Caleb Wilson was the last one among the top-four picks in the NBA draft to make his summer league debut, and boy, oh, boy was it worth the wait.

The No. 4 overall pick in the 2026 NBA draft lit up the Las Vegas Strip with a 35-point performance against the Memphis Grizzlies. The Chicago Bulls’ 20-year-old budding superstar followed up his sensational debut with 19 points, eight rebounds, and five blocked shots against the Utah Jazz, and another 19-point, eight-rebound outing against the Washington Wizards. He capped off his Vegas one-man show with 21 points and eight rebounds against the L.A. Lakers.

Wilson was named to the all-summer league first team, along with fellow rookies Cameron Boozer (Memphis Grizzlies), Brayden Burries (Milwaukee Bucks), Maleek Thomas (Cleveland Cavaliers), and Yaxel Lindeborg (Golden State Warriors).

The Bulls fanbase hasn’t felt this good since Derrick Rose’s MVP season in 2011. Many of them came out to Thomas & Mack Arena to watch Wilson, and they certainly liked what they witnessed.

The uber-athletic 6-10 forward averaged 23.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, 1.3 steals, and 2.5 blocks. He shot 50% from the field, including a stunning 41.9% from behind the 3-point line. The 3-ball was supposed to be Wilson’s Achilles’ heel. He clearly worked on his long-range shooting in the months leading up to the summer season. He worked with renowned shooting coach Chris “Lethal Shooter” Matthews, and the extra reps definitely paid off.

About the only thing that went wrong for Wilson was his free throws. He would have had a higher scoring average if he made more free throws. But that was the only blemish in an otherwise impressive summer league for the former North Carolina Tar Heel.

Individual scoring stats were a bit inflated because of the new summer league rules in which one free throw was worth two points, and if a player were fouled behind the 3-point line, one free throw would be worth three points. The new free-throw rule — which was enforced until the last two minutes of a game — was adopted to speed up the game and improve game flow.

Wilson has drawn comparisons to NBA Hall of Famer Kevin Garnett for his two-way ability and defensive intensity. But the more we see Wilson’s game, from the way he handles the ball to get to his spots and the way he shoots his picture-perfect jumper, he reminds us of Kobe Bryant. Caleb is the latest in the long list of ballers who subscribe to the Mamba Mentality.

“We have some similarities, but I feel like we’re much different players,” Wilson said about the KG comparison. “Kevin Garnett’s a Hall of Famer. I don’t want to be compared to a Hall of Famer because that messes up my expectations.”

Unlike the Big Ticket, who relied heavily on post-ups and face-up mid-post moves, Wilson operates more like a big perimeter wing. Just like Kobe, Wilson has a tight handle. Just like Kobe, Wilson creates most of his shots off the bounce. More than anything, Wilson plays with an edge. Just like Kobe.

Check out this move by Wilson against the Grizzlies. Watch how he navigates around defenders to get to his spot for a 3-ball to beat the buzzer. He walks off the court dejected despite hitting a spectacular shot. The fact that he wears No. 8 seals it.

Future Hall of Famer and current Golden State Warrior Draymond Green thinks KG is Wilson’s baseline instead of his ceiling.

“Caleb Wilson is so good, and I think he’s still clumsy,” Green said on his podcast “The Draymond Green Show.”

“I think he’s so clumsy that he can’t really walk and chew gum at the same time. And yet, he’s already that good right now,” Green continued. “So, if that guy is still clumsy and he’s that good right now, man, what happens if he continues to grow into his body and he ain’t clumsy no more?

“I actually think Kevin Garnett could be his floor. That’s how special I think Caleb Wilson is,” Green concluded.

While top picks AJ Dybantsa and Darryn Peterson shut it down after two games in Vegas, Wilson pulled a Kobe-esque move by running through the tape while some of his peers were making a rest stop.

“I wanted to win a game before I stop,” Wilson said to reporters after the Bulls’ victory over the Dybantsa-less Wizards. “I don’t get to play again until October, probably, or whenever the season starts. I’m just trying to learn as much as I can, and there’s no better place to do that than Summer League.”

When asked about Peterson and Dybantsa skipping a showdown with him and the Bulls, Wilson said that he’s “different from all of them.’’

“I can’t say they don’t enjoy basketball, but I enjoy basketball,’’ he said. ‘‘I love this [expletive]. I’m going to play as much as I can, as much as my team will let me. I’m not the type to go away from a game because I don’t feel good because I know in the NBA, I’m not going to feel good some games. As long as I don’t have an injury or something wrong with me, I’m gonna play every time. People come from all over the world to see me play, so I don’t want to let them down.”

