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6 NBA Summer league overreactions on Lakers, Warriors, Bulls, and more

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JULY 19: Yaxel Lendeborg #1 of the Golden State Warriors celebrates after his team's victory over the Memphis Grizzlies in the 2026 NBA Summer League championship game at the Thomas & Mack Center on July 19, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Warriors defeated the Grizzlies 94-90. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ian Maule/Getty Images) | Getty Images

It is not smart to overreact to what you see in NBA summer league; there are just too many examples of great players getting off to a bad start to their pro careers in Las Vegas.

Cooper Flagg and Victor Wembanyama didn’t have amazing summer league debuts. Jalen Brunson struggled mightily, Draymond Green was really bad, and Coby White couldn’t buy a bucket. Summer league is not that important. With that being said, it’s the end of July, and there isn’t much else to write about until LeBron James finally signs, so here are some summer league takeaways that verge into being overreactions based on what we saw in the sample in Las Vegas.

Also, read my summer league rookie rankings. Then read my list of the eight young veterans who were too good for summer league this year, and also my list of six rookies who looked underwhelming in Las Vegas. Feel free to drop your own favorite summer league overreactions in the comments, and I’ll respond.

Darryn Peterson is not a point guard

Peterson was something of a mystery box coming out of Kansas because he looked like a completely different player from high school to college. As a senior at Prolific Prep, Peterson had the look of a heliocentric guard who could pressure the rim and overwhelm opponents physically. The college version had to adjust after soft tissue strains and cramping zapped some of his explosiveness, and he promptly turned into an off-ball gunner who did most of his scoring from the perimeter.

Peterson said he’s healthy now, and after watching him at summer league, it feels like he’s better suited to run around screens and maximize his three-point rate than trying to be a do-everything guard right away. The Jazz already have a solid point guard in Keyonte George, and what they really need next to him is a high-level defensive playmaker who stresses the defense with his shooting gravity. I think that could be the best version of Peterson early in his career, partially because he can be really good in those areas, and partially because his rim attacks don’t look particularly overpowering at the moment.

I wish I sent this tweet.

Peterson’s three-point rate (percentage of field goal attempts from three) dropped from 46% at Kansas to 33% throughout summer league. Meanwhile, he had nearly as many turnovers (24) as assists (26). Get those threes up, DP, and the Jazz will be better off for it.

Free Noa Essengue from the Bulls

The Bulls’ new braintrust of lead executive Bryson Graham and head coach Tiago Splitter did not draft Noa Essengue with the No. 12 overall pick a year ago. Essengue basically had the worst rookie season ever, suffering a season-ending shoulder injury before he scored his first point. He’s still just 19 years old, and figures to be just starting to scratch the surface of his long-term upside. Essengue needs live reps more than anything else after being sidelined since Nov., but he immediately found himself in the doghouse in summer league with Splitter coaching the Bulls for the first two games in Las Vegas.

It sure seems like Graham and Splitter don’t care much about Essengue, because he’s not their guy. Fair enough I suppose, but Essengue has intriguing physical tools, a history of performing well against older competition, and a real path toward one day becoming a useful player — unlike the vast majority of the SummerBulls roster outside of Caleb Wilson and Dailyn Swain. Essengue’s numbers weren’t even that bad, 62.4% true shooting, a 20 percent defensive rebounding rate, an 8.1% block rate, and a 3.3% steal rate.

Okay, there were some ugly moments, from bad turnovers to missed free throws to falling over every 30 seconds because he can’t handle physicality. But Essengue is only 19 — he’s six months younger than Caleb Wilson — and he has some real potential pathways to value in switchability on defense, offensive rebounding, transition spacing, and maybe eventually floor spacing. I had Essengue at No. 10 on my draft board last year, and I think it’s completely ridiculous that a team with as little talent as the Bulls is already apparently writing him off. Essengue needs a franchise that will invest in his development, not yank around his minutes in completely meaningless summer league games. If the Bulls don’t care about Essengue, another franchise will.

Two Lakers summer league players are the key to their regular season

The Lakers have arguably the best offensive backcourt in the NBA with Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, and now they have a very good rim protector in Walker Kessler behind them. There’s only one problem: Los Angeles still needs athletic defenders on the wings, and they don’t really have any way to acquire them after spending every possible future asset on Kessler. Would you believe me if I said the answer might be hiding on their summer league team?

