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Darius Acuff Jr., Kings rookies still trying to find their way in summer league originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

LAS VEGAS — The No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft looked exactly like that on Sunday.

AJ Dybantsa had 23 points on 6-of-15 shooting with seven rebounds, two assists, three steals and two blocks in 24 minutes to help the Washington Wizards defeat the Kings and remain undefeated in NBA Summer League action.

Dybantsa had 27 points in his NBA Summer League debut Thursday.

The Kings haven’t had that type of consistent offensive production from their rookies — yet.

Darius Acuff Jr., the No. 7 overall pick, already has shown flashes of his superstar potential and the readiness and willingness to be the future face of the franchise in Sacramento.

But his efficiency hasn’t been up to his standards by any means, and he’s made that known.

“I got to be better, though,” Acuff said after scoring 19 points in Sacramento’s win Thursday. “I’m playing terrible. Too inefficient. I got to make more shots in a row and get my teammates involved more.”

The efficiency didn’t get any better in Sunday’s loss, as Acuff finished with 12 points on 4-of-14 shooting from the field, missing all four of his 3-point attempts, with four assists and five turnovers in 28 minutes.

The concerns about his defense also have shown in glimpses, but the hope is that there is time for growth in that department.

Alex Karaban, the Kings’ No. 29 pick, finally scored his first points of summer league on Sunday.

The former UConn forward missed all three games of the California Classic as he recovered from an ankle sprain, making his official debut with the team on Thursday.

Karaban went scoreless in 24 minutes, shooting 0 of 6 from the field and 0 of 4 from downtown and adding two rebounds, one assist, three turnovers and one block.

He attempted just three shots in Sunday’s loss, making one 3-pointer in 23 minutes.

The Kings aren’t worried about the scoring, however, as they expect that to come. He still has made a lot of good defensive plays and is a smart player overall.

“I’m happy that he got his first summer league points today,” Maxime Raynaud said after the loss. “He also makes a lot of winning plays. Obviously, I don’t know if he shows in the box score, but his activity on the offensive board, I think that’s what opened some rebounds for Dylan [Cardwell] and I, even for himself, actually, He communicates a lot, and I mean, he’s able to be a good shooter to get down here as well.

“We’ve only been together for like what five, six days. Me, personally, only two. But I’m pretty sure it’s like you know, as we spend more time together, it’s gonna be good fun.”

Kings summer league coach Chris Darnell shared what his conversations with Karaban have been like.

“I’m just trying to tell him to play his game,” Darnell said. “Like, hey, maybe last game we didn’t make shots, but we know he’s a high-level shot maker. He’s a high-level connector, and one of those guys that created damages from this. … He’s a guy that doesn’t need a play called for him. He doesn’t need a certain action. Like he’s really good at reading the floor, reading the spacing on the floor. Very smart defender. It’s probably on me that I can put him in spots to be more aggressive.

“But overall, I think he’s a guy that just impacts the game again without any direct action. He’s just almost like a coach on the floor, just from the way he sees the game, the spacing.”

Emanuel Sharp also struggled shooting the ball Sunday, finishing with seven points on 2-of-8 shooting from the field and 1 of 6 from 3-point range in 22 minutes, but the Kings’ second-round draft pick has been the most consistently impressive rookie on both ends of the floor thus far.

Summer league is all about going through the ups and downs, learning and getting a feel for the game at the NBA level.

It’s all a part of the process.

The 2026 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas opened with a bang for multiple former Huskies. Liam McNeeley put on a show for Charlotte in their win over Orlando, putting up 28 points on 7-for-8 from downtown.

“I mean, a little nerves early on and they’re a team (Orlando) that’s got a little bit older guys, if you will, for summer league,” he explained. “So just kind of getting our feet settled into the game and responding to that physicality,” said McNeeley.

After being drafted late in the first round of the 2025 draft, McNeeley had a slower start to his NBA career, averaging 4.3 points in 31 games played for the Hornets. Year two for the soon-to-be 21-year-old could see him making the rotation after Charlotte moved off of star guard LaMelo Ball. McNeeley’s performance in this year’s Summer League can be the key reason McNeeley will get more looks during his sophomore season.

Looking over this season’s rookie class, Alex Karaban missed the California Classic due to a right ankle sprain during team practice on July 2. Karaban was cleared to play Thursday against the Clippers as he finished scoreless in 24 minutes, picking up 2 rebounds and an assist.

​Tarris Reed made his debut in the California Classic earlier this week. The Kodiak Bear picked up right where he left off back in March as he put up a pair of double-doubles against the Lakers and Hawks. Reed scored 12 points on 6-for-10 shooting in his first game against Los Angeles as he hauled in 12 rebounds and 1 assist. In his second game, we saw more of the same, as he made his presence known by dominating the glass and making shots down low, putting up 14 points and 10 rebounds.

​Dan Hurley made an appearance on the broadcast during the Houston vs Denver game and had much praise for his center.

​Tristen Newton, who was a key benefactor in the back-to-back National Championships, was on the floor for Houston with Hurley in attendance. Newton finished the night with 13 points and 3 steals, making a smooth and-one finish as Hurley shouted “Gimme that!” as he saw the ball fall through the basket.

Hurley made it clear that Newton can be a rotational player. Newton was named to the All-NBA G League First Team for the 2025-26 season, averaging 25.6 points for the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, Houston’s affiliate. Just like McNeeley, the Summer League may turn some coaches’ heads and get some Huskies NBA minutes.

Fittingly, Tyler Herro used the song ‘Coming Home’ in his farewell video to the Miami Heat. On the same day, he also posted a drenched Bucks workout singlet to his Instagram story, along with a Twitter post reading “414” when the trade was announced in principle a few weeks ago. Whether he gets traded to another location or not between now and the start of the season, this is a man who is genuinely excited about the prospect of playing in his home state, which, like it or not, is not something pro athletes often say about Wisconsin.

I’m starting to come around.

