Every year, the NBA Summer League provides a showcase for draft picks who aim to make strong first impressions for teams, media and fans.
Drafted by the Lakers in the second round, Bronny James is the major Summer League headline-grabber, mainly because he's the 19-year-old son of You-Know-Who. But he's far from the only player who has caught our eye — for the good or bad.
Here's an assessment of Bronny James and nine other players from the opening week of games (statistics through Thursday's games):
First impression: A season in the G-League awaits | Despite rough stretches, he has shown flashes of becoming a defensive menace. James shoulders high expectations and is the target of media criticism, but he seems to be taking it in stride. His 13-point, five-rebound, three-assist outing against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday may be a sign of his potential.
First impression: Raw but talented | Sarr has struggled to score in his first four games because of atrocious shooting (19.1% from the field). However, he is playing solid defense, averaging 7.8 boards, and his motor and off-ball activity are impressive. Big men usually take longer to adapt and develop in the NBA. Fortunately for Sarr, the Wizards can give him all the playing time he can handle, which should help expedite his development.
First impression: Immediate rotation player | Knecht's stock has risen and he already looks capable of making an impact off the bench. Averaging 21.3 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists, Knecht could pressure new coach JJ Redick for a role in the rotation to begin the season. His three-level scoring, good lateral quickness and willingness to hustle on defense will ensure he has a platform to continue developing.
First impression: Immediate rotation player | Sheppard is one of the stars in Summer League so far. His shot-making, off-ball movement and hustle on both ends of the floor have quickly endeared him to Summer League fans. In four games, he is averaging 20 points, 4.8 rebounds and 5.3 assists. Sheppard already projects as an NBA-level rotation player and should develop into an excellent player under head coach Ime Udoka's guidance.
First impression: Potential rotation player | Tyson is already showing the potential to become a double-double machine. He's averaging 13.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and 4.8 assists and shooting 51.2% from the field. Tyson could become a two-way wing once he gets acclimated to the NBA and expands his skillset. He looks like a great pickup.
First impression: Raw but talented, he will get minutes due to being the top pick | Risacher, a former French pro player, has made a strong impression as a scorer and a reliable rebounder. However, he hasn't showcased the elite upside that made him the first overall draft pick by the Hawks, who are re-tooling around Trae Young. As he gets accustomed to the speed and physicality of the NBA, he will improve. Still, his 39.3% shooting from the field has been brutal.
First impression: Potential rotation player with a high floor | He might be the steal of the draft. Scheierman already has showcased a diverse skillset, scoring off the catch, via movement or when attacking off the dribble. He's also flashed playmaking potential as an on-ball creator. However, his defensive limitations could hinder his chance of earning a rotation spot in head coach Joe Mazzulla's lineup this season.
First impression: Immediate rotation player | Holland has played well in two games, averaging 16 points and eight rebounds. However, his perimeter scoring needs work (16.7% from three).
First impression: Potential rotation player | Ware seems to have a great feel around the rim on both sides of the ball. Physical, fast and explosive, he has averaged 17.3 points and 8.3 rebounds over three games. He could be an energizing force off the bench for head coach Erik Spoelstra. If he improves his defensive positioning and expands his scoring ability, he could have a long NBA career.
First impression: A year in the G-League awaits |Bottom line: Bona is raw. The 6-foot-8 forward has the skills to develop into a reliable big man, but it will take time for him to get up to speed. In three games, he's averaging 8.3 points and 6.7 rebounds. It's unlikely he will earn many minutes under head coach Nick Nurse this season, but he has the potential to be a rotation player.
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It has been roughly six months since the Los Angeles Lakers made one of the most stunning blockbuster trades in NBA history, and LeBron James and Anthony Davis appear to still be missing one another. Davis was traded to the Dallas Mavericks in February as part of the deal that sent Luka Doncic to L.A. The 10-time All-Star has since spoken about how he remains close with LeBron, and some strange social media activity on Tuesday seemed to illustrate that. LeBron and Davis both shared the exact same cryptic quote on their Instagram stories on Tuesday. They each posted the quote at around the same time of the day, too. The quote said, “Becoming the best version of yourself comes with a lot of goodbyes.” Fans were left a bit confused. The move looked like one a high school couple might pull after a breakup, but a lot of time has passed since Davis was traded. Some people speculated that LeBron might be sending some sort of message to the Lakers, as there have been rumblings that the 40-year-old is unhappy with his current situation. James and Davis were teammates on the Lakers for five-plus seasons and won an NBA title together. One report claimed LeBron had grown frustrated with Davis prior to the trade, and James had a very enthusiastic response to that. For whatever reason, the two pals felt the need to share the same cryptic quote.
