Those last three words could be interpreted as a hint around the 36-year-old’s NBA future. After departing the Warriors in 2024, Thompson now is entering the final season of a three-year, $50 million contract with the Dallas Mavericks.
But with the four-time NBA champion set to be a free agent next summer, perhaps Thompson will be interested in returning to the Bay, where he spent the first 13 years of his pro career.
And if that were to happen, Dub Nation — including the fan in that video — certainly won’t be disappointed.
UNITED STATES - APRIL 02: College Basketball: NCAA Final Four, Georgetown Patrick Ewing (33) in action, playing defense vs Houston Akeem Olajuwon (34), Seattle, WA 4/2/1984 (Photo by Richard Mackson/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images) (SetNumber: X29817 TK1)
I.
Ralph Sampson showed up in 1979, along with Isiah Thomas, Dominique Wilkins, and James Worthy, while Michael Jordan and Patrick Ewing came along in 1981.
Also arriving in 1981, but with far less fanfare, was Hakeem Olajuwon at Houston.
In that era, international players were just beginning to show up in the U.S. Part of this story we can verify, but not all:
One of the guys who first saw Olajuwon’s potential was named Chris Pond, a native of Raleigh. His brother, Nick, was a sports anchor for WRAL in North Carolina’s capital city.
Reportedly, Pond recommended Olajuwon to NC State coach Norm Sloan, who was not interested, and he ended up a Houston Cougar, after some ugly, cold weather when he arrived in New York persuaded him to pass on St. John’s and to look south.
Olajuwon was not an immediate star for Houston. As a freshman, he was somewhat uncertain, but his talent and footwork were clearly exceptional.
By 1984, Olajuwon had emerged as a huge star, and would meet Ewing in the NCAA championship.
Here are some highlights from that game. They would have many more battles in the NBA, and are now both Hall of Fame members. However, most people would say that Olajuwon had the better overall career.
Bit of trivia: According to Olajuwon, apparently there was a proposed trade before the 1984 draft that would have sent Sampson to Portland for Clyde Drexler and the #2 pick in the 1984 draft.
If it had happened, Houston would have had Olajuwon, Drexler, and probably Michael Jordan, all under the age of 23. It might have taken a few years to get that group up to NBA championship speed, but it would have been astonishing.
Now imagine if, in the 1986 draft, the Rockets had had the foresight to take Georgia Tech’s Mark Price with the #20 pick (Price ended up being the first pick of the second round).
It’s inconceivable to go undefeated in the NBA, but a team with Olajuwon, Drexler, Jordan and Price might have won 75 regular season games.
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 15: Hugo González #28 of the Boston Celtics shoots a three point basket during the game against the Sacramento Kings on July 15, 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
Hugo González is picking up right where he left off after his rookie season with the Boston Celtics, and his progress isn’t going unnoticed this summer.
González logged his final Summer League appearance this past Wednesday against the Sacramento Kings and his finale ended up being his best performance in Las Vegas. González scored a game-high 24 points while tallying 10 rebounds and five assists in Boston’s 82-76 victory.
Those around the organization aren’t surprised by González’s offseason growth, which began well before the Celtics reconvened for their final games in Las Vegas.
“He’s a pro,” Celtics assistant Amile Jefferson told reporters Saturday, per CLNS Media, “and I think he’s actually just a bigger guy. You saw it last season, putting him on team’s five, play him one through five, just whoever the best player is, because he can not only be physical, but he’s very mobile.”
Last season, he quickly established himself as one of Boston’s most elite defensive threats. González tackled every assignment thrown at him — including 6-foot-11 Giannis Antetokounmpo in March — and didn’t disappoint. Mindful of his role approaching what’ll be a major opportunity for the second-year pro, González emphasized his strength.
Returning to the court for competition began early for González this summer. He joined the Spanish national team and suited up during the FIBA qualifying battles in July, scoring 16 points against Denmark. Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla even made the trip down to pay González a visit and catch a glimpse of the results of González’s offseason work in live action.
A stellar performance from Hugo González leads the Celtics to an NBA Summer League win!
González finished 13th in All-Rookie voting for the league’s rookie class with five votes for the Second Team. And while his scoring wasn’t up to par with the likes of fellow newcomers Cooper Flagg, Kon Knueppel, and V. J. Edgecombe, González remained as impactful as any other rookie — and for a Celtics team that won 56 games and secured a No. 2 seed finish in the Eastern Conference.
Reports suggested González’s value within the organization became evident in Boston’s trade discussions with the Milwaukee Bucks centered around Giannis, as Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens refused to include González (and more) in the team’s offer for the Greek Freak.