From obscurity to celebrity: The come-up

As most Wisconsinites are aware, Tyler Herro grew up in Greenfield, just a 20-minute drive from the heart of Milwaukee. He starred at Whitnall High School, committing early to attend the University of Wisconsin. Later, though, Herro decommitted from UW to accept an offer from the University of Kentucky, which, it must be said, upset a few folks back home. It’s worth mentioning that Herro was not some automatic one-and-done prospect coming into his freshman season at Lexington, like so many Wildcat recruits are. The risky decision to step away from the comfort of Wisconsin into the firestorm of Kentucky took, as Kobe would say, “cajones” and, looking back, was a microcosm of the fearless mindset that would set Herro apart in the coming years.

Before long, the (wild)cat was out of the bag. Coach Cal injected Herro into his starting lineup from the jump, and he did not disappoint. His slick scoring and feel led him to average 14.0 PPG, 4.50 RPG, and 2.50 APG, and he went on to be named the SEC’s Rookie of the Year. Herro later declared for the 2019 NBA Draft, where he was selected 13th by the Miami Heat.

Feet to the Heat

The kid known as “Boy Wonder” experienced a baptism-by-fire in his rookie season—on multiple levels. I mean, his rookie year was quite literally interrupted by a worldwide pandemic; yet and still, though, his numbers in the shortened regular season were phenomenal, averaging 13.5 PPG on nearly 40% shooting from deep while playing on a team that was trying to compete for the title (which they did, of course, downing our very own Milwaukee Bucks in the second round of the 2019-20 NBA Playoffs). Herro was one of the headline stories to come out of those playoffs, announcing himself, at that time, as a near-untouchable piece of the Heat’s future.

Durability issues aside, Herro has been among the NBA’s upper echelon of players since that point. From year two to year three, he dramatically upped his PPG average from 15.1 to 20.7—a mark he has spent the rest of his career around. Herro won Sixth Man of the Year for the 2021-22 season and was selected as an All-Star three years later. Frankly, for all the issues people might have with the 26-year-old—and I’ve been a skeptic, to be sure—you look at the stats and have to concede that, when healthy, this is a damn good player who can contribute to winning basketball in the right situation. Over the last five seasons, Herro has averaged 21.4 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 4.5 APG while shooting 38.4% from three on a whopping 7.7 attempts per contest. He’s good!

Herro’s offensive game is built on the back of his three-point shooting ability. I mentioned his raw shooting stats above, but looking at the advanced tracking, there is no drop-off even when you differentiate his catch-and-shoot threes (37.3%) from his pull-ups (38.7%)—both on high volume, mind you. For whatever he lacks in explosiveness, he makes up for with craft. The Bucks will have touches to soak up (to some extent), and Herro is comfortable operating with a high usage, as evidenced by his shooting 50.3% on all shots taken off 3-6 dribbles, which, aside from off 0 dribbles, easily accounts for his most frequent shot taken. Yes, Herro will need to be insulated on defence, but I also think he’ll be highly motivated to shed the “poor defender” tag that has dogged him for his entire career.

Boy Wonder’s future in the Cream City

Look, is Herro a top option on a champion team? No way. But his reputation in the league simply doesn’t do justice to the player he has become. Behind the loud bravado and ostentatiousness lies an extremely talented hooper who is clearly motivated to prove the doubters wrong; trust me, this man is keenly aware that Pat Riley has attempted to trade him multiple times. And let me tell you something else: with nothing in the way of draft picks to play for this year, I am very down for a revenge-fuelled season powered by healthy levels of spite and pettiness, with none other than Herro leading that charge.

Now, would it be a smart choice for the Bucks to invest in Herro as a franchise pillar for the next 5-10 years? Probably not. Investing in him long-term may well be like choosing to satisfy your hunger with candy: it’ll have you feeling a buzz in the moment, but it’s not sustainable in the long run. At the same time, the Bucks don’t necessarily have to know what the “long run” looks like for a few years yet, and I’m not opposed to a sugar rush.

Welcome home, Tyler Herro.

Warriors rookie Yaxel Lendeborg drops perfect LeBron James recruitment pitch originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

It’s no secret the Warriors actively are doing everything they can do to court LeBron James in NBA free agency.

Draymond Green admitted he pitched James on joining Golden State while hanging out last week. Steph Curry said he has talked to the 22-time NBA All-Star as well. And now, even one of the newest Warriors is doing what he can to persuade James.

Yaxel Lendeborg, Golden State’s first-round pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, joined Bleacher Report’s Marc Stein and Jake Fischer from NBA Summer League on Sunday in Las Vegas, where he was asked to offer a pitch to James.

“My pitch is, man, I know you don’t like rookies that much, man, but I’m not the average rookie, you know, and I would love to learn under you, man,” Lendeborg stated. “So I mean, if you’re looking to play with one of the greatest — the greatest shooter of all time and a close friend of yours, Draymond, it’ll be great to come to the Warriors, and we’ll be glad to have you.”

While the 41-year-old James likely won’t want to join a team that relies too heavily on unproven rookies, Lendeborg, 23, should be able to contribute more immediately than most first-year players.

After all, if his play so far during summer league is any indication, Lendeborg could provide a needed all-around boost to an older Warriors squad.

Of course, as the rookie mentioned, the opportunity to play with the greatest shooter of all time doesn’t need much explanation, either.

The Warriors must remain in wait-and-see mode, though, as James’ eventual decision should be a major factor in determining how the rest of the NBA offseason plays out.

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#1 2-for-2

The Summer League Celtics are undefeated! It hasn’t been pretty; in fact, at times, it’s been downright gritty. Nevertheless, Amile Jefferson’s squad has found ways to win, and that’s a skill in itself.

Securing a dub against a Charlotte Hornets team that boasted Ryan Kalkbrenner, Liam McNeeley, Tidjane Salaun and Sion James — four players with a collective total of 279 NBA games worth of experience, all within the Hornets’ system, is no easy feat.

You’ve got to give credit to the Summer League C’s for rising to the level of their more experienced opposition.

#2 Dillon Mitchell is doing it all

Would it be Summer League if we didn’t have at least one player we collectively began to get behind in their battle for an NBA contract? Currently, Dillon Mitchell, Boston’s second-round draft pick, is without a contract. Based on his performances over the first two Summer League games, things won’t stay that way for too long. The question is, will he fill Boston’s 15th and final roster spot, or land on a two-way next to Amari Williams?

