Exciting moments from the NBA Summer League featuring talented rookies.
The 2025 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas showcased the talents of top draft selections, including No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg and No. 2 pick Dylan Harper. Despite initial challenges, Flagg rebounded impressively, setting a summer league record with his scoring. Other rookies also excelled, providing a glimpse into potential future NBA stars. The tournament energized interest in the upcoming season, highlighted by competitive matchups and standout performances from both drafted players and undrafted talents.
Las Vegas, NV – The 2025 NBA Summer League concluded with several standout performances, revitalizing interest after a less memorable previous rookie class. The event featured promising debut displays from top draft selections and showcased emerging talents, setting the stage for the upcoming NBA season.
The most anticipated player was No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg, who played for the Dallas Mavericks. His first game attracted significant attention, but he faced early difficulties, shooting just 5-of-21 against the Los Angeles Lakers. However, Flagg responded strongly in his second matchup, tallying 31 points against the San Antonio Spurs. This performance tied a summer league record for most points scored by a No. 1 pick, previously held by notable players like John Wall.
Dylan Harper, the No. 2 pick selected by the San Antonio Spurs, debuted alongside Flagg and scored 16 points in 20 minutes. Both rookies demonstrated their potential early on, though their participation was cut short before the championship game as teams opted to shut down their top prospects to prevent injuries and manage workloads.
Beyond the top picks, several other rookies delivered impressive performances during the summer league:
Undrafted player Eli John N’Diaye signed a two-way contract with the Atlanta Hawks after a brief appearance that saw him score 12 points before an injury ended his tournament run. Meanwhile, Jeremiah Fears of the New Orleans Pelicans improved as the tournament progressed, culminating in a last game where he scored 22 points on 8-of-15 shooting.
From international prospects, Yang Hansen, a 7-foot-1 rookie from China selected 16th overall, impressed with his passing and shot-blocking skills, averaging two blocks per game and demonstrating the growing talent pool of international players.
The tournament featured several exciting matchups, including the final where the Boston Celtics defeated the Los Angeles Lakers with a score of 87-78. The Celtics were led by Jordan Walsh, who scored 17 points. The summer league also displayed thrilling overtime games and rookie efforts that contributed to engaging and competitive contests throughout.
While some players struggled—such as Fears, who experienced a high turnover rate early in the tournament—others made significant strides, indicating the development potential of emerging prospects. Notably, Quinten Post from the Golden State Warriors was unable to participate due to an ankle injury but maintained an active presence with the team.
The 2025 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas served as a crucial platform for rookies to demonstrate their readiness for the regular season. The performances of top draft picks like Flagg and Harper reaffirmed their status as promising talents. Meanwhile, standout efforts from underrated players provided hope for valuable contributions in the upcoming NBA games.
As teams evaluated their rosters and prospects during this period, the summer league showcased a mixture of impressive skills, early growth, and areas needing improvement. The event successfully energized the anticipation for the new NBA season, with many young players making a memorable impact in Las Vegas.
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