The Green Bay Packers have a cause for concern with Jordan Love in the preseason. The quarterback suffered a thumb injury during the Packers' 30-10 loss to the New York Jets on Saturday. Love went 1-of-5 passing for seven yards and took a sack for -3 yards in the defeat. Both of his drives ended in punts. Per Matt Schneidman of The Athletic, Love is set to have surgery on his thumb after seeing how it held up at practice on Monday. General manager Brian Gutekunst believes Love will be ready for Week 1 against the Detroit Lions. "Gutekunst sounded adamant that Love will be ready for Week 1 against the Lions," Schneidman wrote. "Hit his left hand on a helmet on that half-scramble vs. Jets. Wanted to see how it felt at practice yesterday and decided to get it fixed to avoid future issues. Will be with team in Indianapolis. "Brian Gutekunst says Jordan Love is having a procedure done on his left thumb. It’s a 'ligament thing.' Hurt it in the preseason opener. Gutekunst hopes he returns to practice next week." The injury comes at an inopportune time for the Packers. Love and the majority of his receivers have not been in sync during training camp and in the preseason game. Like last season, Packers' receivers have dropped passes during practices and did so in the preseason opener against the Jets. Green Bay needs Love on the field, gaining chemistry with his pass-catching targets, including first-round pick Matthew Golden, before it plays the Lions.
Oregon wide receiver Jurrion Dickey has struggled to live up to expectations in his first two seasons with the Ducks, and he is now in a terrible position heading into 2025 as well. Dickey has been suspended indefinitely by Oregon, head coach Dan Lanning announced on Tuesday. Lanning also suggested that Dickey may not play for the Ducks again. "We have two team rules; that’s respectful, be on time,” Lanning said, via James Crepea of The Oregonian. “There’s some pieces of that where I felt like he needed a break from us and we needed a break from that so we could focus on what’s in front of us right now. "Wishing him nothing but the best, as far as success and want to see him get back to where he can be a contributor somewhere; that might be here that might be somewhere else.” Dickey was a five-star recruit and rated as one of the top wide receivers in the country when he came out of Menlo-Atherton High School in Atherton, Calif., in 2023. He suffered an injury in his senior year in high school and redshirted as a freshman at Oregon. Dickey has two catches for 14 years during his time with the Ducks. Oregon went 13-1 in Lanning's third season with the program last season. The Ducks lost to eventual national champion Ohio State in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals.
Oklahoma quarterback John Mateer has faced questions about some alleged screenshots from his Venmo account, and the school is reportedly investigating the situation. Screenshots and videos that were widely circulated on social media Monday claimed to show multiple Venmo transactions linked to Mateer that contained the phrase “sports gambling.” The two main transactions in question were on Nov. 20, 2022, which was when Mateer was a freshman at Washington State. The alleged transactions that referenced “sports gambling” were between Mateer and a Venmo account for Richard Roaten, who is believed to be one of Mateer’s former Washington State teammates. While some have questioned whether the screenshots could have been altered, there were also videos that appeared to show people actively scrolling through the account that is believed to belong to Mateer. According to a Tuesday report from ESPN’s Pete Thamel, Mateer has denied to Oklahoma officials that he has ever been involved with gambling. The school is still planning to investigate further, however. Mateer issued a statement on his X account denying being involved in sports gambling, explaining that the descriptions seen on his Venmo account are "inside jokes" with his friends. "The allegations that I once participated in sports gambling are false," Mateer wrote. "My previous Venmo descriptions did not accurately portray the transactions in question but were instead inside jokes between me and my friends. "I have never bet on sports. I understand the seriousness of the matter but recognize that, taken out of context, those Venmo descriptions suggest otherwise. I can assure my teammates, coaches, and officials at the NCAA that I have not engaged in any sports gambling." Oklahoma also issued a statement saying it has “no reason to believe” there is going to be an NCAA investigation. Rules prohibit student athletes or team staff from betting on any sports that have NCAA championships. One of the alleged screenshots connected to Mateer had a reference to “UCLA vs. USC” in addition to “sports gambling.” Penalties for an athlete who has been found to have gambled on prohibited sports can include a loss of eligibility. Mateer had his first full season as a starter last year at Washington State. He completed 64.6% of his passes for 3,139 yards and 29 touchdowns. He also rushed for 826 yards and 15 touchdowns. Mateer entered the transfer portal after last season as one of the top players available, and he had a disrespectful gesture when announcing his commitment to the Sooners.