To Mitchell’s credit, he’s doing everything possible to show the range and versatility in his game. Against Charlotte, Mitchell ended the game as Boston’s top scorer with 24 points; he led the team in rebounds, was second in blocks and led the team in steals.

In an all-action performance, Mitchell showcased what he can do despite not being a featured part of the offense.

“He was so alive today. He played with such great energy,” Jefferson said of Mitchell after the game. “He crashed every time. He had like three different times where he almost had a tip dunk. When he’s playing with that kind of pop, he’s going to be really good. And then any time he gets an open three, he should shoot it.”

There’s an argument that Mitchell doesn’t bring anything new to Boston’s rotation. After all, Joe Mazzulla can already lean on Jordan Walsh and Hugo Gonzalez if he needs a defense-first wing to disrupt the flow of a game. Yet, Mitchell is a more explosive athlete than his more experienced teammates, and can provide a different level of downhill pressure with a sprinkling of vertical spacing.

When watching back through the game this morning, one play that didn’t end in a bucket or even a highlight stood out to me, because it was translatable to the Celtics brand of defense.

There’s nothing spectacular about this play. Yet, you don’t need spectacular moments from your second-round draft picks; you just need them to be a viable fit for your system with a legitimate level of upside. In the video above, you can see Mitchell reading the Hornet’s offense, remaining patient and then rotating over to provide help at the nail. His presence and timing allow him to get his hand on the rock and add a steal (maybe a forced turnover?) to his stat sheet.

Under Mazzulla, the Celtics are a heavy nail-help team. Having an explosive wing who can cover ground quickly and bail out of missed rotation in the rearview is a luxury. The fact that he’s already finding success as a high helper shows that some of his impact will be translatable to the next level.

#3 Hugo is doing just fine

6-of-26. That’s what Hugo Gonzalez is shooting in Summer League so far. Outside of some flashes when working in the pick-and-roll, Hugo’s offense has been patchy at best. I’m ok with that for three reasons.

First, this might be the first time in Hugo’s career that he’s been tasked with carrying this level of offensive usage, not just as a scorer but also in terms of touches and overall creation. As a teenager playing in Real Madrid’s pro system, Hugo likely had an ancillary role similar to the one he played for the Celtics this past season.

Therefore, Hugo is likely facing a new level of defensive attention. His shots are coming from new spots and in new ways. And, of course, the pressure to create for others could be adding a new level of weight to his shoulders, because, at times, he has looked to get off a pass when bullying his way to the rim may have been the better move.

Secondly, this is the Summer League. Thrive, struggle, it doesn’t matter; everything right now is about growth, getting live reps, and finding holes in your game that need to be plugged. Look back to last summer and think about the struggles Baylor Scheierman had in this exact same tournament. Then correlate those struggles to the success he had as the NBA season wore on.

Not only did Baylor find his rhythm from deep to the point where most Celtics fans have become comfortable with the notion of trading Sam Hauser, but he also emerged as a highly reliable defender, both within the system and in isolation.

Finally, Hugo’s only struggle right now is scoring the rock. In two games, he’s registered 14 rebounds, 12 assists and 4 steals. His defense has been solid, and he’s navigated screens well, closing out with purpose and providing reliable help all over the floor.

“His intensity, how hard he plays, how competitive he is — he embodies the name on the front of that jersey,” Dillon Mitchell said of Hugo after the game.

Summer League is about growth and development. Hugo is working through the hurdles that come with forcing that growth through discomfort.

He’s doing just fine.

#4 Active hands

If you want to play an up-tempo brand of basketball, then finding ways to get out in transition is the first step. The Celtics ended yesterday’s matchup with 11 steals, contributing to 17 fast break buckets. According to NBA Stats, those 17 points accounted for 19.5% of Boston’s overall scoring total.

Jefferson’s team was jumping passing lanes, picking pockets, and rotating on time in order to force some mistakes. Of course, getting the steal or forcing the turnover is only half the battle. The other side of that coin is finishing your food, regardless of how much is on the plate.

Credit to this team, they play hard, fast and with purpose, and that’s why they were such a threat to get out in the open floor and make the most of those opportunities.

#5 Maximizing possessions

I’ve got a feeling that I’m going to be harping on about maximizing possessions all season. From the outside looking in, it certainly seems that it’s going to be a focus for this team (in terms of offensive rebounding and making the most of those additional opportunities), especially with the bigs on the roster. So, it should come as no surprise that the Summer League Cs are dominating in the maximization of their offensive possessions, too.

The out-boarded Charlotte 14-7 on the offensive glass, resulting in an extra 14 points. Mitchell had 7 offensive boards, Amari Williams had 2, John Tonje had 2, and Curtis Jones, Chris Cenac Jr. and Milos Uzan all had one apiece.

Once you factor in those offensive boards, the steals and the forced turnovers, it quickly becomes clear why the Celtics managed to take 14 more shots than the Hornets. Not only are they maximizing the number of bites they’re getting of the apple, but they’re also finding new apples to eat along the way.

If we’re talking about translatable aspects regarding what we’re seeing, the onus on offensive rebounding and possession creation via defensive event making is something I’m expecting to be a feature of the team throughout this season and the years to come. That’s why it’s great to see that focus being placed on the Summer League roster — success starts when you’re building from the ground up.

#6 A battle is emerging

John Tonje and Milos Uzan are both without an NBA contract right now. Tonje has been Boston’s most reliable offensive threat over the first two games. Uzan, on the other hand, has shown flashes of self-creation, playmaking, downhill scoring and a perimeter shooting touch.

Boston currently has two two-way spots available. How Brad Stevens chooses to move forward with Mitchell could mean there’s only one spot left by the time training camp gets underway. There’s a chance that either Tonje or Uzan will take that slot.

Coming into Summer League, Tonje, 23, had a slight edge over Uzan due to his familiarity with the Celtics system. He played in 11 G League games for the Maine Celtics and 6 NBA games under Mazzulla. However, Uzan isn’t going to go away easily. His speed, directional changes and self-creation have all been impressive over the opening two games.