The Bulls have been searching for someone worthy of wearing Jordan’s sneakers. He wore Jordan Brand in college. Now he’ll be playing his home games at the house Jordan built.

Winning is what Cam does best

Cameron Boozer was the most consistent player throughout the summer. He was rock solid at the Salt Lake City Summer League, and he was outstanding at the Las Vegas Summer League. He made impactful plays. He did what was required for his team to succeed. That’s always been his best asset. He finds a way to win. He won at the high school level. He won a gold medal as a member of Team USA at the FIBA U17. He won at the AAU level. He led Duke to the Elite Eight.

Now, as a pro, he led the Memphis Grizzlies to the championship game of the Las Vegas Summer League. The Grizzlies ran their offense through Boozer in the fourth quarter. And Boozer got better as the stakes got higher.

Boozer recorded 19 points (7-for-17 from the field, 3-for-7 on threes), eight rebounds, four assists and two steals in 35 minutes during the Vegas Summer League championship game loss to the Golden State Warriors. Boozer appeared in all six games for the Grizzlies. He made the Vegas Summer League first team, averaging nearly a double-double (18.5 points, 8.0 rebounds) and had a top-five rating.

“He’s special, man,” Cedric Coward said of his Grizzlies teammate. “I mean, there are no other words I can use to describe it. Like I told people before, I can’t believe he’s 18, but he’s a special, special player.”

Boozer turned 19 on July 18, one night before the Vegas Summer League championship game.

Mixed reviews on point guards

If there was a rookie point guard who benefited most from the Las Vegas showcase, it was Mikel Brown Jr. The Brooklyn Nets first-round pick answered questions about his health as the back injury that shortened his lone season at the University of Louisville seemed to be a thing of the past. Brown Jr. was effective on both ends of the floor in the three games he played. Despite shooting just 39% from the field (33% on threes), there was nothing wrong mechanically with MBJ’s shooting stroke. In fact, he had one of the sweetest strokes among all the guards despite the poor shooting percentage. He has Damian Lillard-type range. He has great positional size (he’s listed at 6-5). He plays with a boatload of confidence.

Brown Jr. had a high-profile showdown with fellow lottery pick Darius Acuff Jr. Some thought Brown (No. 6 pick) won the head-to-head matchup with Sacramento’s Acuff (No. 7 pick), but in reality it was a stalemate. Both players had their moments.

Before coming to Vegas, Acuff played in the California Classic in front of Kings fans. The former Arkansas Razorback looked like he had heavy legs. Fatigue may have a lot to do with his poor shooting percentages. He shot a dreadful 26% from behind the 3-point arc and 36% from the field in three games.

Brayden Burries, the Bucks’ first-round pick and 10th overall selection, lived up to expectations. The 6-4 guard played with poise and first-class pace. They were the same attributes he displayed in his one season at Arizona. He averaged 23.5 points per game, which was second-best at the Vegas summer league based on a minimum of four games.

Keaton Wagler and Kingston Flemings may have made some L.A. Clippers and Atlanta Hawks fans a bit nervous. Wagler, the No. 5 pick overall, put up decent scoring stats (18 points per game) in four games for the Clippers, but he seemed overwhelmed by the physicality. He’ll need to add more muscle to his thin frame. He also struggled bringing up the ball as the lead guard. He may have to play more off the ball next to natural point guard Darius Garland.

Flemings averaged just 7.0 points in two games and shot 33% from the field. The struggles that Flemings dealt with during March Madness resurfaced in summer league. The eighth overall pick needs to pick up the pace because he’ll be counted on to fill the Hawks’ starting point guard spot after the departure of Trae Young. Flemings did play for Kelvin Sampson at the University of Houston. So far, Houston Cougars guards have done well at the pro level.

These 3 rookies exceeded expectations

Cameron Carr — The former Baylor Bear looks like a first-round steal for the Lakers after an impressive summer. He looked comfortable playing on the ball as well as off the ball. He does need to add more weight to his 175-pound frame, but the high-end athleticism and pro-ready skills are evident. Carr is a natural scorer, with a smooth mid-range jumper. The 24th selection in the 2026 NBA draft flashed the type of 3-point shooting that could earn him a spot in JJ Redick’s regular rotation. His perimeter shooting and athleticism are exactly what the Lakers need to help create space for Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. Carr averaged 18 points per game in Vegas, helping the Lakers win four of their first five games and earn a spot in the semifinals. The Lakers have whiffed on their last couple of first-round picks (Dalton Knecht in 2024 and Jalen Hood-Schifino in 2023), but Carr appears to be a home run. He’ll be a useful 3-and-D chess piece that Redick can use at his disposal.