So this upcoming season, the bar is raised for last summer’s first-round selection (28th overall).
“In the summer, I think he’s worked on all facets of his game,” Jefferson continued. “That’s on and off the court, and that has to do with his body. So I think everyone has seen his improvements.”
González averaged 3.9 points, 3.3 rebounds and 0.5 assists with 0.6 steals and 0.3 blocks in 14.6 minutes off the bench last season for Boston. Those figures did no justice to González’s impact as a sparkplug, always ready to uplift the team’s energy at any given moment.
Teammates and coaches quickly formed a positive impression of the youngster, and it only improved as the season progressed.
That began during training camp when Jordan Walsh and Baylor Scheierman spoke highly of González, highlighting his work ethic for a then-first-year pro.
For González, shot efficiency is the most notable need for improvement. He shot 36 percent from 3-point range last season and often struggled to create his own offense off the dribble. This upcoming season, with Jaylen Brown gone and a greater need for depth contribution all across the board from the roster, González will need to take a significant leap with 74 NBA appearances already under his belt.
He’s also gotten started on building the team’s morale amid its 3-2 Summer League run.
“He’s one of the loudest guys in the room, if not the loudest,” guard John Tonje added, per CLNS Media. “He brings a lot of energy. He’s fun, he’s fun to be around, especially during the World Cup. Spain has been doing well, so he’s talking a lot.”
Safe to say González will have his eyes glued on Sunday’s matchup with the team officially done with Las Vegas, rooting against Lionel Messi.
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 18: Javonte Cooke #46 of the Phoenix Suns shoots a free throw during the game against the San Antonio Spurs 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 Tom O'Connor/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
And that’s a wrap from the 2026 Summer League in Vegas! Thanks for following along with us at Bright Side.
The Phoenix Suns finish Summer League with a 3-2 record and a +8 plus-minus as a team across the five games.
Khaman Maluach, Rasheer Fleming, and Koa Peat all sat the finale out, leading to more opportunity for Koby Brea, Javonte Cooke, and others. Koby Brea had another uninspiring game where he deferred and sort of faded in the background. Cooke and Askew were the two standouts.
Phoenix started the game ice cold from deep, going 2 for their first 14 from three-point range. The Spurs jumped out to an early 16-11 lead after a bucket from Miles Barnstable.
Jameer Nelson Jr. led the Suns’ attack with 7 points in the opening quarter on 3-4 shooting from the field.
The Spurs led 23-16 after one. It was about as sloppy as it looks, which was expected with the key trio sitting out.
Tramon Mark drilled two quick threes early in the second quarter to push Phoenix back into the mix, giving them a 29-28 lead, which led to a Spurs timeout.
Former Arizona Wildcat Andre Iguodala interviewed Koa Peat during the second quarter on the set, which was a cool full-circle moment for both Iggy and Koa, I’m sure.
Koa on learning from Book:
"Just learning from him, obviously he's one of the best players in the league. He's a legend so just learning from him I think is going to help my game for sure." pic.twitter.com/rxI2Escvda
A pair of sloppy turnovers got the Spurs kick-started, and they went on a 9-0 run to retake the lead, 36-28. Javonte Cooke quickly went on a personal 8-0 run to get the Suns back in it, going back and forth as you’d expect in this environment.
Phoenix ended on a positive note, retaking the lead, 43-39 at the half. Cooke had 10 points, and Nelson Jr. had 9 points to lead the Suns. Hyunjung Lee paced the Spurs with 9 points on 3-3 shooting from deep.
Second Half
The second half started with the teams continuing to trade shots. In the opening 5 minutes, the teams were deadlocked at 8 points each. Then, the Spurs took over on both ends as the Suns’ offense sputtered.
Jameer Nelson Jr. exited the game with an injury, which made matters worse.
Spurs led 61-53 after three quarters of action. They outscored Phoenix 22-10 in the third. It was ugly.
The rooks incoming sophomores had some fun on the mic as well!
After falling behind again, the Suns went on a run to make things interesting late, cutting the lead to two points with just a few seconds left, but then a foul before the inbounds led to a free-throw and a re-inbound and another foul, and the Spurs knocked all three FTs down to secure the five-point win.
San Antonio outscored the Suns by eight in the 2nd half after a promising second quarter. And that was all she wrote.
DALLAS, TEXAS - APRIL 12: Moussa Cisse #30 of the Dallas Mavericks walks backcourt during a game against the Chicago Bulls at American Airlines Center on April 12, 2026 in Dallas, Texas. 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 GettyImages License Agreement. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Dallas Mavericks remain the home of Ghanian center Moussa Cisse, an undrafted free agent from the 2025 NBA draft. ESPN insider Shams Charania was the first to report the news.