The fact that Uzan has earned slightly more playing time (60 minutes and 16 seconds over two games) than Tonje (54 minutes and 47 seconds) hasn’t evaded me. Perhaps Uzan being younger (23) than Tonje (25) will play a role in the Celtics ‘ decision-making when it comes to handing out contracts. Or perhaps they will prefer Tonje’s added experience.

Either way, it feels like a battle is starting to emerge for a potential spot, and when looking at Boston’s guard rotation, whoever wins that duel may find themselves earning some NBA minutes at points in the season. I’ve got this chalked up as a subplot, both now and heading into training camp.

#7 Cenac’s offense…

…Wasn’t great.

However, one thing that has impressed me over the first two games is how Cenac lets the action come to him. Make or miss, he didn’t force the issue. He didn’t hijack the offense. Instead, he stuck to his role, performed well on defense and provided some upside as a connecting force.

Of course, the one bucket he did score, a one-dribble drive starting at the nail, was impressive and shows the level of athleticism and potential that he possesses.

Still, the most impressive sequence of Cenac’s night came early in the first quarter, where he got a block on defense, ran the floor, worked in the PnR and found a shooter on the weakside with a kick-out pass for three.

Cenac is certainly going to be somewhat of a project. However, his ability to make an impact on defense, his mobility, athleticism and even how he attacks off the bounce are all solid foundations. If he can work on finding a level of consistency from the field, Brad Stevens may have unearthed another late first-round gem.

#8 Hello, Tucker DeVries

We didn’t see Ticker DeVries against Toronto, but he found some playing time against the Hornets, earning 18 minutes off the bench. DeVries was as advertised: a reliable shooter on the perimeter with upside on the glass and solid movement.

He ended the night with three treys, shooting 42.9% on 3-of-7 shooting, and he chipped in with 2 assists and a rebound. If DeVries can have another shooting night like that on Monday, I may begin to wonder whether Jefferson will call his number on some set plays if/when the Celtics need a bucket.

Not a bad Summer League debut, but nothing breathtaking, either.

#9 A piece of the playbook

I’ve spoken quite a bit today about things translating from Summer League to the NBA, so allow me one more.

Much like the Maine Celtics, the Summer League Celtics use Mazzulla’s playbook where possible, ensuring that the Xs and Os are worked on from the jump. So, I wasn’t surprised when I saw the Celtics flow into a chest action midway through the fourth quarter.

Chest actions have been a staple under Joe Mazzulla. Simply put, it’s a read-and-react play where a shooter sets a ghost screen for the ball-handler at the top of the perimeter before running off a flare screen to get open at either the wing or slot. The play works because it forces the cutter’s defender to navigate two screens, often causing them to get caught up on the flare, therefore opening an easy catch-and-shoot opportunity.

In this instance, the Celtics use the chest action as an entry into an angle PnR with Cenac. Credit to the Hornets, they switch the action and take away Cenac’s roll, forcing Uzan to feed the weakside elbow. The ball eventually finds Cenac on the block, but the play doesn’t come to anything.

Nevertheless, it’s fun seeing the Celtics working on actions that translate to their NBA playbook. They don’t need them to work out every time; they just need them to become second nature. That’s when the decisions and overall execution will become sharper.

#10 A back-to-back

Now, we turn our attention toward the Atlanta Hawks, who the Celtics will face on Monday, July 13, on the second night of a back-to-back. It will be interesting to see whether Jefferson’s minutes distribution changes, or at least his substitution patterns.

Still, this is a good opportunity for the younger guys on the roster to get a feel for playing two nights in a row and fighting through the inevitable fatigue that comes with it.

Can Boston make it 3-for-3 in Summer League? Maybe, but the Hawks, who are also 2-0, won’t be an easy out. I guess we’ll find out later today!

You know what Summer League is, as do I. It’s a proving ground for players whose names you’ll know for a week and a half before they disappear into the developmental highway, trying to carve out some semblance of a professional career in this beautiful sport we call basketball. As a result, there’s typically a lack of cohesion on both offense and defense. These players have only been together for a couple of weeks, so chemistry is limited, execution is inconsistent, and quality basketball can be hard to find.

For the second consecutive game, the Phoenix Suns struggled in the opening quarter of Summer League basketball. After scoring only 10 points against the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday night, they mustered 12 points in the first quarter on Sunday afternoon against the New Orleans Pelicans. This time, there was no second-half comeback. The Pelicans led from wire to wire, never allowing Phoenix to take control of the game before ultimately handing the Suns their first Summer League loss, 81-75.

So what, if anything, can you take away from a game like this?

For me, it was a continuation of what I saw in the first game, which itself was a continuation of what we saw from the Phoenix Suns a season ago. This team is going to play physical, they’re going to play aggressively, and they’re going to make you earn your points. That’s what we’ve seen through two games, and to me, that’s the definition of a cultural focus on executing a specific style of basketball.

How did the Pelicans beat the Suns in a game that didn’t count? They shot the three ball better. New Orleans was +15 from beyond the arc. So what, am I right? Well, here is why I find that important. The reason they were taking so many threes is that the interior became a place the Pelicans didn’t want to live. If they ventured inside, they had to deal with the toughness and physicality Phoenix was dishing out.

The Suns finished with 22 fouls. For the second consecutive game, rookie Koa Peat went over the legal limit, this time committing seven. He now has 15 fouls in two games in Vegas, and that doesn’t concern me. In an environment that allows you to be physical, he’s taking that physicality directly to the opposition. Rasheer Fleming and Khaman Maluach combined for 4 blocks and 2 steals. They also combined for 8 fouls. This is a team that had issues defending the interior last season, and now there are young players in the developmental pipeline who are focused on doing exactly that.

That’s what I take away from this game. The Suns have size on the interior developing within the organization, and eventually, that could change the way Phoenix Suns basketball is played night in and night out. The gritty persona is beginning to combine with a physical presence.

Summer League won’t tell us whether these players will become meaningful NBA contributors, but it can show us what the organization is trying to build. Through two games, that vision is becoming clearer. Phoenix wants length, physicality, and players who make opponents uncomfortable. The results in Vegas will be forgotten by August. The habits being established, and the identity behind them, could stick around much longer.

