated in the Las Vegas Summer League, so no additional information was gathered regarding their expected performance this season. However, Johnson, the No. 6 pick, did play, and he played exceptionally well, demonstrating many skills likely to translate into strong rookie numbers.
On draft night, ESPN analyst Jay Bilas proclaimed Johnson the best overall 3-point shooter in this year`s class, citing his ability to hit them accurately and at high volume, both off the dribble and from spot-up situations. Johnson showcased this shooting prowess in Vegas, where he often played point guard and appeared very comfortable creating and knocking down his own shots. He did this effectively in the half-court and also displayed a willingness to pull up and drain three-pointers on the fast break.
Johnson will join a Wizards squad deeply entrenched in a rebuilding phase. The Wizards have traded their leading scorers from the past two seasons in recent months (Kyle Kuzma to the Bucks at the trade deadline, Jordan Poole to the Pelicans this offseason). Although veterans CJ McCollum and Khris Middleton have been acquired, the overwhelming majority of their rotation consists of very young players, with their focus firmly on the future.
Johnson perfectly fits into that timeline and appears to be a natural shooter and scorer who should receive significant minutes immediately. After his performance in Vegas, I am even more confident in his position in the Rookie of the Year race and on my fantasy basketball radar.
Sophomores on the Rise
Alex Sarr, C, Wizards
Despite a modest showing in last year’s Summer League, Sarr went on to have a very respectable rookie season. As a sophomore, Sarr delivered one of the most memorable performances I witnessed in his second game on Sunday in Vegas. Sarr was omnipresent on the court, particularly on defense, seemingly blocking every shot. I was not surprised when it was revealed he had blocked eight shots, falling just two blocks short of a triple-double (16 points, 12 rebounds, 8 blocks).
Sarr is a superb athlete in the paint and effectively uses his athleticism for both rebounding and rim protection. Offensively, Sarr leverages his athletic ability to finish around the rim, while also proving to be a solid shooter who continues to refine his 3-point shot. Furthermore, he is the sole starting-caliber center on an exceptionally young Wizards squad that aims to build around him as their franchise player. I expect Sarr to build upon his strong rookie season and deliver a very impactful sophomore performance.
Reed Sheppard, PG/SG, Houston Rockets
Sheppard was heralded as the premier shooter of the 2024 draft class and had an impressive rookie performance in Las Vegas. However, once the season began, there were simply insufficient minutes available for him on a perimeter-heavy Rockets team. This offseason, the Rockets traded their starting shooting guard and small forward, Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks, along with another talented young wing in Cam Whitmore. These moves should create more minutes for Sheppard, and based on his showing in Vegas this season, he appears ready to capitalize on that opportunity.
Ironically, Sheppard`s shooting was his weaker point in Vegas this season; he engaged in volume shooting rather than displaying his usual marksmanship from deep. Nevertheless, in the action I observed, he was clearly the dominant player on the court. Sheppard played only two games before being sidelined, but he was undoubtedly among the sophomores I considered “too good for the summer league.” In addition to scoring 46 points across two games, he also grabbed 11 rebounds and an astounding eight steals. Sheppard possesses the talent to produce an all-around fantasy basketball stat line, and it certainly appears he should command at least sixth-man minutes as a sophomore.
Ronald Holland II, SF, Detroit Pistons
Holland, the No. 5 pick in the 2024 NBA draft, accumulated significant experience as a rookie, playing in 81 regular season games and even getting some playoff minutes. As such, it is unsurprising that the Summer League game felt effortless for him. He seemed to be everywhere in his first game, scoring at will (28 points on only 12 field-goal attempts) from both inside (13 free-throw attempts) and outside (4-for-5 from 3-point range). Holland also dominated the glass in his Vegas sophomore debut, simply out-muscling and out-quicking opponents to secure 11 rebounds. I missed his third game, but he reportedly dominated that one defensively with six steals in 33 minutes.
Holland possesses a nuanced offensive game, capable of creating off the dribble and scoring from all three levels. He is also a strong defender and rebounder, playing an important role for a young Pistons team. While it seems unlikely he`ll earn starter minutes, if he can secure legitimate sixth-man minutes, Holland’s production could surge into fantasy basketball relevance during his sophomore campaign.
Rob Dillingham, PG and Terrence Shannon Jr., SG/SF, Minnesota Timberwolves
Dillingham appeared markedly improved in Vegas this season compared to his rookie year, when he seemed to struggle integrating his shot into the offense while trying to run more point guard. The Timberwolves need Dillingham to develop into their future lead guard as Mike Conley ages out of the position. Even more critically, they require another playmaker in the main unit alongside Anthony Edwards.