Chris Mañon and Adou Thiero could be everything the Lakers need. Both young wings played great during summer league, and have the exact skill sets that could push the big league club over the top. Mañon was a monster defensive playmaker out of Vanderbilt who slipped in the 2025 draft because of his offensive limitations. He showed a little growth as a shooter in the G League last year, and if anyone can make his offense playable, it’s Luka. Mañon thrives as a disruptive defender who can blow up screens, pick shaky ball handlers, and dart in for blocks and steals in a free safety role. The Lakers badly need a bulldog at the point of attack, and Mañon will be excellent there if they give him a chance. Thiero is just an athletic freak with a rare blend of speed and power. He crushes in transition, and has the tools to defend wing scorers.

If the Lakers are smart, they will have a developmental plan for both players in place to hopefully shape them into real contributors come playoff time.

7 second-rounders who will be solid rotation players

The second round of the NBA Draft was supposedly destroyed by NIL. While I agree with that narrative to some extent, there are still going to be players picked in the second round this year who go on to good careers, and I think summer league helped prove it. Here are seven second rounders from the 2026 draft who can carve out careers in the NBA:

  • Bruce Thornton
  • Meleek Thomas
  • Henri Veesaar
  • Trevon Brazile
  • Jack Kayil
  • Baba Miller
  • Nick Martinelli

Thornton and Thomas are my favorite of the group, and both looked tremendous in Vegas. Brazile landed in a great situation in Denver where he’s a perfect complement to Nikola Jokic, while Kayil surpassed expectations for me, and Martinelli continued to look like the Julius Randle of the North Shore. There’s always talent in the draft, and don’t let anyone tell you differently.

Khaman Maluach will look like a future All-Star by the end of the year

I was super high on Maluach entering the 2025 draft, and I still believe even after essentially getting redshirted by the Suns as a rookie. The big man was absolutely dominant in summer league by putting up 19.5 points, 12.7 rebounds, and two blocks per game with 40% shooting from three (on five attempts per game) and 70.4% true shooting.

I went over everything I love about Maluach on the Swish Theory podcast:

Yaxel Lendeborg will have a great career even if he’s an old rookie

The Warriors won the summer league championship behind the play of Yaxel Lendeborg. The rookie is just a couple months away from his 24th birthday, but his winding journey to the NBA is proof that players can develop on their own timelines and still reach the pinnacle of the sport.

I usually push back on the idea that older players are more “NBA ready” when they enter the draft. It’s true in Yaxel’s case. He’s going to be a valuable contributor to Golden State from day one.

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Memphis, Cameron Boozer Wrap Up Summer League Play With A Loss To Golden State

LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 19: Cameron Boozer #27 of the Memphis Grizzlies drives to the basket during the game against the Golden State Warriors during the 2026 NBA Summer League Championship on July 19, 2026 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Candice Ward/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

At its heart, NBA Summer League basketball is a chance for teams to see their draftees and other young players in action, and how they respond, what their strengths and weaknesses are, and so on.

Players being competitive though, they want to do two things: make an impression as a potential NBA player, and, not incidentally, to win.

And while Cameron Boozer has a habit of winning, it didn’t work out this time, as Golden State got the championship Sunday night, in a 94-90 victory.

Boozer took a three-pointer with Memphis down 92-90 with about 0:08 to play, but missed.

Still, he made his point in Las Vegas. Boozer still has some doubters, but his new teammate, Cedric Coward, is very happy with what he’s seen from Boozer, saying this:
“He’s special, man. I mean there’s no other words I can describe it. Like I told people before, I can’t believe he’s 18, but he’s a special, special player.”

The questions about Boozer always suggest that he’s not that athletic, but he actually outperformed former UNC star Caleb Wilson in the pre-draft agility drills. His vertical is not that great, but otherwise?

He’s better than people think.

Where he just kills people is with his overall grasp of the game, and his fundamentals. As Coward suggested, Boozer is way ahead of the curve for a teenager (he just turned 19 on Saturday, incidentally). And if you have a solid grasp of the fundamentals, and you’re fairly rugged, you’re going to be able to make an impact.

We’d love to be a fly on the wall with the Grizzlies to get a better idea of what they learned about Boozer and how they plan to use him this upcoming season.

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Kam Williams is now in a medical boot with crutches

LEXINGTON, KY - FEBRUARY 07: Guard Kam Williams (3) of the Kentucky Wildcats before a game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the Kentucky Wildcats on February 7, 2026, at Rupp Arena in Lexington, KY. (Photo by Jeff Moreland/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

If you have spotted Kentucky Basketball forward Kam Williams around campus recently, you probably noticed a couple of familiar summer accessories: a protective walking boot and crutches, as seen at the TBT.