Summer Bright Side Baller Standings

The 19 and 11 dropped by Khaman Maluach in Game 1 against the Portland Trail Blazers were easily enough for him to earn the first Bright Side Baller of the Summer League.

Summer Bright Side Baller Nominees

Game 2 against the Pelicans. Here are your nominees:

Khaman Maluach
15 points (5-of-9, 2-of-4 3PT), 15 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 blocks, 0 turnovers, +10 +/-

Darius Brown II
18 points (7-of-12, 3-of-7 3PT), 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, 3 turnovers, +7 +/-

Koa Peat
12 points (5-of-10, 0-of-1 3PT), 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals, 4 turnovers, 0 +/-

Rasheer Fleming
11 points (4-of-10, 1-of-4 3PT), 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 2 blocks, 2 turnovers, -11 +/-

Javonte Cooke
9 points (3-of-10, 0-of-4 3PT), 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 2 turnovers, -12 +/-

Jameer Nelson Jr.
8 points (3-of-8, 0-of-2 3PT), 2 steals, 3 turnovers, -12 +/-

Vote away!

Checking hype train status after Celtics' first weekend at NBA Summer League originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

LAS VEGAS — Every summer, we descend into the 110-degree desert heat for a few days at Vegas Summer League and make rash declarations about the Boston Celtics’ youngest players based on the tiniest of samples of exhibition basketball. It’s a tradition unlike any other.

Yes, it’s time for our annual status check on summer hype trains while we power rank the things that have stood out most through the first weekend of Celtics summer hoops on the campus of UNLV.

Let’s be honest: After a month of drama around the Jaylen Brown trade saga, most Celtics fans were desperate for any sort of distraction. Summer league hoops arrived like a mirage in the offseason desert. We’ll take any distraction from the second apron.

And if we’re staying honest, the Celtics have had some absolutely dreadful starts to their first two summer league games and, despite that, they’re 2-0 and sit atop the Vegas standings.

Let’s ignore the painful first-quarter offense and all the haphazard turnovers and put a spotlight on what has left the hype trains scrambling most.

1. Hugo Gonzalez

Sure, it would have been nice if Gonzalez dominated both ends of the floor in extended minutes to start summer league. Then we could sit here and suggest he’s already graduated from summer league at age 20. Instead, he has looked like a guy who spent the past week globe trotting, first traveling to Europe for FIBA qualifiers with his native Spain, then relocating stateside to travel from Boston to Vegas. That’s a lot of miles — on the court and off. The Celtics have put more on Gonzalez’s plate at summer league and it’s been a mixed bag at times.

The shots haven’t fallen but his passing has been excellent and, when he cranks up the defensive intensity, he looks like someone ready to carve out a bigger regular-season role. More importantly, if you need another indicator of the Hugo Hype Meter, teammate Dillon Mitchell said everyone outside the hotel wants Hugo’s autograph.

2. Dillon Mitchell

We’d suggest that the 40th pick in June’s draft has hit the ground running, but he seemingly spends most of his time floating above the court. Mitchell has embraced the tenets of every Boston wing with his willingness to corner crash and hoist open 3-pointers. He made more 3s against the Hornets (two) than he did in 1,041 minutes in his senior season at St. John’s (one).

Mitchell’s athleticism is super intriguing. He pursues tip dunks like they are his oxygen (even if fellow rookie Chris Cenac Jr. nearly killed him on a putback quest of his own). Mitchell has had multiple instances through two games where he’s floated long enough around the rim on defense to swat opposing offerings. He’s perpetually causing chaos. If he’s already bought in this much at the very start of his Boston tenure, imagine the potential as the Celtics thrust him further into their player development machine.

3. Chris Cenac Jr.

A 19-year-old rookie riding the summer roller coaster is no surprise. Cenac Jr. made a loud debut by hitting the overtime-forcing 3-pointer against Toronto, then struggled to get himself going against a more NBA experienced Charlotte frontcourt.

Still, you can’t help but watch Cenac Jr.’s raw potential and envision how the Celtics can mold him into an impact player. Boston’s player development record is well documented at this point. It’s going to take time with Cenac Jr., but his length and athleticism give him a chance to impact the game at both ends when he’s on the floor.

4. John Tonje

Credit to Tonje. Last season, his biggest role might have been helping the Celtics navigate Salary Cap Tetris while finishing below the luxury tax line. Tonje had the reputation as a scorer after putting up quality numbers in his senior year at Wisconsin, then in the G-League after being drafted by Utah (53rd pick in 2025). Not only is he shooting 61.5 percent on 3s to start the Vegas experience with Boston, but he’s trying to prove he can contribute in other ways, too.

Tonje delivered a little pick-6 to seal Boston’s overtime win to start the summer schedule. He’s strong and he rebounds. Even at age 25, Tonje is doing enough to make the Celtics continue their investment in his development.

5. Amari Williams

Similar to Cenac Jr., a good opening night gave way to some struggles against the Hornets’ frontline. What we like: Williams is an excellent passer and his five turnovers Sunday weren’t entirely his fault. Williams’ size gives him a chance to alter shots on the defensive end and he’s totaled seven blocks over two games. Starting the year on another two-way should help get Williams the reps he needs to continue his own development.

6. Pink polos

The Celtics continue to dominate the sartorial competition at summer league. The sheer variety of colors and patterns that Boston’s coaching staff trots out in recent summers has put the rest of the league on notice. Not even the second apron can slow Boston’s polo game. The Spurs’ coaches busted out their own pink polos on Sunday night.

7. Milos Uzan

The offense has typically run best with Uzan on the floor. He’s a strong playmaker who tries to take care of the ball. The Celtics were plus-24 in his 31 minutes on Sunday. This has to be enjoyable for Uzan, a Las Vegas native. There’s a lot of competition for Boston’s final two-way slots, especially if Mitchell starts his rookie season on one. But Uzan has the sort of game that you want to see more of and the Celtics seem to like running him this summer with Cenac Jr., given their time together last season with Houston.