Koa Peat—Peat has a frame NFL scouts love. He’s a 6-7, 235 physical specimen with solid footwork. Koa possesses a combination of size and strength that allows him to move defenders. His father, Todd Peat, played nine seasons in the NFL while his older brother, offensive lineman Andrus Peat, played for the New Orleans Saints and Pittsburgh Steelers. Koa was bigger than the average high school player, so he often overpowered opponents. His bully ball approach worked in high school and college, but some scouts didn’t think he’d be able to do it at the pro level. So far, Koa is proving some of the naysayers wrong, showing exceptional mobility for a 235-pound forward, and he moves a lot quicker than he looks. He’ll need to improve his face-up jumper and develop a perimeter shot beyond 15 feet, so he won’t feel the need to put his head down all the time.

Labaron Philon Jr. — Six years ago, the Philadelphia 76ers hit the jackpot when they selected Tyrese Maxey with the 21st overall selection. It turned out to be one of the best late-round picks. Maxey has turned into an All-NBA performer, and the Sixers have rewarded him with a $204 million max contract. Fast forward to this year, the Sixers may have found another late first-round gem in Philon Jr. The 6-4 guard from Alabama played with a chip on his shoulder and took every matchup personally. He showed up and showed out to let all the teams that passed on him know what they were missing.

Joel Huerto is editor and publisher of OneManFastBreak.net. He hosts a sports podcast on YouTube @onemanfastbreak1.

Erik Reynolds scored in the wrong basket. Jaylen Clark tossed the ball off the backboard on what could have been a highlight reel but turned into an awkward layup. Danny Wolf boinked a pass off teammate Drew Timme’s head. A mic’d-up Liam McNeeley referred to one of the game officials as “Mr. Referee.” And Noa Essengue became an internet meme after being on the wrong end of a vicious dunk.

Welcome to NBA Summer League basketball. It’s a playground for entry-level basketball professionals to experiment and practice their craft. There were plenty of Shaqtin A Fool moments for sure. It was the kind of basketball game only hardcore hoopers would embrace.

It wasn’t all Shaqin A Fool moments in Vegas. There were some impressive moments, including walk-off, buzzer-beating 3-pointers by Jamaree Bouyea and Riley Minix.

The 26-year-old Bouyea was on a two-way contract with the Milwaukee Bucks, while the 24-year-old Minix was on a two-way contract with the San Antonio Spurs. They embody what the summer league is all about. It’s about second chances and competing for a contract.

Here are some key takeaways from all the action at the Las Vegas Summer League.

The NBA has a new Flagg-bearer
Cooper Flagg, forward, Dallas Mavericks — Flagg called his summer league debut “one of the worst games of his life.” If that’s Flagg’s worst game, then the league is in a heap of trouble. The top pick in the draft was a bit harsh in critiquing his overall performance because it wasn’t that bad.

It took one game for Flagg to figure out the NBA game. Two days after his debut, he faced the Spurs and Dylan Harper in a marquee matchup. Flagg didn’t disappoint as he dropped 31 points on the same number of shots (21) he took in his first game and made it look easy. He played 31 minutes and looked like a superstar. He commanded the stage like a rock star, and he understood the assignment. He made the proper adjustments on his shot, especially the 3-ball, and put together one of the best performances in the Vegas Summer League in front of a big crowd at the Thomas & Mack Center. He commanded the stage, met the moment, and lived up to the hype.

Flagg also looked a lot more comfortable running point. He was matched up against Carter Bryant, and he won more battles than he lost. Bryant’s sole job was to shadow Cooper all over the floor when he’s in there, and it took away his legs on offense as the Spurs’ rookie went 0-for-7 from the field and 0-for-5 from 3-point range. The Mavs saw enough of Flagg and shut him down after two games.

About What We Expected
Dylan Harper, guard, San Antonio Spurs — The No. 2 overall pick in the draft didn’t make his summer league debut until Day 3 of the Vegas summer league. It was worth the wait, especially for Spurs fans, who saw what the scouts saw when Harper hit the floor in Vegas. He looked every bit of the 6-6 frame he was listed at, and he played with remarkable poise for a young player. He’s deliberate with his moves and doesn’t get rushed. It will be interesting to see how Spurs coach Mitch Johnson will utilize Harper, given that the Spurs have a full house in the backcourt with DeAaron Fox and Stephon Castle.