“The Dallas Mavericks have matched the New York Knicks’ two-year, $4.7 million offer sheet on restricted free agent Moussa Cisse, Yann Balikouzou and Kevin Bradbury of LIFT Sports Management tell ESPN. The 6-foot-11 center signed the Knicks sheet earlier Saturday but Dallas matches well before 48-hour Monday deadline,“ Charania tweeted.
The news comes after the Knicks signed him to an offer sheet earlier on Saturday. The Mavericks had 48 hours to make a decision, but their swiftness with the decision shows how much the team values Cisse as a prospect. Cisse’s contract is partially guaranteed for the first season, but non-guaranteed in the second year.
Cisse, 23, played in 38 games with the Mavs during his rookie year, averaging 4.5 points and 5.7 rebounds per game for the team. At 6-11, Cisse provides a lot of size to the Mavs’ frontcourt, giving them another option at the center position.
Cisse will compete for playing time alongside Dereck Lively II, Daniel Gafford, and Santi Aldama, who was acquired earlier in the offseason from the Memphis Grizzlies in a trade. He
Mavs Moneyball community, how do you feel about Dallas’ decision to retain Cisse for the upcoming season? What do you think his role will be with the Mavericks moving forward? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below.
Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns were given a warm welcome at the Garden on Saturday — but this time was not for basketball.
The two Knicks stars made WWE appearances during WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event.
Brunson, sporting sunglasses and a brace on his left wrist, was met with a booming roar from the crowd as he emerged from the tunnel alongside Roman Reigns at about 10:00 p.m. for the final event of the night.
Brunson was met with a booming roar from the crowd as he emerged from the tunnel alongside Roman Reigns. WWE on X
Fireworks shot off in the arena as the two pointed up, a reference to the wrestler’s iconic “The One” gesture.
The three-time All-Star was then showered in “MVP” and “Jalen Brunson” chants once the intro concluded.
Brunson was then gifted a custom blue and orange WWE championship belt as the crowd chanted “you deserve it.”
Following the entrance, however, Brunson was greeted by Knicks villain Tyrese Haliburton as Seth Rollins hit Reigns with a sneak attack.
With help from Brunson, Reigns ultimately tossed Rollins out of the ring, and he and Haliburton left the stage.
The Knicks’ Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy was then brought into the ring, with Reigns holding it in the air as Brunson donned the wrestler’s WWE World Heavyweight Championship belt.
Brunson, who is still recovering from surgery on his left wrist, largely stayed to the side as the two wrestlers duked it out.
Towns, who took the stage earlier in the night, was a bit more physical. He helped Danhausen — known for “uncursing” the Knicks after going down 2-1 against the Hawks in the first round — defeat JD McDonagh after making a surprise entrance late in the match.
The Knicks’ center made his entrance in epic fashion, walking out of a smoke-filled container titled “cloning machine box.”
Then during the match he choke-slammed McDonagh before doing the same to Dominik Mysterio through a wooden table.
Danhausen then finished off McDonagh with a “Triple D” for the win.
Towns linked up with Danhausen before the event, with the two meeting before Fanatics Fest on Wednesday.
When Fanatics CEO Michael Rubin introduced the two to each other, Towns immediately payed his respects to the wrestler for good karma to the Knicks during their finals run.
Towns chokeslammed Dominik Mysterio through a wooden table. WWE on X
“Do you know who this is?” Rubin asked Towns.
“Of course, the man who got us the chip,” Towns responded.
After Danhausen’s remarks in during their first round series, the Knicks proceeded to win 15 of their next 16 games en route to their first NBA Finals championship in 53 years.
Despite the acknowledgement, Danhausen felt that he needed something in return from Towns.
“Give me your watch,” Danhausen jokingly told Towns. “Yeah, I need the watch. Shoes, too.”
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 18: LJ Cryer #18 of the Golden State Warriors handles the ball during the game against the Los Angeles Lakers during the 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 Tom O'Connor/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Lakers lost just two times this summer. Unfortunately, the same team that handed them their first loss also gave them their final defeat.
In the semifinals of the Las Vegas Summer League on Saturday, the Lakers fell to the Warriors, 92-88. Golden State handed LA a far more unceremonious loss to open the summer at the California Classic.
It was an evenly matched contest throughout with 18 lead changes and neither side holding a double-digit lead the entire game. Each team led in the second half and fourth quarter, but Golden State grabbed the lead early in the frame and held it for the remainder of the game.
