Three rookies who have something to prove in Summer League

NBA Summer League is an exciting time for NBA players and fans alike. As the first official showcase for the newest crop of young talent entering the league, it's a must-watch event for any hoop head. 

Given the significant draft equity invested in many of the young players set to play in Las Vegas, expectations are high for them to produce, or at the very least, show signs of long-term appeal. 

Below is a list of three 2025 first-round picks who already have a ton to prove heading into Las Vegas. 

Charlotte Hornets guard Kon Knueppel

In the weeks leading up to the NBA Draft, Kon Knueppel had built up enough momentum that when he was ultimately taken fourth overall by the Hornets, it wasn’t an absolute stunner. With Cooper Flagg, Dylan Harper and V.J. Edgecombe off the board, and Ace Bailey clearly signaling a lack of interest in any team drafting in the top five, the Hornets found themselves in a somewhat awkward position. While Charlotte could’ve gone with a player perceived to have a higher ceiling, like Jeremiah Fears, Tre Johnson or Khaman Maluach, the Hornets ultimately decided to go with perhaps the draft’s best shooter in Knueppel.

Now, Knueppel may look entirely the part of a solid role player, or even long-term starter, but that's not necessarily what teams are typically shooting for with top-five selections. Only time will tell if the Hornets made the right decision, but they may have a pit in their stomach for years to come if Bailey (picked one spot behind Kneuppel) turns into the kind of player many think he can. Charlotte’s long-term prospects will look significantly brighter if Knueppel can show signs of being more than just a ‘specialist’ during his time in Las Vegas.

Brooklyn Nets guard Egor Demin

One of the more eyebrow-raising moments during the draft came when the Nets used their eighth overall selection to scoop up rangy 6-foot-8 playmaker Egor Demin. With most mock drafts projecting Demin to come off the board somewhere in the late teens, it was a surprise to nearly everyone to see the BYU product vaulted into the top-10.

Demin certainly has his flaws, first and foremost his shooting, but there's also a legitimate case to be made that Denim is the best passer in the 2025 class. The Nets are early enough in their rebuild to justify taking a high-risk, high-reward player like Demin, but significant development is going to be necessary for Demin to stick as a pro. 

With a game mirroring that of Josh Giddey or Ricky Rubio, the Nets will hope that Demin’s playmaking pops in summer league, and his perimeter jump shot at least shows signs of life. 

New Orleans Pelicans center Derik Queen

Due to no fault of his own, Derik Queen is perhaps the rookie facing the most pressure heading into Summer League. Taken 13th overall by the Pelicans, Queen appears to be in pole position — along with the seventh overall pick Jeremiah Fears — to lead New Orleans into its next era. The manner in which the Pelicans maneuvered their way into acquiring the 13th overall pick, however, is what lands the former Maryland big man on this list. 

After executing a deal with the Hawks, which included giving up their own unprotected 2026 first-round pick to move up just 10 spots, the fan base was lit somewhat ablaze, as Atlanta’s front office reportedly “could not believe” the trade was actually real. Needless to say, the means by which the Pelicans went about acquiring Queen have already put the big man in a tenuous position to prove his worth. 

Queen is not going to prove the Pelicans’ front office right in one Summer League, but putting his best foot forward could go a long way in quelling some of the criticism being flung towards the Pelicans’ decision makers right now.