Tre Johnson, guard, Washington Wizards — Tre Johnson is a professional bucker-getter with efficiency. In his debut, Johnson scored 18 points on 7-for-13 from the field and made three 3-pointers. The sixth overall pick followed that up with another strong showing, going 7-for-11 from the field and finishing with a team-high 21 points. The Wizards need help in several places, and Johnson will certainly help in scoring.

Collin Murray-Boyles, forward, Toronto Raptors — The Raptors were one of the best teams in the summer league, and Murray-Boyles was a big part of their success. Murray-Boyles, the ninth pick in the draft, brought the same type of defensive intensity he displayed at South Carolina to the summer league, especially on the defensive end. CMB handled the speed and physicality of the NBA game like a seasoned pro. He looks like he can immediately play in a regular NBA game.

Derik Queen, forward, New Orleans Pelicans — Flagg’s former high school teammate at Montverde Academy (Fla.) appeared nervous in his first game. The 13th overall pick couldn’t get into any type of rhythm early against the Timberwolves. Turnovers were an issue as he committed seven turnovers, five of them coming in the first half. He lost the ball while bringing the ball up. He lost the ball while trying to make a spin move. Once he settled in, he played better, finishing his debut with 13 points and 10 rebounds. Queen put up a double-double in his first three games and flashed an ability to be a hub on offense. He’s a capable ball handler as a power forward, and Pels summer league head coach Corey Brewer didn’t hesitate to have Queen bring up the ball and initiate offense. Even though he shot just 43.8% from the field, he did average a double (14 and 11).

Exceeded Expectations
Joan Beringer, center, Minnesota Timberwolves — Beringer made his mark 10 minutes into his pro debut while going up against New Orleans Pelicans second-year pro Yves Missi. Beringer, the 17th pick in the draft, finished with a then-record seven blocks, had eight rebounds, and was 5-for-6 from the field (all in the paint). The 18-year-old, 6-11 Frenchman, who played professionally in Slovenia this past season and won the Slovenian Cup, showcased an ability to run the floor and rebound in traffic, but the most impressive part about his game was his ability to protect the rim. He had two blocks on the Pels’ first possession of the game, including one against Jeremiah Fears. “He’s very active, but he doesn’t waste any motion,” T-Wolves coach Chris Finch said about Beringer, who only started playing basketball in 2021. The sky is the limit for him, and the T-Wolves may have found a diamond in the rough.

Liam McNeeley, forward, Charlotte Hornets — When he’s not chopping it up with referees, McNeeley is chopping down defenders with an array of NBA-level shot creation and playmaking. The former UConn standout displayed an ability to splash 3-pointers (3-for-5 in his debut) as well as put the ball on the floor and score off the bounce. He knows how to use his 6-8 frame to create space and absorb contact, as he went to the line five times. McNeeley looked comfortable in an NBA setting, even with being mic’d up. Part of being an NBA player is dealing with distractions. The 29th pick in the draft appeared relaxed and wasn’t fazed at all by the extra attention. That bodes well for him going forward.

Nique Clifford, forward, Sacramento Kings — Clifford, the 24th pick in the draft, was the among all the 3-&-D wings in the summer league. He averaged 18-6-5 in 27 minutes of action, shot 58.3% from the field, and 52.9% from 3-point range. He is 23 and looks every bit of an older rookie, but he is a good fit for the Kings. He stays in his lane and understands what is required of him. He was easily one of the standouts of the summer league.

Yang Hansen, center, Portland Trail Blazers — From the moment he set foot on the floor, the 20-year-old center from China was an instant summer league favorite. He showcased nifty ball handling and passing, drawing oohs and aahs from the crowd. He moves so well that sometimes you forget that he’s a 7-footer. Yang wasn’t perfect and admitted his conditioning needed to be better, but his court awareness and soft hands are elite. The fans love him, and his teammates love him. He’s got a likable personality.

Yang and fellow rookie Caleb Love built up a nice chemistry, playing off each other and doing a lot of non-verbal communicating. Yang is far from a finished product, but he displayed Jokic-like dexterity at the high post. Yang was easily the best passing big in the summer league. He was directing traffic, which is impressive for a rookie still learning NBA terminology. Give credit to general manager Joe Cronin and head coach Chauncey Billups for taking a big swing in drafting Yang. The bold move could have a big payoff. It’s too early to tell if Yang will be the next Bill Walton, but the Blazers are certainly going to be a popular team in China. Blazers will add 680 million more followers this season.