Before Big Blue Nation lets out a collective sigh of panic, take a deep breath. This isn’t a case of the injury bug striking again, but rather a visual reminder of the strict, ultra-cautious rehabilitation program Williams has been on all offseason. As Mark Pope and his staff look ahead to the 2026-27 campaign, the goal is simple: zero rushing, zero risks, and ensuring Williams is at absolute full strength when the games actually matter.

Here is a closer look at where things stand with Williams’ recovery and the medical reality behind his current summer routine.

Fighting through to play in March

To understand why the staff is playing the long game right now, you have to look back to January 2026. During an SEC game against Texas, Williams suffered a fractured left foot, specifically a Jones fracture.

Instead of shutting it down for the year, Williams underwent surgery and put together a grueling rehab stint just to make it back onto the floor for limited action during the postseason. It was a massive boost for the locker room, but playing on a recently repaired foot takes a toll.

Because of that grueling stretch, the Kentucky medical staff drew a hard line for the summer. Williams has been completely held out of contact drills and summer practices. The presence of the boot and crutches is simply the tactical continuation of that off-season plan. Absolutely no reason to take any chances of a reinjury when you don’t have to.

Could a reinjury have happened here? Maybe, considering how tricky a Jones Fracture can be, but no updates have been provided.

The tricky nature of a Jones Fracture

For basketball players, the fifth metatarsal (the bone on the outside of the foot where a Jones fracture occurs) is notoriously stubborn. Because that specific area of the foot has a naturally limited blood supply, bone fusion takes considerable time, usually around 4 months.

The risk of a delayed union or a microscopic re-fracture is high if a player returns to full workload too quickly, which may have happened when Williams came back just two months after the surgery. But I still think this is just a continuation of a plan to play it safe.

By utilizing a boot and crutches during the heart of the summer, the training staff is essentially protecting Williams from himself. It forces the foot to rest completely, allowing the bone to harden and adapt without any daily stress.

Ultimately, seeing a key piece of the roster in a boot in July might not be the most glamorous summer visual, but it is exactly what the doctor ordered, unless there was a reinjury that hasn’t been disclosed. Mark Pope’s staff is taking the smart, hyper-conservative route here, and they should.

By sacrificing summer checklist reps now, the Wildcats are ensuring that when the bright lights turn on this winter, Williams will be completely ready to roll.

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YouTube Gold: The Dream Shake

Hakeem Olajuwon of the Houston Rockets of the Western Conference contests the ball at the tip off against Shaquille O'Neal of the Orlando Magic of the Eastern Conference during game 4 of the National Basketball Association Finals game on 14 June 1995 at The Summit, Houston, Texas, United States. Visions of Sport. (Photo by Allsport/Getty Images) | Getty Images

On Sunday, we looked at the classic 1984 matchup between Houston’s Hakeem Olajuwon and Georgetown’s Patrick Ewing. Both went on to brilliant NBA careers and are on a short list of the best NBA big men of all time: Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Bill Walton, Shaquille O’Neal, David Robinson – Ewing and Olajuwon are both in rarified air.

However, Olajuwon in one respect stands alone: no center, and indeed very few players at all, had the combination of agility and quickness that he had.

Watch this compilation of his signature move, the Dream Shake. Keep in mind that Olajuwon is 7-0 and his playing weight was 255. The only big man who ever approached this level of agility was a young O’Neal, and he packed on so much weight in the NBA that he lost that aspect of his game. For his third championship with the Lakers, though he was listed at 325, O’Neal later said that he played at a staggering 415 lbs.

Olajuwon was one of a kind.

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Monday Posted & Toasted Notes: Pretenders contending, campeones, nightclub stories

Moo Deng, a two-year-old female pygmy hippopotamus, eats one of two soccer ball-shaped carved watermelons decorated with Spain's and Argentina's national flags to predict the winner of the FIFA World Cup 2026 final match between Spain and Argentina, at Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Chonburi province, Thailand. (Photo by Anusak Laowilas/NurPhoto via Getty Images) | NurPhoto via Getty Images

Whether you care or not, we have collectively transitioned into the coldest part of the schedule for sports fans. Go watch baseball if you like it, but if you don’t, get ready for two months of absolutely nothing at all.

  • The Atlanta Hawks are making it clear that the Knicks are (or remain) their biggest target. After lucking into a 2-1 lead in the first round last, Atlanta added Lu Dort and Ryan Nembhard in a three-team trade with Oklahoma City and Dallas. The Hawks already added Aaron Wiggins from OKC in another dump trade by the Thunder earlier this summer.
  • P&T alumn Lee Escobedo believes the Hawks are building an “Anti-Knicks” roster. Summary:

“Have the Hawks assembled a championship roster? Atlanta acquired All-Defensive wing Lu Dort after taking New York to six games in the first round, giving Quin Snyder another physical perimeter defender to deploy against Jalen Brunson. Dort allows Dyson Daniels to operate as a roaming help defender while Nickeil Alexander-Walker chases shooters and Jalen Johnson attacks in transition. Ryan Nembhard and rookie Kingston Flemings could also improve Atlanta’s half-court organization. The Hawks still have concerns about size, rebounding, and shooting, but their combination of defensive versatility, ball pressure, and Oklahoma City influence makes them one of New York’s most dangerous Eastern Conference challengers.”

