NBA’s 11 greatest rookies in Las Vegas Summer season League, ranked

NBA Summer season League isn’t going to make or break the profession of an incoming rookie. A 12 months in the past, Cooper Flagg shot 5-of-21 from the ground in his Las Vegas debut, and didn’t make my annual checklist of essentially the most spectacular rookies in summer time league. It’s necessary to inform your self to not overreact to every thing you see.

The excellent news for this 12 months’s rookie class is that many of the high picks completely delivered on the hype. AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, Cameron Boozer, and Caleb Wilson every had flashes of brilliance that confirmed why the 2026 draft class was so extremely regarded. Learn my story on six rookies who seemed underwhelming in summer time league this 12 months, however bear in mind there’s loads of time for them to show issues round. Jalen Brunson wasn’t very good in summer league, both.

Try my checklist of the younger veterans already proving to be too good for summer time league this 12 months. Now, let’s rank essentially the most spectacular rookies in Las Vegas. Apologies to Koa Peat, Labaron Philon, Cam Carr, Chris Cenac, Mikel Brown Jr., Henri Veesar, and Jack Kayil, who have been all actually good in their very own proper, however these 11 gamers caught out.

11. Hannes Steinbach, F, Charlotte Hornets

Steinbach lastly moved into the Hornets’ beginning lineup for his or her fourth summer time league recreation, and instantly confirmed all of the issues that made him particular. He’s such an efficient finisher (67.9% true taking pictures) partly as a result of he catches every thing thrown his means, and may usually play via contact on his technique to the basket. Steinbach’s elite arms additionally make him the very best rebounder on this draft class, and at this level it’s potential he may very well be among the finest offensive rebounders within the league as a rookie after posting a comical 18.15% o-board price in Las Vegas. His protection and three-point taking pictures stay a piece in progress, however Steinbach is nice at what he’s good at, and that ought to give him a basis for fulfillment as he continues to work on his talent set through the years.

10. Bruce Thornton, G, Houston Rockets

Summer season league was by no means going to be an enormous problem for an elite school veteran like Thornton, and certainly he seemed comfy and assured from the second he hit the ground in Vegas. Thornton has an enormous physique for a shorter level guard, and he throws round his weight to open up offensive alternatives for himself and his teammates. He’s grow to be a extremely good high-volume three-point shooter through the years, and in summer time league he made 43 p.c from deep on seven makes an attempt per recreation. He additionally posted a 2:1 assist-to-turnover ratio, which is par for the course after a school profession the place he not often coughed it up. There shall be questions on his protection when it’s time for the actual season, however Thornton has a lot command over the offense and his personal scoring means that he seems like an apparent guess to be the subsequent second-round draft hit.

9. Morez Johnson, F, Dallas Mavericks

Johnson is an absolute hoss as a 250+ pound ahead with a 7’3.5 wingspan, and he’s a very ridiculous athlete for somebody with that dimension. The Mavs’ No. 9 total decide hit the bottom operating in Vegas by doing what he does greatest: ending effectively inside, cleansing the defensive glass, and displaying a uncommon mixture of quickness and energy on protection to provide him premium matchup versatility. Johnson nonetheless scored a number of his factors on dump-offs and putbacks in Las Vegas, however there have been additionally flashes of freight train drives to the hoop and short mid-range shotmaking that weren’t as prevalent on the school tape. His 69.1% true taking pictures in two video games is about nearly as good because it will get. Johnson’s simple-yet-effective offense set is complemented by a extra wide-ranging defensive talent set, the place he can shield the rim on the backline or change onto faster wings or guards and follow them for a number of seconds on the perimeter. He’s going to be an enforcer subsequent to Cooper Flagg in Dallas from day one, and if his deal with and taking pictures retains creating, he has the potential to be much more than that.

8. Allen Graves, F, Toronto Raptors

Anybody who thought the sixth man from Santa Clara whose draft candidacy was spawned by some young online nerds was going to crash and fail within the league certain seems like they’re going to be confirmed improper. Graves did his factor with disruptive protection, spectacular rebounding, and a candy three-point stroke. It looks like Graves couldn’t present the total extent of his offensive recreation in school, as a result of in Las Vegas he was dealing with the ball on drives and initiating the pick-and-roll with a degree of effectiveness that wasn’t on the Santa Clara tape. In the meantime, Graves continues to be a monster at forcing takeaways with nice arms and an elite nostril for the ball. His protection is so aggressive that it’s virtually straightforward to miss that he shoots such a straightforward ball from three-point vary, flattening 44% from deep in 16 makes an attempt. I’m already fearful I had Graves too low on my board at No. 19, which is precisely the place the Raptors picked him. He seems like a steal. Toronto ought to be feeling actually good about this one thus far.