Work In Progress
Jeremiah Fears, guard, New Orleans Pelicans — The seventh pick in the draft flashed some of the skills that made him an electrifying prospect coming out of Oklahoma. But he also flashed some concerning habits. There were times when Fears played too much Me-Ball, which resulted in a ton of turnovers and bad shots. He hunted for his shots and lacked court awareness.

In a game against the Lakers, he forced the issue a lot. The me-ball approach led to 5-for-21 shooting (23%) and zero assists. For a point guard not to have an assist in a game is wild. On several occasions, Fears drove the paint without a clear plan and got stuffed at the rim. His worst outing came against the Blazers, where he instigated a dustup with Sidy Cissoko that resulted in ejections. Fear is only 18, and it showed. He has some work to do in terms of being more mature and acting more professional.

Khaman Maluach, center, Phoenix Suns — If there’s a definition of a “work in progress” player in summer league, it’s Maluach. The size is undeniable. He’s every bit of the 7-1, 250-pound frame he came in at. But the basketball skills are lacking. Jordan Ott and the Phoenix Suns coaching staff have some work ahead of them in developing Maluach into a starting NBA center. Maluach has to clean up a lot of things, especially shot selection. He has to understand what his strengths are and amplify them. He doesn’t have the necessary feel for the game yet, and all his warts showed up in his matchup against second-year pro Alex Sarr. Maluach couldn’t get into rhythm and, for some odd reason, fell in love with the 3-point shot. He took and missed two early 3-pointers in his debut, and one of them was heavily contested. Maluach played a decent game against Joan Beringer, playing him to a stalemate.

Kasparas Jakucionis, guard, Miami Heat — Jakucionis must love the rims in Las Vegas better than the rims in San Francisco. The 20th overall pick, who couldn’t make a 3-pointer at the California Classic, turned it around when he arrived in Vegas, earning praise from Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra for the way he responded following a rough start. Jakucionis said the NBA game style is “different,” and he’ll need to adjust to regain his footing. The Heat summer league coaching staff moved him off the ball on several occasions, so playing off-ball might be a better fit for him instead of point guard.

Dalton Knecht, guard, Los Angeles Lakers — The Lakers’ first-round pick in 2024 was having an up-and-down summer heading into Vegas, and the rims in Vegas weren’t kind to the former Tennessee shooting guard. In his first two games, he averaged 11.5 points and shot an atrocious 29% from the field and 26.7% from 3-point range. The 3-point shot is supposed to be his specialty, and he couldn’t check that box. Bronny James had a better summer league than Knecht, which tells you everything about Dalton’s summer. If Knecht is going to be part of the Lakers’ rotation, he’ll need to be more consistent.

Carter Bryant, forward, San Antonio Spurs — Despite playing a limited role at the University of Arizona, where he averaged just 6.5 points per game and started five games as a freshman, Bryant was selected 14th overall in the draft. So far, Bryant looks like a JAG. Just a guy. Bryant was underwhelming in the California Classic, and his struggles continued in Las Vegas, where he couldn’t find the rim (3-for-24 from 3-point) in three games. He finally got going in the fourth game, making 4-for-6 3-pointers and finishing with 16 points. He disappears for long stretches, which is what frustrated many Wildcat fans, and he has a hard ceiling. Bryant can still be an effective role player alongside Victor Wembanyama, but don’t expect anything more.

Biggest Loser
Noa Essengue, forward, Chicago Bulls — Noa Essengue became part of NBA Summer League lore but not in a good way. Pacers second-year pro Johnny Furphy authored the dunk of the Vegas Summer League when he threw down a soul-snatching slam on Essengue’s head. What made it worse for Essengue was his facial expression after getting dunked on, and it got widely shared on social media. This was not the way you wanted to start your NBA career.

Essengue finished with 21 points in that same game, but no one will remember his stat line because it was overshadowed by the “orgasm face” meme (props to Ryan Clark for the term). You know it’s bad when two “SportsCenter” anchors, Nicole Briscoe and Ryan Smith, could barely do the highlights without laughing. Essengue, 18, was the No. 12 overall pick. He’s French but played last season in the Bundesliga with Ben Saraf for Ratiopharm Ulm. He skipped one of the Bundesliga finals games to fly to New York City to attend the NBA draft. Ulm went on to lose to Bayern Munich. It’s going to take an unbelievable rookie campaign for the Bulls for Essengue to escape THE viral moment in Vegas.

