Apr 1, 2025; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks forward Kevin McCullar Jr. (9) warms up before a game against the Philadelphia 76ers at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images John Jones-Imagn Images

Former Kansas Star Lights up NBA Summer League in Scoring Outburst

Originally posted on Kansas Jayhawks on SI
By Joshua Schulman | Last updated Jul 13, 2025 9:41 PM ET

Of the five former Kansas Jayhawks participating in the NBA 2K26 Summer League , New York Knicks guard Kevin McCullar had the most impressive debut.

McCullar continued to show off his skill set during New York's 94-81 loss to the Boston Celtics on Sunday.

McCullar, who was the only Knick who scored in double figures, was unstoppable in 28 minutes played. He scored a game-high 30 points, shooting 10-for-15 from the field and sinking 9-of-10 free throw attempts.

Kevin McCullar was FANTASTIC in Summer League action against the Celtics today…finishing as the game’s leading scorer!

30 Points / 10-15 FG / 9-10 FT
4 Rebounds / 2 Steals / 1 Assist pic.twitter.com/4V5ntyCuGg
— Jayhawks In The NBA (@NBA_Jayhawks) July 13, 2025

The former KU star added four rebounds, two steals, one assist, six turnovers, and a comical eight fouls committed (maximum in summer league is 10).

Even on a night where he only shot 1-for-5 from beyond the arc, McCullar was driving to the basket with ease and making sneaky back cuts to find scoring opportunities in the paint.

It was a surprising offensive performance from a player who has yet to consistently show his scoring ability at the next level.

After being selected No. 56 in the 2024 NBA Draft, McCullar appeared in four regular season games as a rookie, averaging 1.5 points and 2.0 rebounds.

At Kansas, McCullar spent two years in Lawrence, earning All-Big 12 First Team honors before missing the Big 12 and NCAA tournaments with an injury that carried over to his first NBA season.

The Knicks will enter the upcoming season as one of the favorites to win the Eastern Conference, but it wouldn't be surprising to see McCullar carve out some minutes if he continues playing at this level.

Fans can watch McCullar take the floor again on Tuesday, July 15, against the Brooklyn Nets.

This article first appeared on Kansas Jayhawks on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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