Dillingham demonstrated major strides in this Summer League, indicating that the professional game is beginning to slow down for him. What stood out most was how comfortable he looked on the court and how smoothly he transitioned from floor general to offensive threat this season. Dillingham was strong in his second game in Vegas, which I witnessed personally, scoring 15 points and dishing out seven assists. He was even better on Wednesday, after I departed, dropping 23 points, seven assists, and seven rebounds. I foresee a significant sophomore leap in production for Dillingham as he settles into a major role in the Timberwolves’ rotation.
The same can be said for Dillingham’s teammate and classmate, Shannon, who was the most impressive player on the court in the Timberwolves’ first Summer League game. He was aggressive off the dribble, both in the half-court and on fast breaks, finishing with 20 points, nine assists, six rebounds, and two steals. Shannon went on to score 20 or more points in each of his first three games, and at various times, he controlled the action with his rebounding and playmaking as well.
The Timberwolves lost Nickeil Alexander-Walker in the offseason, and Shannon looks poised to embrace a larger sophomore role. Shannon was drafted 27th in 2024 but had been considered a lottery talent before a December 2023 arrest. Shannon was found not guilty of felony rape and aggravated assault by a Kansas jury weeks before the draft, then earned his way onto the court for the Timberwolves as a rookie, even seeing meaningful playoff minutes. He is another player who could achieve fantasy basketball respectability in a rotation role as a sophomore.
Kyle Filipowski, PF, Utah Jazz
My initial notes on Filipowski from his first Summer League game as a sophomore read: “Filipowski posts at the free throw line, draws the foul on the drive. He looks too good for Summer League, but does have 4 fouls… make it 5… with 3 minutes left in the second quarter. He then knocks down another 3 at the other end.” Filipowski would go on to drop 32 points in that game, adding six rebounds, five assists, and a blocked shot.
Sometimes a player has only one good outing, and if that happens to be the one I witness, I might form a more favorable impression than if I had seen other games. However, Filipowski was dominant throughout the league, scoring 21 points with six rebounds in his second game and an astounding 35 points with 11 boards on Monday. Filipowski was solid as a rookie, averaging 9.6 PPG and 6.1 RPG on 50.2 FG% in 21.1 MPG. Given that the Jazz traded starting power forward John Collins, Filipowski could be in for a larger role as a sophomore. His rookie production was already worthy of attention for fantasy basketball, but based on what I observed in Vegas and his projected expanded role, Filipowski possesses legitimate fantasy basketball upside as a second-year player.
Quick Hits and Other Notes
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Trail Blazers center Yang Hansen garnered significant attention in Vegas. In his first game, Hansen received one of the loudest crowd reactions during intros that day, trailing only Flagg and Bronny James. When the game began, he won the opening tip, then ran down the court calling out the play he wanted the Trail Blazers to execute. They did, and he curled through the paint, then back to the top of the key, received the ball, and delivered a perfect bounce-pass to a cutter for an easy layup. A couple of minutes later, he followed that with an even more spectacular dime, proving himself to be one of the better passing big men in this year’s class. He is behind last year’s lottery pick Donovan Clingan on the depth chart, but I would keep an eye on Yang to see what his role looks like as a rookie. He has considerable potential.
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I observed the Charlotte Hornets a couple of times in Vegas with an eye on No. 4 pick Kon Knueppel, but it was No. 29 pick Liam McNeeley who stole the show with 22 points, 12 rebounds, six assists, and three 3-pointers. McNeeley had two strong games before being shut down with Achilles tendonitis, and he faces an uphill battle for minutes this season. However, he looked good in Vegas, so I will continue to monitor him. Knueppel struggled in the first game but played better as the league progressed. He also has a clearer path to playing time for the Hornets and could receive meaningful minutes as a shooter right from the opening tip.
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Walter Clayton Jr., the No. 18 pick last month and star of the NCAA champion Florida squad, played only one game for the Jazz before injuring his hamstring. However, in that single game, he displayed the shooting prowess that made him the Most Outstanding Player in the NCAA tournament and earned him a draft selection. In that game against Charlotte, Clayton knocked down four 3-pointers, scored 21 points, and grabbed six rebounds. He will be playing for a very young Jazz team in full rebuild mode, and I could see Clayton earning an important role right from the opening tip if he remains healthy.