Mixed Reviews For Nets’ First-Rounders
Egor Demin, Nolan Traore, Ben Saraf, and Danny Wolf, four of the five first-round picks by the Nets, all took part in the Vegas summer league. And not surprisingly, the group needed more time to develop.

Demin, the eighth overall pick, looked the most NBA-ready. Demin has great positional size (6-8) for a guard and plays with a good amount of confidence. The biggest question mark for Demin was his 3-point shooting, but he quickly answered it by knocking down four threes in his second summer league game, and then swished three clutch 3-pointers in the final two minutes of the game against Orlando for the Nets’ only win in summer league.

Wolf (27th pick) couldn’t find his shot, but he contributed in other ways, such as rebounding and playmaking. He is comfortable handling the ball at 6-11, which makes him a candidate for multiple actions at the high post or wing. Wolf played his best game against Orlando (18 points), taking advantage of the absence of Drew Timme.

Traore (19th pick) showed an ability to blow by defenders, but couldn’t consistently finish at the rim. The same can be said about Saraf (26th pick), who played well in the German Bundesliga, helping Ratiopharm Ulm reach the finals, but the NBA is several notches higher than the Bundesliga.

The Nets would be foolish to play all their rookies this upcoming season, so we could see Traore and Saraf playing in the G League.

Joel Huerto is editor and publisher of OneManFastbreak.net. Follow and subscribe to his YouTube channel at @onemanfastbreak1.

The first time Cooper Flagg touched the ball, two L.A. Lakers defenders ran at him in a rare double team shortly after tip-off. It was the type of attention Flagg commanded both on the court and inside the Thomas & Mack Center as the main event of the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas.

The teenager from Newport, Maine, and the second-youngest No. 1 overall pick in the NBA draft certainly didn’t disappoint in an 87-85 Dallas Mavericks victory over the Lakers. He knew a lot of eyes were glued to him, and he gave the fans who packed UNLV’s Thomas & Mack Center a good show — for about a half.

After missing his first two shots, Flagg delivered a highlight-reel dunk on a fast break for his first basket as a member of the Mavs. He followed it up with a pull-up jumper from the corner over Dalton Knecht. Then, there was a sequence in the second quarter when Flagg posted up on the wing while being guarded by LeBron James’ son, Bronny James. It caused a few oohs and aahs from the pro-Laker crowd on the first night of the Las Vegas Summer.

A determined Flagg kept bumping Bronny with each dribble, but the second-year Lakers guard stood his ground and came close to causing a turnover but was called for a foul.

On the very next play, Flagg posted up Bronny again and this time he elevated over him and drained a turnaround jumper. Flagg turned to a few of Mavs teammates sitting courtside, including Kyrie Irving, and gestured something that got them all riled up.

Tickets for courtside seats were selling for $2,500, so Kyrie and Co. got their money’s worth.

Flagg finished the first half with 10 points on 5-for-15 shooting, playing predominantly as a point forward and initiator on offense. That was Mavericks coach Jason Kidd’s plan all along. He wanted to see how Flagg handles ball pressure.

“He’s shown that he can handle the press,” Kidd said of Flagg during a halftime interview with ESPN’s Malika Andrews.

Kidd continued: “When you have someone like Cooper who can handle, who can shoot, who can pass you want the ball in his hands. He’s a great decision-maker. He did that at Duke and also in high school. He’s gonna have some mistakes; he’s gonna throw [the ball] in the stands. We all do. But I think just his poise as an 18-year-old is incredible.”

Flagg played 16 minutes in the first half, which is highly unusual for a rookie playing in his first pro game, especially a rookie who hasn’t played a meaningful game in four months. He tallied a total of 32 minutes and fatigue factored in his second-half struggles as he went 0-for-6 from the field, including two air balls from the mid-range where he normally excels.

“The coaches have a lot of confidence in me,” Flagg told reporters after the game. “They’ve been telling us to experiment and try some new things. I was trying to be aggressive, which was new for me, too. I would say it might be one of the worst games of my life.”

It wasn’t the “worst game” of Flagg’s basketball career, but his 5-for-21 shooting, including 0-for-5 from behind the 3-point line, was dreadful. But the shooting stroke will improve as he gets more fit and gets used to playing 30-plus minutes against NBA competition.