  • Deuce McBride sent LeBron James a message.
  • Eli Manning has the perfect description for New York, the Giants, the Yankees, the Rangers, the Knicks, MSG, Derek Jeter, plenty more… and Jalen Brunson. Ridiculous clip.
  • Former infamous New York Post storyteller Marc Berman returned home and reflected on finally seeing the Knicks win a championship after covering the franchise for 23 seasons.
  • Shout-out Kris Pursiainen for this Alvarado story.

“Karl-Anthony Towns says Jose Alvarado told him on ‘day 7’ of celebratory drinking that he slept in a construction yard. Towns adds he’s still not sure if it was a joke. ‘He’s the hood MVP, for sure,‘ he said of Alvarado.”

  • Jordan Clarkson became involved in a situation at Manhattan’s Zero Bond nightclub while attempting to calm a confrontation involving rapper Travis Scott. Security removed both Clarkson and Scott from the venue, and no injuries were reported.
  • Dillon Brooks his top-five biggest NBA whiners. Yes, you guessed the gold medalist right.
  • Spain beat Argentina 1-0 at the World Cup. Spain won the World Cup.
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Why the Zaccharie Risacher trade does not make sense… yet

MIAMI, FLORIDA - APRIL 12: Zaccharie Risacher #10 of the Atlanta Hawks shoots the ball against Bam Adebayo #13 of the Miami Heat during the first quarter of the game at Kaseya Center on April 12, 2026 in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images) | Getty Images

When Masai Ujiri was hired as the Mavericks GM, he had a reputation for his love of wings, often prioritizing them over everything else, and so far, his actions match his reputation.

The latest wing is former #1 overall pick Zaccharie Risacher, who the Mavericks acquired in a 3 team deal with the Atlanta Hawks, with the Mavericks sending Ryan Nembhard and a second-round pick.

Risacher has spent the last 2 seasons in Atlanta, averaging 11.1 points while shooting 36% from three. Risacher being dealt is not very surprising, seeing as he was effectively benched in Atlanta’s first-round series against the Knicks.

This benching was not surprising, as Risacher’s minutes had slowly declined all season, being replaced by players like Nickeil-Alexander Walker, and Jonathon Kuminga. The price to acquire Risacher was incredibly light, reflecting how the rest of the league views the French wing, with his skillset still yet to truly gel in the NBA.

The advanced numbers also reflect his poor value, with a -2.2 Darko Plus-Minus being in the 22nd percentile. His fit is also clunky with the Mavericks, as he will have to fight for minutes with older, better and more experienced veterans who play his position.

Risacher lacks any real value outside of his shooting, struggling to create for himself or others, and being a mediocre defender. These criticisms are not new, as he struggled with these skills even as a draft prospect. The hope for Risacher becoming a good player is to entirely focus on his good traits: length and shooting upside.

While Risacher has been a somewhat efficient shooter, his volume his still only okay, attempting 4.2 threes per game so far in his career. If Risacher could get his attempts up while maintaining his efficiency, he could find real value as a shooter.

Now, while this trade is confusing now, there are moves the Mavericks could make that would slot everything into place; trading Daniel Gafford and PJ Washington. Both players have been in trade talks all offseason, and with every new addition, their minutes only continue to go down.

Trading the 2 veterans would not only mean future draft assets, but would confirm a shift in how the Mavericks will play moving forward. Many of their moves have been focused on adding shooting, with Risacher only continuing this trend. Trading 2 of the weaker shooters on the roster would mean more minutes for players like Santi Aldama and Tarik Biberovic, both of whom are excellent shooters for their position.

Trading these veterans could also lead to the Mavericks adding more on-ball creation, as the Mavericks only have two trustworthy creators on the current roster. Not having creators makes the spacing of the new additions less valuable, and puts tremendous pressure on Cooper Flagg and Kyrie Irving to carry the offense.

So will a trade happen? Nobody really knows.

The Mavericks have moved in silence all offseason, with their true plans for the roster being shrouded in mystery, but I would bet on a trade that we aren’t expecting, with a shakeup that no one will see coming.