8. Tucker DeVries

An undrafted shooter from the Midwest? Put him on the Sam Hauser track. DeVries can clearly shoot the ball, and he can punish teams with his passing when they close out. We’re eager to see what he can do if more minutes arrive later in Boston’s summer excursion.

Draymond Green praises Quinten Post's agent for Grizzlies contract negotiation originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Quinten Post was a great role player with the Warriors, but he’ll be stepping into a new role with another team in the Western Conference for the 2026-27 NBA season.

Last week, Post signed a three-year, $30 million restricted free agency offer sheet with the Memphis Grizzlies. Golden State declined to match the offer.

Draymond Green had a lot to say about the new landing spot for Post and gave praise to an unsung hero.

“Mark Bartelstein strikes again,” Green said Sunday on “The Draymond Green Show”. “You go out and get an offer sheet that you know a team isn’t going to match to get that kid paid.”

Bartelstein, Post’s agent, represents a ton of talent in the NBA, including Kon Knueppel, T.J. McConnell, and Kevin Huerter.

Post was an impact player for the Warriors last year, but he had to work hard to earn his keep on the roster after Golden State selected him No. 52 overall in the 2024 NBA Draft.

“Watched this kid come in on a two-way contract,” Green continued. “Spent a lot of time in the G-League, gets an opportunity. Shoots the lights out and plays well. Returns the next year, develops into a defender. Just continues to grow as a player and gets rewarded.”

Post averaged 17.3 minutes per game during the 2025-26 NBA season, along with 7.7 points and 4.0 rebounds per game. Post made an impact on the floor as well by being a great teammate.

“One of my favorite Dutchmen,” Green stated. “I could not be happier for him.”

Restricted free agency is hard to navigate at times, but Bartelstein has proved he is one of the best agents in the business, according to Green.

“Restricted free agency is a s–t place, man,” Green elaborated. “Despite restricted free agency being a s–tty place, Mark Bartelstein goes out and gets an incredible deal done for Post. Bartelstein, being in the position that he’s in, knows the Warriors weren’t in a position to match that. As a great agent, that’s what you have to do for your client.”

Post has shot 36.4 percent from 3-point range in his NBA career. Spacing the floor as a stretch big will add significant value to an already impressive Grizzlies revamped roster.

“What none of those guys do in Memphis is shoot the ball as well as Quinten Post,” Green concluded. “That’s how he fits.”

Post will have a chance to complement a talented young core in Memphis, with credit to his agent for closing an extremely player-friendly deal.

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After a fantastic rookie season, the natural next question regarding Cooper Flagg is, just how good can he be? Specifically, can he become good enough to be the best player on a championship team? He has a lot of promising attributes — defensive intuition, scoring with physicality, touch unprecedented for a kid his age and a growth rate higher than 99 percent of teenagers. The glaring hole in his game is the 3-point shot, something that he made at just 29.5 percent last season. It would be easy to say that to get to the next level, he needs to become a great shooter. I would argue, however, that that isn’t necessary. Becoming a league-average shooter is fine, but he really needs to lean into what he does best: score in the paint. 

If you watched Flagg at all last year, you would know the most obvious part of his game was his control and pace going downhill. He was not just good at driving for a rookie — he was among the league’s best at scoring on the way to the basket. Of players who drove at least 12 times per game (Flagg was at 12.8), he was seventh in the NBA in points per drive (0.71). This was partially due to the physicality he displayed and his ability to get to his spots at will, but a lot of it had to do with his touch in the paint. According to NBA.com, Flagg took the sixth-most non-rim paint field goals, and shot them at just above 47 percent:

For someone his age, playing in a conference with guys like Victor Wembanyama, Chet Holmgren, and Rudy Gobert patrolling the paint, that is incredibly impressive. He never shied away from driving into the league’s finest shot-blockers, evidenced most clearly by the below highlight Giannis Antetokounmpo for a crucial late-game finish:

We know he is great from 15 feet and in. But, in a space-and-chuck league, why would he not try to get his 3-point shot up to 40 percent on volume? Well, let’s look at the last seven non-Steph Curry NBA Finals MVPs and what they did in the regular season from three:

Cooper Flagg shot 29.5 percent from distance on 3.5 attempts in his rookie year. The league average was 36 percent last season and has hovered between 35 and 37 percent since 2019. All of these guys who won Finals MVP were no better than a percentage point (or two in Jokic’s case, but he shot just two threes a game) than the league average. What they all did, however, was get to their spot at will and score in the paint. They were forces of nature, for lack of a better term. That is exactly what Flagg should focus on to get to the next level.

Now, he certainly has to shoot better. If he makes 36 percent of his threes versus 30 percent, that opens up the floor for his drives. If he takes between five and six threes a game and makes two to three of them, he becomes respectable enough for the defense to stretch. But, of his 11 30-point games last year, he shot more than six threes just twice, and scored 40 points three times while shooting five or fewer. That is the formula: be lethal going downhill, and shoot enough threes to keep the defense honest. If Flagg bumps up his efficiency on the shots he is already borderline elite at creating, we will be looking at a guy who resembles all of the recent Finals MVPs.

Two games into the 2026 summer league, things are going well for the Wizards.

Finally.

No. 1 overall pick AJ Dybantsa has impressed with size, athleticism, skills, competitiveness, and motor. Will Riley has hit shots. Felix Okpara, the second round pick in June, hustled and blocked three shots. The summer squad is defending hard and effectively.

As a long-time Wizards observer, I barely know what to do with myself. Competence — even during summer league ball where the games have ridiculous rules and nothing really matters — is a welcome sign of progress from this franchise.

I mean, for a second straight game, they hounded a highly-respected guard prospect into a subpar night. In the opener, it was second overall pick Darryn Peterson. Against the Sacramento Kings, it was Darius Acuff Jr. At one point, Acuff was visibly frustrated, and Amazon Prime analyst (and former NBA coach) Stan Van Gundy said that Acuff needed to play harder — that he needed to compete against Washington’s physicality.

Even better, against Acuff and the Kings, they defended effectively with no one committing nine fouls.

Yes, it’s only summer league. Still — the Wizards were out-competing their opponent. The Wizards?!