Flagg was relatively absent much of the second half until the final minute of the game gave the Mavs the lead for good. However, he made a key block to snuff a layup that ignited a fast break that led to a 3-pointer by Ryan Nembhard — on an assist from Flagg — that gave the Mavs an 87-85 lead.

Flagg only cares about winning, and the block and the assist on the game-winning 3-ball are the kind of winning plays he’ll be doing for the Mavericks. He can impact the game in so many ways, and he doesn’t have to score to impact the game.

He’ll have more good days ahead than bad days.

The NBA summer league is the best teaser to what to expect from the incoming rookie class. As expected, the top lottery picks didn’t disappoint, while others have obvious weaknesses that need to be corrected.

The Las Vegas summer league was the main event of the NBA offseason. All 30 teams, armed with their first-round picks from the 2023 NBA draft, showed up to The Strip to showcase the potential stars of tomorrow. The main attraction was 7-foot-4 center Victor Wembanyama, the No. 1 overall pick in the draft.

Wembanyama had quite the roller-coaster ride in Vegas, and we’re not referring to his games on the hardwood. Wembanyama had strange encounter with pop star Britney Spears at Aria, which resulted in a wild 48 hours in which the San Antonio Spurs star’s security detail was accused of slapping Spears in the face. The claim was investigated by Las Vegas police and no charges were filed. No harm, no foul.

Wembanyama was literally and figuratively the biggest attraction in the Vegas summer league. There was a palpable buzz around UNLV’s Thomas & Mack Center as a massive crowd that snaked around the arena were there to catch a glimpse of the No. 1 overall pick in the draft.

His summer league debut was a major event. Thomas & Mack Center was sold out for the whole day to watch the 19-year-old human Eiffel Tower. When Wembanyama took the court, it was like watching Usher or Adele hit the stage.

His first game was dud as he went 2-for-13 from the floor with just nine points.

His second game was worth the price of admission.

He scored 27 points, grabbed 12 rebounds, had three blocks, and threw down a couple of crowd-pleasing dunks. But just as Wemby was starting to get on a roll, the Spurs inexplicably shut him down for the rest of the summer league after two games. Two games! Fans who were hoping to catch Wemby after the weekend must have felt like they got slapped in the face by Wemby’s security team.

We shouldn’t be surprised by now that a Gregg Popovich-run organization is unnecessarily load managing Wemby. Pop did it with Tim Duncan. He did it with Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili. And he did with with Kawhi Leonard.

Wembanyama wasn’t the only NBA rookie who put on a show in Vegas. Here are the studs — and duds — from the Las Vegas summer league:

STUDS: Cam Whitmore, Keyonte George, Scoot Henderson, Amen Thompson, Ausar Thompson

Cam Whitmore, forward, Houston Rockets — For whatever strange reason, Whitmore dropped to 20th in the draft. The 19-year-old former Villanova standout is now using his draft night disappointment as motivation. Whitmore silenced his doubters with his outstanding performance in summer league. He was arguably the best two-way player in Vegas, leading the Rockets to a 5-1 record and winning the MVP of the Vegas summer league. He averaged 19.3 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 2.5 steals. He tied a summer league record with eight steals in a win over Golden State. When we revisit the 2023 draft, we’re all going to wonder how in the world did Whitmore fall out of the lottery. He looks like the steal of the draft and could be an absolute stud.

Keyonte George, guard, Utah Jazz — The 16th pick in the draft put on a show in his first two games before a sprained ankle in his third game ended his summer session. George, 19, dropped a cool 33 points and 10 assists the first time he hit the Vegas stage, and followed that up with 26 points and seven assists for an encore. The former Baylor Bears guard shot 44% from 3-point range. It’s safe to say, Jazz general manager Danny Ainge hit another home run in the draft.

Scoot Henderson, guard, Portland Trail Blazers — Henderson, the No. 3 overall pick, looked the most NBA-ready player from his draft class. The 19-year-old prodigy had the advantage of playing in Vegas where he has been training for the past two years under the G League Ignite program. Henderson was comfortable in the spotlight. He met the moment during his summer league debut, making his first four shots and finishing with 15 points, five rebounds and six assists. He went head-to-head with fellow rookie point guard Amen Thompson and both of them made a strong first impression.