LA made a late run to close the deficit to one point, but a pair of turnovers in the final minute looked costly. A late foul on a Mañon 3-pointer gave the purple and gold a chance to tie the game, but the guard converted two of three to keep them down one. One last costly turnover with under 10 seconds remaining sealed the result.
Chris Mañon was once again the main man in getting the offense going early for LA, scoring the first four points for the Lakers. Will Richard knocked down a triple for Golden State. At the 5:44 mark, the Warriors were up by one.
It was a fast-paced, back-and-forth game with both teams playing hard and battling. Adou Thiero joined Mañon with four points, including a fastbreak dunk.
Jon Elmore provided a spark off the bench again with five points. At the end of the first, the purple and gold were down by two.
Cameron Carr knocked down a midrange jumper to start the second period. Arthur Kaluma put Los Angeles in the lead with a pull-up jumpshot.
LA had a very balanced offensive attack, with almost all players scoring. Kaluma drained his first 3-pointer of the half, giving him a team-leading seven points.
After an awkward fall led to Cameron Carr exiting the game with an apparent elbow injury, he returned shortly after looking no worse the wear.
At the 5:58 mark, the Lakers were up by two. LA had gone up by five until a 3-pointer from Chance McMillian made it a two-point Golden State deficit.
Malevy Leons began the scoring in the third period with a triple for the Warriors. Anton Watson scored on the other end for Los Angeles with a layup.
Thiero was having a strong quarter defensively before throwing down another monstrous dunk and converting on a three-point play.
At the 5:54 mark, it was once again a tied game. The Lakers were 3-8 from the field, while the Warriors were 2-8. It was a continued, evenly matched affair between the teams.
Carr and Thiero were the only Lakers in double figures with 12 and 11, respectively.
The Warriors went on a 7-0 run to take the lead, but Los Angeles responded with four in a row to go up by three at the end of the third.
Golden State started the final frame on an 8-0 scoring run to go up by five. Carr responded with a triple. Yaxel Lendeborg answered with a 3-pointer himself to extend the Warriors’ lead once more. AK Okereke then knocked down a 3-pointer for LA.
LJ Cryer responded with a triple to give Golden State a five-point lead with 6:36 left. Thiero started to come alive with five points, but the Warriors still had the momentum.
Kaluma converted on a layup to make it a four-point game. Los Angeles had 2:29 left to keep their Summer League championship hopes alive.
Leons scored on a layup, giving the Warriors a cushion on their lead. Kaluma was fouled and only converted on one free throw. With 1:31 left, Thiero made it a one-possession game.
Carr was fouled and knocked down both free throws to make it a one-point game with 1:12 left. A series of turnovers eventually led to the Lakers trailing by three in the final seconds.
Mañon was fouled while he attempted a 3-pointer and converted on two of three free throws. McMillian was fouled and converted on both free throws to put Golden State up by three with 8.3 seconds left.
The Warriors stole the ball on the ensuing inbound. Will Richard was fouled and drained one free throw to clinch the win for Golden State.
Key Player Stats
Thiero scored 18 points with 10 rebounds, three assists and three steals. Carr notched 17 points in 28 minutes of play. Elmore pitched in with 10 points off the bench.
Kaluma finished with 12 points and four rebounds. Mañon tallied with 10 points, seven rebounds, four assists and two steals. Zhaire Smith logged seven points in 14 minutes as a reserve. Okereke had eight points.
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 12: Hyunjung Lee #26 of the San Antonio Spurs shoots a free throw during the game against the Milwaukee Bucks on July 12, 2026 at the Cox Pavilion 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 Tom O'Connor/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Welcome to the Game Thread. Veterans of the Game Thread know how we do things around here, but for all you newbies we have a few rules. Our community guidelines apply and basically say be cool, no personal attacks, don’t troll and don’t swear too much. The rule against trolling also applies to members of this site that visit other fan sites.
You thought Summer League was over, didn’t you. Well, in Las Vegas, the teams that don’t make it to the championship tournament get an extra game to practice and evaluate players. The Spurs, who finished 6th in the Las Vegas Summer League standings are facing the Phoenix Suns who are the 7th place finishers. It’s a contest between two 3-1 teams, but both squads have basically shut down for their best players for the summer, and I don’t expect any of the draft picks for either team to play. It’s the late game on Saturday and it’s being played at the big arena, the Thomas and Mack Center. To the extent that there will be any fans there, they will probably be rooting for the Suns, who have shut down Koa Peat and Khaman Maulach for the game. Maybe Texas Ex Traymon Mark could have a good game tonight for the Suns? It could be Darius Brown time, who has been having a spectacular Summer League campaign for the Suns.