While the positives abound, it’s important to keep in mind that a) it’s summer league, not NBA basketball, b) there’s plenty for these guys to improve upon.

The second one is important — youngsters the team wants in the rotation next season are producing in summer league while also playing imperfectly. Let the coaching progress.

Here are a few observations on areas for players to develop during what the team calls “Jump Season,” and the rest of us call the “offseason.”

Dybantsa

• Defensive motor. He didn’t get back on defense twice last night. Does it matter in summer league? No. Transition defense can be a big deal in real NBA games.
• Shooting. I’m not worried about the percentage (just 1-11 from deep in Vegas) at this point, though I don’t love the form. It’s at least a quick and compact motion, and he hasn’t been shy about pulling the trigger, which suggests he’s confident taking threes. I’d love to see him raise the release point a few inches to maintain a clear view of the target.
• Make more use of the athletic tools and skills to create easy shots for the team instead of living on a diet of difficult shots. Drivers of high-level offense in the NBA don’t do it by making lots of tough shots.
• Learn to create for teammates — he did it a few times against the Kings, so I think he’s seeing the court well and making decent reads. When he sees multiple defenders on him, he needs to get the ball to teammates and let them make plays. The ball will come back. I suspect this will be less of an issue when he’s playing with better teammates in the regular season.

Will Riley

• Get. In. The. Weight. Room.
• Maybe it’s just me, but the incessant dribbles that actually should be carries worry me. What if the NBA ever decides to enforce its rules?
• Like Dybantsa, I’d like to see Riley become more of a threat as a playmaker for teammates.

Tre Johnson

• Didn’t play against the Kings, so this is based on only the opener. I want to see the same thing I wanted to see last season — what concerned me about him as a draft prospect — more to his game than shooting and scoring.
• To that end, Johnson needs to keep getting stronger (the weight room work is showing) so he can compete in an increasingly physical league.
• Something of a theme in this one: I want to see Johnson, Riley, and Dybantsa (and, well, everyone else really) threaten defenses in multiple ways by using their scoring prowess to unlock plays for teammates.

Felix Okpara — I’d be surprised if he’s on the opening night roster. Here’s what he needs to do to carve out an NBA career:

• Get stronger.
• Improve defensive awareness.
• Set better screens.
• Make better reads on roll lanes.
• Go harder — the effort isn’t bad, but it’s not at NBA speed. At least not yet.

None of these are even the slightest reason for worry. Every young player — heck, every player of every age — has areas where they can improve. And the fun thing with youngsters is that if they do the work, there’s a good chance these “areas for improvement” will actually improve. Especially when the area is something like “get stronger.”

This is a weird spot for Wizards fans. Competent play, promising youngsters, a potential superstar performing well. It’s still a long wait to the games that matter, but this is starting to get fun.

During the Spurs 2026 title run, they infamously faced their 1999 Finals rival New York Knickerbockers. For San Antonio, that meant a high level of celebrity attention on the Alamo City. One of the many notable fans descending on the city was Ben Stiller.

Stiller, the child of comedy duo Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara, showed a penchant for acting and directing early in life, directing Super 8 films throughout his childhood. He parlayed his passion into his own Fox Network sketch comedy show in 1992 before breaking headlong into mainstream film.

Numerous films, accolades, and three-and-a-half decades in the rearview, Stiller announced last month that he was indeed filming a documentary on the Knicks.

During the Finals he sat with the the Inside the NBA crew and shared about the upcoming film.

“Obviously, I’ve been shooting some stuff on my phone, but it’s kind of going to be about all eras of the Knicks. And this team, obviously, there’s a culmination here of something that’s been going on for a long time.”

Indeed. After fifty-three years, the Knicks won their third NBA title, tying them with the Heat, Pistons, and 76ers for the sixth most titles in league history. And Stiller was sideline throughout the season, the playoffs, and the Finals capturing moments on his phone.

One thing that will make his documentary is the historic Game 4 comeback. The Spurs gave up a 29-point lead, the largest in Finals history.

But the 2026 championship run isn’t the only focus of the film.

“You know, there’s so many great eras. And this team, I think, you know, when you look at the ’70s championships, the ’90s runs and then this team doing it again, I think there’s just so much within that.”

The film has partnerships with with HBO and A24. At this time, a release date has not been set.

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How Cenac Jr., Mitchell can inject much-needed athleticism into Celtics originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

LAS VEGAS — An overtime-forcing 3-pointer was undoubtedly the highlight of Chris Cenac Jr.’s pro debut for the Boston Celtics at Vegas Summer League on Friday night. But our favorite moment came earlier when Cenac tried one of the most ambitious putbacks in summer league history and nearly impaled a teammate in the process.

Crashing hard from the 3-point line on a Curtis Jones miss, Cenac skied from the dotted line, caught the long rebound with one hand, and tried to use his 7-foot-5 wingspan to hurtle the ball near the rim. Poor Dillon Mitchell got caught underneath the soaring Cenac Jr. and the two crumpled to the court together after the failed attempt.

“He almost took me out on a putback,” cracked Mitchell after practice on the campus of UNLV on Saturday.

It’s usually Mitchell and his 38.5-inch vertical launching himself over opponents. He was able to laugh off getting a taste of his own medicine.

“I can understand how other people feel when I do it now,” said Mitchell. “So it was a good feeling for me to feel it.”

Cenac Jr., the 27th pick in June’s draft, posted 14 points, 10 rebounds, and 4 blocks over 29 minutes off the bench in his Boston debut. He rescued the Celtics in the final seconds of regulation, knocking down a buzzer-beating, corner 3-pointer off a pretty feed from Milos Uzan.

Mitchell, the 40th pick in June’s draft, finished with four points, two blocks, and two steals over 26 minutes in a starting role.

Cenac Jr. and Mitchell bring the sort of raw athleticism that the Celtics haven’t exactly been overflowing with in recent years. The Celtics need to thrust the two rookies into their player development machine and hope they can tap fully into each player’s raw potential.

Cenac Jr. is only 19 but he moves effortlessly around the court, easily changing direction and exploding towards the basket. We don’t suspect this will be the only time he tries an overly ambitious dunk attempt on the summer stage. He’s springy even off two feet. And Cenac Jr.’s length disrupts opposing shooters regardless of where they pull up from.