7. Yaxel Lendeborg, F, Golden State Warriors

Lendeborg ought to have been actually good in summer time league contemplating he’s already virtually 24 years previous, an age when most gamers have graduated out of this setting. Nonetheless, it was encouraging to see the previous Michigan star dominate in all of the methods we’ve come to anticipate, displaying bully-ball drives, sharp connective passing, stout protection, and a candy three-point stroke. The taking pictures is the headliner from Lendeborg’s 5 video games in summer time league: he hit 56.5% of his threes on the way in which to immaculate 68% true taking pictures. He also bumped Cameron Boozer to hell on one drive to the rim, and confirmed his means to play via contact on each ends. I like his defensive rebounding and his ball motion, however there have been some cases the place his lack of agility in the course of the ground damage his two-point scoring effectivity. I had Yaxel at No. 5 on my board getting into the draft, and he looks like he’s going to be an ideal slot in Golden State, particularly if the threes preserve dropping. .

6. Darryn Peterson, G, Utah Jazz

Peterson will get off his shot so simply. The No. 2 total decide glides into stepback jumpers, turns the nook on drives to the rim, and sprints off screens to knock down threes so effortlessly that he simply seems like an NBA All-Star. Peterson had some spectacular moments with a driving poster dunk against the Clippers, and a few flashes of the defensive playmaking that separates him from different elite offensive guards, however he additionally nonetheless has some fats to trim in his recreation. Peterson made some puzzling selections with the ball whether or not he was settling for floaters or giving it away to the protection. He doesn’t actually seem like a real level guard (he completed with 26 assists to 24 turnovers via 5 summer time league video games), however that ought to be no huge deal for a Jazz staff that already has Keyonte George within the backcourt. His talent set nonetheless wants some fine-tuning, however Peterson’s expertise jumps off the display, and better of all, he wasn’t slowed down by any of the bizarre cramping points that plagued him in school. He’s going to be a extremely productive rookie, and a serious contributor to what ought to be a reasonably good Utah staff this season.

5. Meleek Thomas, G, Cleveland Cavaliers

The lengthy historical past of John Calipari guards being higher within the NBA than in school may need one other addition with Meleek Thomas. Thomas had a stable freshman 12 months at Arkansas, however nonetheless slipped to the No. 34 total decide due to issues about his body and defensive projection. The promote was all the time his bucket-getting, and he mainly seemed unstoppable in his three video games in Las Vegas. Thomas scored 85 factors in 90 minutes on glorious 65.7% true taking pictures via three video games in summer time league, slicing and dicing via opposing defenses at will and splashing pictures all around the court docket. He hit 45.8% of his threes, all of his free throws, and had no drawback breaking free from the ball stress that pissed off different guards. Thomas averted tunnel imaginative and prescient regardless of the unimaginable scoring numbers, and did a superb job discovering teammates whereas avoiding errors with 13 assists to 5 turnovers. With elite quickness, a cash jumper, and a reasonably good really feel for the sport, Thomas already seems like a second spherical steal, and somebody who ought to make Cavs followers very excited for his future.

4. AJ Dybantsa, F, Washington Wizards

Dybantsa’s elite slashing and hard shot-making have been totally on show in his two-game run in Las Vegas. The No. 1 total decide is an absolute large for a wing, however not like most gamers his dimension, he already has the ball on a string. Dybantsa can flip the nook on most defenders, however when he’s shut off, he has loads of counters to proceed probing the protection till he can break away. Dybantsa’s mid-range heavy shot-selection is already drawing some consternation, nevertheless it’s laborious to get too upset when he nonetheless posted blistering 63.8% true taking pictures regardless of taking pictures 1-of-11 from three-point vary. That’s simply what Dybantsa supplies, relentless attacking that may preserve hammering holes within the protection till he lastly makes a crack. With the caveat that it’s solely summer time league, Dybantsa’s protection additionally seemed a lot better than it did at BYU with a 26.6% defensive rebound price, 5% steal price, and 5.4% block price. He’s going to wish to have the ability to play off the ball somewhat bit extra subsequent to Trae Younger through the common season, however for now Dybantsa confirmed the particular abilities that made him the primary decide in a loaded draft.