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Watch Yaxel Lendeborg drop 21 points, grab 10 rebounds to lead Warriors to Summer League title

It was clear why Golden State and Memphis were facing off in Las Vegas for the Summer League title Sunday night. Usually, when a high draft pick has a few good games at Summer League, the team pulls him for the rest of the event to avoid potential injury.

But Memphis took the court with two likely starters from the team that will take the court in October: No. 3 pick Cameron Boozer and second-year forward Cedric Coward.

Golden State took the court with No. 11 pick Yaxel Lendeborg — and he was the best player on that court, scoring 21 points with 10 rebounds, leading the summer Warriors to the championship.

Golden State came from 10 down at the start of the fourth quarter to get the 94-40 victory.

His performance in the title game capped off a Summer League where Lendeborg averaged 18.5 points and eight rebounds a game, earning him the Summer League MVP award.

This was Lendeborg's second title in four months, he also won the NCAA championship with Michigan. He is expected to get significant minutes with Golden State this season.

Coward and Boozer each had 19 points to lead the Grizzlies, with the duo combining for eight 3-pointers. However, Boozer missed a 3 with 13.5 seconds left that would have given Memphis the lead and control of the game. From there, the Warriors hit enough free throws to win.

Golden State also got 21 points from Deivon Smith, the undrafted point guard out of St. John's.

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Padres Reacts Survey Results: Fans do not see San Diego playing in postseason

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - JULY 17: Luis Campusano of the San Diego Padres (C) talks to manager Craig Stammen #14 during the fifth inning against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium on July 17, 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Reed Hoffmann/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Padres fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.

The San Diego Padres came out of the All-Star break with a .500 record, staring at 16 games before the MLB trade deadline on Aug. 3. The hope was that San Diego would carry the momentum it built up before the break with back-to-back wins against the Toronto Blue Jays as they headed to Missouri to take on the Kansas City Royals. The momentum the Padres had built apparently missed the flight and was left somewhere in San Diego.

The Padres dropped the first game of the series in dramatic fashion in the bottom of the 10th inning. San Diego tied the game in the ninth with a solo home run from Ty France and Mason Miller was somehow able to load the bases with no outs before striking out three batters in a row to strand the runners in the bottom of the ninth and send the game to extra-innings. The Padres scored three runs in the top of the 10th, but Miller did not pitch the bottom of the inning after throwing 16 pitches in the ninth. Sure, he threw four pitches to strikeout Munetaka Murakami of the Chicago White Sox in the All-Star game last Tuesday, but 20 pitches over four days does not seem to be too taxing for a guy who is 27 years old, stands 6-5, weighs 200 pounds and is arguably the most dominant reliever in the game.

San Diego manager Craig Stammen chose to keep Miller in the dugout and call on Kyle Hart to attempt his first MLB save in a game the Padres needed to win. Hart imploded, although none of the hits he allowed were struck extremely well, and the Royals earned a walk-off win with four runs in the bottom of the 10th. While Hart allowed all four runs, only three of which were earned because of the Manfred Man on second base to start extra-innings, the loss should not fall solely on him. The loss can and should be attributed to Stammen. He was asked after the game why he went to Hart and he said he and the staff liked the matchups and felt good about Hart in that situation. Miller is better than Hart against every batter the lefty matched up well with. Mille should have remained in the game.

Stammen seems to fail to understand where his team sits at this point in the 2026 season. Before the break, he told reporters he cannot manage every game like it is Game 7. That is fair to say. But you should manage a game you need to win with a three-run lead with the urgency the situation and the season calls for. The Padres looked lifeless in a 6-1 loss on Saturday before they salvaged the series and avoided a sweep with a 19-2 win on Sunday. San Diego should have been 2-1 to start the second half and had the Padres won on Friday night, Saturday could have played out completely different, and they might have started 3-0.

While the offense has started and stopped and struggled throughout the year and the pitching, which was solid to start the season, has fallen off as of late, it is decisions by Stammen and the way the rookie manager handles his players and his team that will determine the fate of the 2026 season for the Padres. If he continues to limit the ability and opportunity of his greatest commodity in Miller the respondents from this week’s Padres Reacts Survey will be saying, “I told you so!” at the end of the year. Players have to play and they have to execute, but the manager has to understand that his team needs him to have a win-now mentality if they are going to find their way back into a postseason position.