Game Prediction:
Hyunjung Lee sets a Las Vegas Summer League Record with 10 made three point shots in the game.
San Antonio Spurs vs Phoenix Suns(Las Vegas Summer League) July 18, 2026 | 9:30 PM CT Streaming: Prime TV: Prime Reminder: It is against site policy to post links to illegal streams in the comments.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JULY 15: Jameer Nelson Jr. #54 of the Phoenix Suns looks on in the first half of the 2026 NBA Summer League game against the Phoenix Suns at the Thomas & Mack Center on July 15, 2026 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. (Photo by Louis Grasse/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The finale is here. Game 5 of the Summer League for your Suns.
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 18: Zeke Mayo #39 of the Atlanta Hawks drives to the basket during the game against the Washington Wizards on July 18, 2026 at the Cox Pavilion 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 Stephen Greathouse/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
With both teams sitting their top prospects, the Wizards skeleton summer league squad beat the Hawks skeleton summer league squad, 91-83. Both teams had just eight players available. Both teams hope at least a few of those eight will help populate their G League teams this season. Both teams finish their Las Vegas adventure with identical 3-2 records.
There seems to be a scoring differential tie-breaker that determines who finishes 12th (apparently Atlanta) and who finishes 13th (apparently Washington). I don’t see how it matters, but it seems NBA.com has the official standings. Gotta be honest, I’d love to learn that Seth Trimble or Reece Beekman (or anyone really) negotiated a bonus based on the team finishing with a winning record or something.
Washington Wizards big man Felix Okpara attempting a three against the Atlanta Hawks in summer league. | NBAE via Getty Images
This game definitely involved the playing of basketball. The Hawks fired blanks (5-31 from three) while the Wizards connected from deep (10-26), and that was basically the difference. Washington ran out to a nine-point by the end of the first quarter and hung on to win by eight.
A few of the Wizards played pretty well. Reece Beekman had 14 assists to just four turnovers. Felix Okpara looks like maybe he’ll be a competent backup big man at some point in the future, though he did commit seven fouls and four turnovers.
Seth Trimble defended and rebounded well but did none of the guard stuff (shooting, playmaking) teams typically expect from their guards.
John Camden hit 4-8 from three-point range en route to tying Atlanta’s Devon Diggs for a game-high 22 points. Chris Livingston was decent — 20 points, 5 rebounds — and seems to have sufficient size and physical abilities to someday (maybe) win a spot in an NBA rotation.
I don’t think anyone did enough to make me think the roster and rotation calculus for the upcoming season changes, but there was some maybe someday work on display.
For the Wizards, summer league was successful. The youngsters they’re counting on for next season (AJ Dybantsa, Tre Johnson, and Will Riley) all played reasonably well and emerged healthy.
Next up for the Wizards: Offseason workouts, pickup games, maybe some vacations, and then training camp.
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 18: John Tonje #8 of the Boston Celtics looks to pass the ball during the game against the Orlando Magic during the 2026 NBA Summer League 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 Mike Kirschbaum/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
LAS VEGAS — In postgame media scrums, head coaches get asked about players’ performances almost every night. Usually, while they compliment the player they are asked about, they also oftentimes make sure not to gas them up too much.
So, it was a noteworthy moment when Celtics Summer League head coach Amile Jefferson absolutely lit up when he was asked about the play of 25-year-old guard John Tonje.
“He’s one of the guys I’m most proud of because he wants to make it,” Jefferson said after the Celtics’ Wednesday night win over the Sacramento Kings. “And when a guy wants to make it, and when a guy wants to be in the NBA, that’s how you look. If somebody wants to know how hard it is to be in the NBA — you can all see how good he is. He’s given himself a really good chance. He is definitely an NBA player.”
Tonje did everything he could to show that through five Summer League contests, averaging 14.8 points per game and shooting 45.2% from beyond the arc.
But more important than his offensive contributions was his defensive impact, because few questions exist surrounding Tonje’s ability to score a bucket. (The Celtics guard averaged 18.1 points per game on the Maine Celtics last year, highlighted by a 42-point outing in March).
Tonje made impactful plays on the defensive end all Summer League long, whether that was a chasedown block or a pick-pocket. In the Celtics’ overtime win, he secured the game-winning steal and go-ahead layup to solidify the victory. Multiple times throughout the tournament, he showcased flashes of defensive excellence a step above his defensive reputation.