3. Caleb Wilson, F, Chicago Bulls

Caleb Wilson answered his largest query on his very first shot in Las Vegas. Wilson took a pitch from teammate Noa Essengue, drew a change from the protection, and took one dribble earlier than splashing a three-pointer from the highest of the important thing. Wilson didn’t shoot a lot in school, which is smart for a participant who used his best-in-class explosiveness to crush 67 dunks in simply 24 video games. The tape was crammed with robust shot-making from mid-range, however these leap pictures not often prolonged behind the arc. In his summer time league debut, Wilson drained seven three-pointers — the identical quantity he made all season at North Carolina. Wilson had 5 months off since struggling a season-ending damaged thumb in his proper hand, and he clearly made essentially the most of his time by reportedly getting up 2,000 threes per day. It takes most high prospects years to deal with the largest holes of their scouting report, in the event that they ever do it in any respect. Wilson already proved he’s going to shoot threes as a rookie, and that’s an excellent signal for his long-term improvement as a shooter. Learn my characteristic on Wilson’s quest for greatness right here.

A study by Owen Phillips showed that three-point rate (proportion of area purpose makes an attempt from three) is the “stickiest” stat of summer time league — the one which carries over the very best to the common season. Properly, Wilson moved his three-point price from 9.1% at UNC to 47.1% for the Summer season Bulls. It seems like an exciting improvement for Wilson as a result of so many different facets of his recreation are already so robust. Wilson’s defensive playmaking is excellent, and he amassed an 8.5% block price in Vegas with a lot of spectacular stuffs, together with a chasedown block for the ages. He hit the offensive glass at the next price than Cam Boozer (9.1% offensive rebound price), and completed effectively when he was arrange by his teammates. His poster thrunk in opposition to the Jazz was some of the athletic performs you’ll ever see. There have been nonetheless two huge negatives for Wilson: his horrible free throw stroke (6-of-18 from the road) and his unhealthy turnover behavior, together with his giveaways (21) simply outpacing his assists (7). The assist-to-turnover ratio was a optimistic on his school stat sheet, however that was totally on stationary reads, and never dwell dribbles. Wilson was already an excellent prospect, however after watching him in Las Vegas, it appears potential he’s leveling up at a terrifying price.

2. Cameron Boozer, F, Memphis Grizzlies

Cameron Boozer’s recreation has all the time been outlined by regular manufacturing that gained’t knock your socks off till his staff wins and he finishes with monstrous field rating numbers. Boozer did it once more on this setting regardless of being one of many youngest gamers at summer time league in his previous couple of days as an 18-year-old. His scoring effectivity was outstanding by taking pictures 53.7% on two-pointers, 45% on three-pointers, and 80% on free throws for 65.8% true taking pictures. He continued to scrub the defensive glass (18.7% defensive rebound price), and he seemed fairly fast laterally on that finish even when he’s not providing a lot rim safety. Boozer seemed a bit thinner in Vegas in comparison with the bulkier body he carried at Duke, and it seems like he’s nonetheless studying how one can use it. He’s not essentially the most nimble participant in the course of the ground, nevertheless it doesn’t actually matter as a result of his passing imaginative and prescient is superb and he virtually all the time makes the correct determination on time. Boozer’s top-4 contemporaries had flashier highlights, however his staff impression was as nice as any participant in Vegas. I had Boozer as the highest participant within the 2026 draft in his personal tier, and I feel summer time league solely strengthened that argument.

1. Brayden Burries, G, Milwaukee Bucks

Burries’ upside was up for debate as he entered the 2026 NBA Draft, however he seemed like an elite connective piece on each ends of the ground throughout his run in Las Vegas. He shot the hell out of the ball by hitting 44% of his threes, he hit the glass laborious and compelled takeaways on protection, and made sensible selections each time the ball touched his arms. Burries’ flooring spacing and fast set off from three helps fill within the gaps within the halfcourt in any lineup, however he additionally confirmed a capability to make use of his scoring to search out open passing home windows to teammates (12 assists) whereas suppressing turnovers (just one in three video games in Vegas). Burries can be a beneficial participant even when he was simply common defensively, however he seems higher than that. His 4.2% steal price and three.7% block price in Vegas are glorious numbers for a guard, and the truth that he’s such a superb transition participant as soon as he yanks the ball away solely makes him more practical. I solely had Burries at No. 16 on my closing board, so he exceeded my expectations greater than any participant in Las Vegas. The Bucks don’t should attempt to shoehorn him into being a lead creator with Ryan Rollins and Tyler Herro on the roster; as an alternative, he will be the final word backcourt sidekick who permits everybody else to be the very best model of themselves whereas maximizing his personal effectivity.