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Golden State’s Graham Ike Is an NBA Summer League Champion

LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 18: Graham Ike #45 of the Golden State Warriors dribbles the ball during the game against the Los Angeles Lakers during the 2026 Las Vegas Summer League Semifinals on July 18, 2026 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Candice Ward/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

Former Gonzaga Bulldogs forward Graham Ike adds an NBA Summer League title to his resume and made a case for a two-way contract throughout his work this summer. In the Golden State Warriors’ 94-90 double-digit comeback win over the Memphis Grizzlies in Las Vegas, Nevada, he scored six points on 1-for-6 field goals, nine rebounds, three assists/one turnover, and one block in his ninth straight start.

In the 92-88 semifinals victory over Los Angeles Lakers forward Anton Watson, Ike put together his best outing with the Warriors. He would end up with 16 rebounds on 6-for-10 shooting and 11 assists with a +10 plus-minus.

Throughout both the California Classic at the Chase Center and in Sin City, Ike averaged 9.3 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game. The Warriors currently have one two-way spot left to be filled and have the need for his strong post presence as well as leadership value.

Training camp in San Francisco, California, will begin in late September or early October.

Arden Cravalho is a Gonzaga University graduate from the Bay Area… Follow him on X @a_cravalho

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Yankees' Jazz Chisholm Jr. looks to turn page on 2026 struggles: 'I've sucked all season'

After hitting a go-ahead home run in the eighth inning on Sunday night to lift the Yankees over the Dodgers, you'd expect Jazz Chisholm Jr. to be buzzing.

Instead, the 28-year-old was open about his rough 2026 when asked to describe his season prior to the clutch HR.

"It sucked. I've sucked all season," Chisholm said.

"The numbers speak for themselves."

Chisholm is hitting just .224 with 14 home runs over 94 games this year, which would be his lowest batting average in a full major league season. Following a tough April and better month of May, the second baseman hit just .177 in June across 79 at-bats as that trend has continued in July. 

Manager Aaron Boonesaid earlier Sunday after the Game 1 loss that Chisholm is a player they "expect a lot of" and are hopeful he can turn it around to get back on track. Following the Game 2 win, Boone credited Chisholm for stepping up in the moment after the Yanks squandered a bases loaded opportunity earlier in the game.

"That's a bomb right there," Boone said. "Obviously we have that inning where we're bases loaded, up one, no outs, and a chance to really take the game there in a lot of ways. Aren't able to come up with a big hit. It turned into a real big hit. Where he went there as a lefty, that's a pretty good shot.

"Big at-bat. Every win is precious."

Despite dropping the series to the Dodgers, Chisholm expressed confidence that the Yankees can match up against anyone when they lock in their focus. He knows that's something they'll need to be more consistent with if there will be a rematch of the 2024 World Series later this fall.

"I feel like we match up against any team in the league," Chisholm said. "I feel like we beat ourselves a lot. I feel like that stuff, we're going to clean up as it goes."

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Warriors win Summer League behind Yaxel Lendeborg, Deivon Smith

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JULY 19: Yaxel Lendeborg #1 of the Golden State Warriors holds up the 026 NBA Las Vegas Summer League MVP trophy and championship ring after his team's victory over the Memphis Grizzlies in the 2026 NBA Summer League championship game at the Thomas & Mack Center on July 19, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Warriors defeated the Grizzlies 94-90. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ian Maule/Getty Images) | Getty Images

All Yaxel Lendeborg does is win championships.

Three months after his Michigan Wolverines won the NCAA Tournament, Lendeborg led the Golden State Warriors to their first NBA Summer League championship since 2013 with a 94-90 win over the Memphis Grizzlies. He finished with 21 points and 10 rebounds, bringing the Warriors back from a 12-point deficit in the 4th quarter thanks to a personal 7-0 run.

Beyond his scoring prowess, Lendeborg was the key player on a Warriors defense that held No. 3 pick Cameron Boozer and the Grizzlies to just 14 4th-quarter points. That performance made him the only choice for Summer League Championship Game MVP, following in the footsteps of 2013 SLCGMVP Ian Clark.

The win was a clear team effort, but it wouldn’t have happened without an outstanding performance off the bench from Deivon Smith, who shot 9-for-14 and scored 21 points, adding nine rebounds and keeping the team in the game in the first quarter by scoring nine straight points.

Smith saved the best for last in Las Vegas, putting up 21 big points after scoring just four in the Warriors’ previous games. The Warriors also got 15 points, six assists and four three-pointers from LJ Cryer, who finished with the second-most threes in Summer League, trailing only Chaz Lanier of the Detroit Pistons. Cryer iced the game at the end of the 4th by eluding the Grizzlies attempts to foul him, then splitting his two free throws for the final four-point margin.

The game came down to the Warriors’ tough defense down the stretch, overcoming Boozer’s 19 points, 19 points and 5-for-5 three-point shooting from All-Rookie first-teamer Cedric Coward, and 16 points from rookie Carson Cooper, who Draymond Green would probably have voted for Championship Game MVP, since Cooper went to Michigan State.