Mitchell floats in the air, too, and his pro debut was highlighted by both a loud, left-handed putback and a transition block where he again seemingly floated long enough to smother an opponent’s layup attempt.

After Saturday’s summer practice, and before watching film together, Mitchell and Cenac Jr. engaged in a brief impromptu dunk contest.

“Just Chris being Chris,” said Mitchell.

So who has the advantage in any dunk contest? Mitchell responded immediately.

“Chris … his length,” said Mitchell. “I’ll give it to Chris.”

Boston’s overflowing collection of young wings will complicate a pathway to playing time for the rookies, but it’s easy to see why Boston invested in their futures. The Celtics need an infusion of athleticism and it didn’t take long for Mitchell and Cenac Jr. to prove they can bring that.

Mitchell has the bruises to prove it.

When it comes to Summer League play and former Blue Devils, we forgot to check on Khaman Maluach. As expected, he had a lot of work to do as a rookie, and played 25 games in the G League for the Valley Suns.

He is playing for Phoenix in the Summer League, and on Sunday, he had a nice game against New Orleans.

Maluach finished with 15 points, 15 rebounds, and 2 blocks.

Here are two really good back-to-back plays by the former Duke big man. On the first, he rolls to the basket for a nice pick and roll, and on the other end of the court, watch how he shifts out, then goes back to block the shot.

He’s gotten a lot of reps in since getting drafted last year and he’s noticeably more muscled as well. This could be a good year for him, possibly even a breakthrough.

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Former NBA All-Star Jermaine O’Neal recently revealed that he came close to committing to Kentucky following the Wildcats’ 1996 national championship before head coach Rick Pitino gave him advice that changed his life.

Speaking on the Str8 to Da League podcast, O’Neal shared that Kentucky was his top choice coming out of high school and that Pitino had heavily recruited him, making multiple in-home visits with O’Neal and his family.

“I was going to go to Kentucky. Shout out to Rick Pitino, man. Like he recruited me, and this was like the realest thing, man. My mother loved him, man. She loved him,” O’Neal said.

According to O’Neal, Pitino’s honesty ultimately convinced him to skip college and enter the NBA Draft.

“He was sitting in our living room, he came four times on visits, and he said, ‘Look, everything I know about you and your family, the struggles, the things you’re going through.’ He said, ‘We’re going to be good with you, or we’re going to be good without you. Would love to have you, but you should go pro.’ That was the realest thing, bro. When he said that, it made complete sense.”

O’Neal went on to become the No. 17 overall pick in the 1996 NBA Draft by the Portland Trail Blazers, and had an 18-year NBA career that included six All-Star selections, three All-NBA Team honors, and averages of 13.2 points and 7.2 rebounds across more than 1,000 career games.

While Kentucky fans can only imagine what could have been, O’Neal’s comments offered another example of Pitino’s reputation for putting players’ long-term interests ahead of recruiting victories.

Darryn Peterson has now played four games as a member of the Utah Jazz. Two in Salt Lake City in the SLC Summer League and two in Las Vegas. It is highly doubtful that he will suit up for the Jazz again this summer, as Sarah Todd of Deseret News reported that he will be held out of the game on Monday night against Caleb Wilson and the Chicago Bulls. He could play in the subsequent game against the San Antonio Spurs on July 15th, but if I were a betting man, I would assume he probably won’t. Four games will likely be all we get from Darryn Peterson in the 2026 Summer League, which raises the question: did we see enough from our second-overall pick to remain excited about his potential to become one of the best players in the NBA?

Alright, let’s face it: if you are ACTUALLY trying to draw hard conclusions from Summer League about whether or not a player will be successful in the NBA, you are better off just guessing. The level of competition simply is not very good, and the sample size and team context make it unreasonable to base everything on Summer League. We have seen players like Jalen Brunson be extremely mediocre in Summer League while a guy like Trey Lyles looks like the next league MVP. The player’s work ethic, health, and team developmental staff will largely determine the heights that they will achieve, and Summer League is merely a showcase for their talent.

That being said, I have been seeing an inordinate amount of discourse around Darryn Peterson’s summer league performances. From turnovers to efficiency to defense and everything in between. Some of that discourse might just be rage-baiters from our nation’s capital who finally have hope again for the first time since peak John Wall. But some is coming within the walls of the Jazz fanbase itself. Should we worry about his shooting efficiency? What about his playmaking? Is he gonna be the 4th best player in the class? What I did was compile some stats from the Summer League performances of players comparable to Darryn Peterson to see where his stats (yes I know it is summer league) compare to their stats (again, yes, I understand it is JUST summer league).

As you can see, Darryn’s stats over 4 games in Summer League are actually very comparable to those of other similar guards during their time in Summer League. Please DO NOT misunderstand the message I am trying to send with these stats. All of these guys listed above, besides Darryn, have been to All-Star Games, made All-NBA teams, won MVP awards, played in the NBA Finals, and won championships for their respective teams. Can you say confidently that Darryn Peterson will reach those same milestones with the Utah Jazz based purely on his 4-game Summer League sample size? No. But you also shouldn’t stop yourself from being excited about having a prospect that could do that.

Listen, Jazz fans, I get it. This is uncharted territory for us here in Utah. We aren’t used to having the guy that all the national media wants to talk about. We aren’t used to primetime, box-office matchups involving us. Frankly, we aren’t used to drafting prospects that don’t take a little searching and wishful thinking to find something we like about their game, especially early on in their careers. I am asking politely to just sit back and enjoy this era of Jazz basketball we are about to embark on. This is real life: the Utah Jazz have the number two overall pick in the 2026 draft. His name is Darryn Peterson, aka “Bucket Jones”, aka “The Boogieman”. He is real, and he is an absolute stud. Nothing he has done in Summer League should deter your excitement for the future of the Utah Jazz. While not an end-all, be-all by any means, his Summer League stats are actually pretty comparable to some of the best guards in recent memory. Through four games in Summer League, it appears that Darryn Peterson is just as good as advertised.