John Tonje just got the steal and layup and Neemias Queta and Derrick White jumped to their feet pic.twitter.com/Yqx4zE2aAv
On Saturday, after a 14-point outing against the Orlando Magic, he credited his player development coach, Nana Foulland, for putting him in positions to succeed.
“Defensively, I gotta give a special shoutout to a coach named Nana who’s actually standing right here in front of me,” Tonje said, as Foulland hovered behind the scrum. “All summer, we’ve been focused, trying to get better and working on weaknesses, and he hasn’t been afraid to tell me what I need to get better at. We just really got after it this summer, and I think it showed a little bit in summer league.”
John Tonje eyes another opportunity in the NBA
Tonje joined the Celtics on a two-way contract midseason last year. But while fellow two-way player Amari Williams signed a second two-way contract earlier this month, Tonje did not. As such, he arrived in Las Vegas a free agent in pursuit of another chance in the league.
Amile Jefferson believes Tonje did enough to show he belonged.
“Everyone wanted to see the defense from John, and I think he showed that at a super high level,” Jefferson said. “I’ve talked the entire week about how proud I am of the effort he’s given, and most of that has come defensively. Obviously, he is a high-level shot-maker at all three levels. He can get to the rim, he can shoot the mid-range, and he can catch and shoot the three and off the dribble. And so, you just want to see, for his position, can you guard the ball? Can you pressure the ball? Can you be in your shifts? Can you be where you need to be? And I think he showed that he can do that at a high level.”
Tonje may or may not end up in Boston next year. Williams is already on one of three two-way contracts, while Milos Uzan and Tucker DeVries will both get the chance to compete for one while on training camp deals. Dillon Mitchell, the Celtics’ standout 40th overall pick, is also a likely candidate for a two-way contract, assuming he doesn’t get signed to an actual roster spot.
Regardless of what happens next, Tonje’s own self-belief is undeniable.
“I’m pretty confident,” he said with a smile. “I’m pretty confident — maybe even delusional. I can’t lose that. I think I’m an NBA player, and that’s what I’m striving to get to, and be at. So I like where I’m at right now, and I’m just gonna keep working.”
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 18: Brandon Boston Jr. #28 and Brayden Burries #0 of the Milwaukee Bucks high five during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers on July 18, 2026 at the Cox Pavilion 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 Stephen Greathouse/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Brayden Burries’ contested layup with just over a second left secured a tight 96-94 win for the Bucks over the Philadelphia 76ers in their last Summer League outing. With the win, Milwaukee improved to a 2-3 record. Burries scored 27 points while adding four rebounds and five assists in a promising ending to his time in Vegas. Kam Jones and Nate Ament each pitched in with twelve points, while Gerald Ayayi led the Sixers in scoring with 22 points on 13 shots.
The Bucks started two-way signee Kam Jones, rookies Brayden Burries and Nate Ament, Pete Nance, and Bogoljub Marković. The Sixers started Duke Miles, Dante Maddox Jr., Gerald Ayayi, Amani Lyles, and Isaac Johnson. Meanwhile, Philadelphia’s first-round draft-pick, Labaron Philon Jr., sat out.
The game started in a back-and-forth contest, with Ament pouring in Milwaukee’s first five points in the game. But he wasn’t the Bucks’ only rookie who got on the scoresheet early, with Burries’ and-one layup giving them a 13-10 lead midway through the first quarter. Milwaukee continued to do the right things on offense, freeing up willing shot takers like Zack Austin for open three-pointers and sending Ament up for thunderous lobs. A Jones three-point buzzer-beater put Milwaukee up 28-22 at the end of the first quarter, their largest lead in the game.
The Bucks got off to a hot start at the start of the second quarter, stretching their lead to double digits by connecting from long range. In addition to the long ball, Milwaukee scored frequently in transition, so when Philly went cold and lacked any sort of offensive generation, it directly translated to fast-break layups and numerical advantages for the Bucks. B.J. Boston’s and-one added an exclamation point to a big 9-2 Bucks run. However, the 76ers hunkered down on defense, and some big buckets from Maddox cut the Bucks’ lead to just one point. Eventually, Mylik Wilson’s driving layup and a last-second Lyles chase-down block sealed Philadelphia’s halftime advantage. Philly up, 51-50.
The Bucks continued to battle the Sixers into the third quarter, reclaiming their lead thanks to a pair of quick layups from Jones and Burries, the former of whom had to limp off the court after landing awkwardly. From there, the Sixers and Bucks exchanged scoring runs, with Milwaukee working past their initial turnover troubles by consistently converting at the rim. However, Philadelphia gained a narrow edge at the end of the third quarter, leading 74-69.