Officially, this was Golden State’s second Summer League title, but the 2012 team went 5-0 and won by an average of 16 points per game. That team contained most of the young foundation of the later championship teams, with Klay Thompson, Harrison Barnes, Festus Ezeli, and Green. The next year’s team was led by Green, 2017 champion Clark, and fan favorite/Under Armour legend Kent Bazemore, who should all retroactively get championship rings from Joe Lacob, like all Summer champs since 2022.

Summer League games may be exhibitions, but the competitiveness is real. What Lendeborg, Cryer, Smith, Will Richard, Graham Ike, Malevy Leons, Lachlan Olbrich, Lajae Jones, and Chance McMillian pulled off shows they can deliver in big moments, even if they had some brain farts down the stretch. That is going to pay off next season, even if that mostly happens in Santa Cruz.

I was convinced they could win it all after their first game due to their talent, but they won on Sunday relying on their toughness and grit. Spain may have taken home the World Cup in New Jersey earlier in the day, but for my money, it doesn’t get any better than a Summer League crown.

At least in July. Winning the Finals is still a lot better.

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2026 Summer League: Golden State Warriors hold off Grizzlies for title

The Golden State Warriors earned the 2026 NBA Summer League championship on Sunday, July 19.

Yaxel Lendeborg led the Warriors in the 94-90 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies. He scored 21 and had 10 rebounds for the Warriors in 32 minutes of play.

Lendeborg, the Warriors’ 11th overall pick in the 2026 draft, hit a jumper that helped provide a 91-87 lead for the Warriors with 1:30 left in the fourth quarter and put the game out of reach for the Grizzlies.

Lendeborg was named the Summer League championship game MVP.

Deivon Smith also added 21 points and nine rebounds in 23 minutes of play for Golden State. He shot 9-for-14 from the field.

Cameron Boozer, the No. 3 overall pick in 2026, served as one of the leading scorers for the Grizzlies. He nearly produced a double-double with 19 points and eight rebounds.

Cedric Coward scored 19 points and collected six rebounds in 27 minutes of play.

Warriors vs. Grizzlies NBA Summer League highlights

NBA Summer League champions

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 2026 Summer League: Golden State Warriors hold off Grizzlies for title

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Survey Results: Jazz fans say who they think will have the best career

LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 14: Darryn Peterson #22 of the Utah Jazz poses for a portrait during the 2026 NBA Rookie Photo Shoot on July 14, 2026 at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas campus in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Zach Barron/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

In our latest Jazz Reacts survey, I asked who Jazz fans think will have the best career between Darryn Peterson, AJ Dybantsa, Caleb Wilson, and Cam Boozer. Here’s how Jazz fans feel.

Probably not a surprise that Jazz fans believe that the Jazz prospect will have the best career. But it’s not a stretch to think this is a relatively easy choice. Darryn Peterson was considered the consensus #1 pick before last college season started. He’ll join a Jazz organization that has been a playoff team when it’s had high-level talent. With Darryn Peterson joining a team of high-level, complementary talent, it’s easy to see how his career is going to jump-start into contention right away. He’ll also be joining a coach who orchestrated an offense that led the Boston Celtics to the finals a few years ago. The Jazz have also shown a willingness to make tough decisions that will keep them financially stable and maintain assets that should put them in a contention window for as long as Peterson is on the Jazz. It’s a great choice by Jazz fans, and there’s no question Peterson has the best possible chance to have the best career. FanDuel agrees because they have him with the biggest odds to win the Rookie of the Year award this season.

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Report: Red Wings Have Little Reason To Fear A Simon Edvinsson Offer Sheet

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Detroit Red Wings defenseman Simon Edvinsson remains unsigned through the first three weeks of the NHL's free agency period. 

The Red Wings extended a qualifying offer to Edvinsson, ensuring they maintain control of his restricted free agent rights. However, he remains eligible to sign an offer sheet with another NHL team.

Despite him having yet to affix his signature to a contract, it doesn't appear as though the Red Wings are in danger of the Swedish blue liner being lured away via an offer sheet. 

Per the latest from longtime Red Wings beat writer Ansar Khan, the club is ready to match any offer sheet that he could potentially receive.

Bookmark The Hockey News Detroit Red Wings team site to stay connected to the latest news, game-day coverage, and player features. 

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Since being chosen sixth overall by the Red Wings in the 2021 NHL Draft, Edvinsson has emerged as a foundational piece of Detroit's defense corps. The 22-year-old has solidified himself as one of the club's premier blueliners and is widely viewed as second only to Moritz Seider in the team's long-term plans on the blue line.