In a continuation of the back-and-forth affair, Milwaukee quickly tied the game and took the lead to start the fourth quarter. They caught fire at the right time, forging a 10-0 scoring run off some clutch Kam Jones three-pointers, and held a tight lead throughout the final frame. However, Milwaukee failed to score in their final four possessions, including on a long Nance airball with just 13 seconds left. Philadelphia attempted to run a play to secure the win, but a blocking foul from Marković sent Gerald Ajayi to the line, where he promptly tied the game up. With under 10 seconds left, Burries received the ball in the backcourt, drove all the way downhill to the rim, and converted an acrobatic layup with time expiring to secure the win for Milwaukee. Yeah, he might just be that dude.
Stat That Stood Out
Although Burries will rightfully draw most of the attention for his insane game, Nate Ament shot 2/3 from three-point range. The figure isn’t overly impressive by itself, but when you consider Ament shot 7/18 (.388) from three throughout his five Summer League appearances, his outside shooting becomes genuinely intriguing, if not exciting. One of Ament’s biggest concerns when he was being drafted was his inconsistent shooting, but it looks like he’s been working through it in Las Vegas.
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 18: Gerald Ayayi #55 of the Philadelphia 76ers plays defense during the game against the Milwaukee Bucks on July 18, 2026 at the Cox Pavilion 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 Stephen Greathouse/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Sixers wrapped up their 2026 Summer League with a 96-94 loss at the buzzer to the Milwaukee Bucks Saturday evening.
Labaron Philon Jr. got the day off, ending a solid summer for the rookie after four games. His shooting numbers got very skewed by a rough final outing. He ended up averaging 18.5 points per game shooting 38% from the field and 25% from three along with 3.5 rebounds and 5.8 assists.
In three appearances, Johni Broome averaged 14.7 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game on 45%/13%/25% shooting splits. He also sat out the finale.
In Saturday’s game, Gerald Ayayi, who’s had a long career overseas, led the Sixers with 22 points shooting 7-of-13 from the floor along with three assists. Dante Maddox Jr. put up 15, shooting 4-of-10 from the field. Brayden Burries, the No. 10 overall pick in this year’s draft, led all scorers with 27, including the game-winner.
While both Burries and Nate Ament were able to get theirs to varying degrees of success, the Sixers being able to turn the ball over prevented the Bucks from running away with the game early. Each team turned it over 19 times — Ament had five of them.
The Sixers had their own issues completing passes at the start of the game, but flipping that script is what allowed them to go on a 20-4 extended run that started in the second quarter and ended in the third.
After shooting well from deep in the first half at 46%, the Sixers found a lot of success attacking the rim in the third quarter. Duke Miles started the game off making three of his first four shots, all from beyond the arc before Maddox found his stroke from outside. He may have been on a bit of a pitch count, only playing 11 minutes in this one.
Similar to Miles, Isaac Johnson only played 12 minutes of this game, but had a bit of a bounce-back with 10 points and six rebounds. Nick Townsend, an undrafted forward out of Yale, got more run in his second appearance of the summer. He finished with 15 points on 6-of-9 shooting.
Their shooting would regress though — they only made one three-pointer in the second half — a big reason why they weren’t able to put the Bucks away. They kept their determination in attacking the rim. Ayayi slashed for a big and-1 that cut the lead to four with under two minutes. A minute later, Maddox drove to find Townsend cutting baseline to make it a two-point game.
After getting another stop, Ayayi drew a foul and went to the one with a chance to tie the game. He drilled both (which you still have to do despite the G League rule). Unsurprisingly, the Bucks went to Burries and he got all the way to the basket for the game-winner with 1.5 seconds remaining. For as good of a day he had, Maddox had the ball tip off his feet before he got a heave off. An unfortunate end to Summer League, but at least one that didn’t go to overtime.
While it’s been five years since Young and the Hawks beat the Knicks in the first round of the playoffs, he’s still embracing his role as a New York villain.
At Fanatics Fest on Saturday at the Javits Center, Young, now with the Wizards, took the stage with a Jalen Brunson blue road jersey and attempted to rip up the Knicks star’s uniform.
Young tugged on the jersey, though it merely stretched more than ripped before he tossed it into the crowd.
The guard was also seen being booed by fans as he walked through the New York-hosted event.
Trae Young attempted to rip a Jalen Brunson jersey at Fanatics Fest X-@Fanatics
Young played just five games for the Wizards after being traded there midseason. Getty Images
Young’s jersey rip was not the only Knicks trolling he’s been up to this weekend.
On Friday night, Young posted a video to his Instagram story of himself being driven around in a car — while watching his highlights against the Knicks from the 2021 postseason.
“When I’m in NYC this how I ride around,” he captioned the clip.
While Young was impressive in that series against the Knicks, New Yorkers have certainly gotten the last laugh as the Knicks went on to end their championship drought this year.
Young, meanwhile, saw his time in Atlanta come to an end in January as he was traded to the Wizards.
Jalen Brunson at the Knicks’ NBA championship parade. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
He played just five games for Washington before being shut down for the season.
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 18: Amari Williams #77 of the Boston Celtics boxes out during the game against the Orlando Magic during the 2026 NBA Summer League 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 Mike Kirschbaum/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
With 9 teams logging 3-1 records in the 2026 Las Vegas Summer League, Boston got one final consolation game at the Thomas and Mack Center, Las Vegas, Saturday evening against the Orlando Magic. In an entertaining final game, Boston would get scoring from all thirteen active players. In a fast paced, physical game, the Magic hold on to win, 97-103.
Boston started Milos Uzan, John Tonje, Tucker DeVries, Alondes Williams, and Amari Williams for the final game in Vegas. Unfortunately for Boston fans, Hugo Gonzalez and rookies Chris Cenac Jr. and Dillon Mitchell were in street clothes for the contest, watching from the Celtics bench.
Orlando jumped out to an early 2-10 lead as Boston was just 1 from 5 in the field. Milo Uzan drained a three-pointer at the top of the key and had a step-back as he had 5 straight points for the Summer Celtics. New Magic head coach Sean Sweeney was in attendance for the game to see his side up by ten, 9-19.
DeVries laced a corner triple for his first made bucket of the game; he was feeling it and hit a deep transition heat check trey. On the next play, Boston was back in the game, 15-19, with 3 minutes to go. Nick Pringle, Caleb Grill, and Daveon Thomas checked into the game late in the first, as they would be seeing extended action in this one.
A Chris Jones transition dunk capped a min run for the Summer Celtics before the Magic finally broke the scoring drought. Nick Pringle had a big put-back flush for Boston as the scores were tied at 24 points apiece at the break in a fast-paced opening quarter.
Mo Amini cut through the lane to score the layup at the start of the second quarter, his first points of the game. Kyle Mangus hit a three-pointer as the Summer Celtics showed plenty of scoring depth with nine players hitting the scoreboard in just 11 minutes of play. Amari Williams started the second quarter and provided the hustle play with offensive rebounding and interior scoring. Tonje laced a two-pointer at the foul line, Boston back up, 33-32.
DeVries came back into the game and immediately continued his hot shooting night as he peeled off a screen at the top of the key to hit his 9th point, assisted by Milo Uzan with his third assist. Grill hit a deep triple; John Tonje had a loud one-handed tomahawk on the break, Boston up 45-43. Wiggins hit the Summer C’s seventh three-pointer of the game as he became the tenth scorer for the team. Boston took a 3-point lead into the half, 48-45.
LAS VEGAS, NV – JULY 18: John Tonje #8 of the Boston Celtics looks to pass the ball during the game against the Orlando Magic during the 2026 NBA Summer League 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 Mike Kirschbaum/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
John Tonje scored the team’s first 4 points of the second half, as he continues to impress and make a case for a two-way contract with the Maine Celtics. Alondes Williams netted a three for his fifth point of the night, Boston up 56-53. Summer league coach Amile Jefferson has this summer league squad amped up and very aggressive on the defensive end, they had 9 steals and forced 12 turnovers at the 5 minute mark of the third quarter.
Orlando went on a 7-0 run in the middle of the third to take back the lead, 61-65. Caleb Grill’s trey at the top of the key gave Boston it’s first score in three minutes of action. The Magic outscored the Summer C’s 19-8 in a crucial third quarter stretch of play. The third quarter was not great for the Celtics, the Magic stretching it out to a ten point lead, the shot the lights out going 13-18 in the quarter, 71-81.
Amile Jefferson rested Tonje, Uzan and Amari for the remainder of the game, the deep bench hopefuls getting an extended run to close it out. Boston went on a 7-0 run with Grill, Thomas and Wiggins chipping in points. Orlando countered with a 7 point run of their own. A Kyle Mangus three-pointer with 2 minutes to go got the lead back to just 4 points, 95-99.
The Summer Celtics battled and scrapped right to the end, but Orlando would take the lead and win the final game of 2026 Summer League.