Edvinsson took another step forward in 2025-26, dressing for 72 contests while setting personal bests offensively. He found the back of the net nine times and added 16 assists to finish the year with 25 points.

His season was briefly interrupted when a nagging injury flared up again toward the end of January, ultimately requiring surgery. Despite the setback, he recovered quickly enough to return to Detroit's lineup before February came to a close.

Through 175 NHL appearances, Edvinsson has accumulated 60 points on 19 goals and 41 assists. He's also logged more than 21 minutes of ice time per game over his career while posting a plus-17 rating.

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Aaron Boone proud of Yankees bullpen's efforts to slow down Dodgers high-powered offense

Heading into Sunday night's second game of a doubleheader, Yankees manager Aaron Boone knew he was going to have to scrap together a pitching plan.

But turning to five different pitchers who were able to hold the always dangerous Los Angeles Dodgers offense to one run on four hits? That wasn't as expected.

"You're not sure exactly how you're going to piece together the night game," Boone said after New York's 2-1 win. "A lot of people did a really nice job to allow us to get that victory."

Ryan Yarbrough got the start as the opener, tossing 2.2 scoreless innings before handing the ball to Paul Blackburn. The right-hander kept it going, throwing 2.1 scoreless innings and then Brent Headrick posted two scoreless frames of his own to keep LA off the board. Fernando Cruz gave up the lone run on a solo home run in the eighth inning, but David Bednar stepped up to seal the victory over the final 1.2 innings.

Bednar entered in the eighth with runners on first and second base, but struck out Shohei Ohtani and got Andy Pages to fly out, keeping the game tied at 1-1. After getting through the ninth to record the save, the veteran has pitched 17 consecutive scoreless appearances, having last allowed a run on May 18 as his season ERA is down to 2.59.

"Huge," Boone said. "Didn't really want to go five outs, but just felt like Cruzer, after losing a couple, and then I know Ohtani is probably going to control the strike zone pretty well. Just felt like Beds the right guy there. He was efficient enough to where it didn't drive him two up and I felt like I he was sharp at the end of even the second inning."

He added on Bednar: "Obviously he's a really good pitcher, but really good competitor, really good person, teammate. There's no ego involved with it. It's like whatever we got to do to win a game. And we have a number of those guys who are like that down there, and Bed's one of the leaders. I love his makeup, I love what he brings and the example he sets. He just wants to win, and that's apparent."

Overall, Boone was very pleased with the bullpen game and credited Yarbrough for setting the tone early on against Los Angeles.

"Yarbs getting almost three innings, the swinging bunt cost him the third inning completing it, but he was great and efficient," Boone said. "And then Blackburn, being able to get, I think he got seven outs for us. That was huge. That gave us a chance then to leverage it at the backside of the game. Those two getting it started off. And then Headrick being really efficient through the top of the order for two innings, obviously set us up really good.

"But it started with Yarbs. Really being, not only good, but efficient."

Boone went on to explain what makes the 6-foot-5 left-hander a difficult pitcher to face, noting his arm angle and ability to change speeds throughout the game.

"Well I mean he's always been tough on lefties and he got a fair amount of lefties that he's facing there," Boone said. "He's different really than anything you see. Obviously not a hard thrower, but he moves the ball around, really changes speeds well. He's really tall and long limbed so it's kind of a unique angle and delivery that creates a little bit of deception for him. 

"Tonight he did a really good job with the strike throwing and I thought was really unpredictable throughout... It's just a different look than guys are used to seeing. So when he's throwing strikes with all his different pitches, he can be a problem for you."

Boone also praised Headrick for rebounding from a couple rough outings early in the season. After his scoreless outing Sunday, the lefty has not allowed a run in 41 of his 49 relief appearances this year -- the most in the majors.

"He's been outstanding, really," Boone said. "I feel like he did a good job too when he went through a little bit of adversity. He had that week where he had two or three outings in a row that weren't great and he bounced back from that. You've got off to a good start now as really his first full-time role at it in the big leagues. He got off to a really good start, hit a little bump in the road there for a couple few outings, how do you respond? Really well. 

"He's pitched with a lot of confidence. Just the fact you feel good about him against both-handed, he's just got that neutral quality about him that he can go through a lot of different parts of the lineup."

After avoiding getting swept at home, the Yanks will look to string a couple of wins together and reclaim first place in the AL East (1.5 GB of Tampa Bay). They'll hand the ball to Ryan Weathers on Monday in their series opener against the Pittsburgh Pirates.