Amen Thompson, guard-forward, Houston Rockets — Amen and Ausar Thompson were the first set of twins to be drafted in the top-5 in the draft. Amen, 20, was seen as the slightly better prospect than his brother and that scouting report proved to be accurate. He posted 16 points on 6-of-13 shooting with four rebounds, five assists, three steals and four blocks in 28 minutes before leaving the game with a sprained ankle. The Rockets shut him down the rest of the summer league.

Ausar Thompson, guard-forward, Detroit Pistons — After somewhat of a slow start, Ausar really got going once the Pistons sat second-year players Jaden Ivey and Jalen Duren. The fifth overall pick in the draft saved his best for last when he had 18 points and 14 rebounds against the Spurs, including a spectacular one-handed, putback dunk over Dominick Barlow.

DUDS: Brandon Miller, Jett Howard, Bilal Coulibaly, Jordan Hawkins, Kobe Bufkin

Brandon Miller, forward, Charlotte Hornets — Miller has had an up-and-down summer season. He struggled in his pro debut during the California Classic in Sacramento, and it carried over in his first two games in Vegas as he went 9-for-33 from the field. He finally shook off the cobwebs in his third game against the Blazers scoring 26 points in a loss. There’s a stain that has followed past No. 2 overall picks in the last 23 years. Some might even say it’s cursed. From Stromile Swift to Darko Milicic to Hasheem Thabeet to Marvin Bagley, being selected No. 2 has not worked out for a host of much-hyped prospects. Miller is hoping he can avoid the curse.

Jett Howard, forward, Orlando Magic — Howard, the son of former NBA player and Michigan Fab Five member Juwan Howard, is one of Orlando’s two lottery picks. The other was point guard Anthony Black, the sixth overall pick. Howard was the 11th player selected. In other words, the Magic passed on Cam Whitmore twice. Howard couldn’t find his shooting stroke in a bumpy Vegas run. The 6-8 former Michigan forward shot just 38% from the field in three games and looked unsure at times on both ends.

Bilal Coulibaly, forward, Washington Wizards — Coulibaly has the biggest boom-or-bust potential among all the rookies in his draft class. The French teenager — a teammate of Wembanyama’s with Metropolitans 92 — rocketed to the top of many draft boards because of his high ceiling and vast potential. But potential could get coaches fired. Coulibaly has all the physical tools, but he’s far from being a finished product. His defense is way ahead of his offense. If he turns into Nic Batum, then the Wizards made the right call to take him at No. 7 overall. But if his offensive game doesn’t improve, we could be looking at another Frank Ntilikina.

Jordan Hawkins, guard, New Orleans Pelicans — Hawkins had a reputation of being a sharpshooter in college, flashing those skills in the Connecticut Huskies’ NCAA championship run in 2023. Some scouts compared him to former UConn great and basketball Hall of Famer Ray Allen. Based on how Hawkins played during the Vegas summer league, let’s put those Ray Allen comparisons to bed. He’s definitely not Ray Allen. After a solid first game, Hawkins progressively got worse the more games he played in Vegas. He shot just 29% from the field and 21% from 3-point range. Hawkins (who’s already 21) doesn’t do much else outside of being a shooter, so if he doesn’t fix his shot he might have a hard time cracking the Pelicans’ rotation.

Kobe Bufkin, guard, Atlanta Hawks — Bufkin was a popular player to watch on many mock drafts, and he rose in the draft in part because of his potential as a scorer. The transition from college to pro is not a smooth one so far for the left-handed shooting guard, who primarily played point guard on the Hawks summer league team. Bufkin, 19, struggled when he was tasked as the primary playmaker, turning the ball over at alarming rate (4.6 per game). He also struggled with consistency on his shooting, especially from 3-point range as he made just 13% of his shots. Bufkin did finish strong with 18 points in his final game, but he’s got a long ways to go before he can crack the rotation in a very crowded Hawks backcourt.

Chet Holmgren gave the basketball world a taste of what he could serve at the professional level with a eye-popping debut in summer league.

The No. 2 overall selection in the 2022 NBA draft didn’t disappoint in his debut at the Salt Lake City Summer League, scoring 23 points on 7-for-9 shooting from the field including four 3-pointers. The 7-foot-1 forward/center also grabbed seven rebounds, had four assists, and set a new SLC summer league record with six blocked shots.

After the game, ESPN’s Holly Rowe brought up the record for blocks with Chet and without hesitation he said he’ll break it again. The confident response showed the type of swagger the 20-year-old rookie possesses. And his supreme confidence definitely showed in his performance against the Utah Jazz summer league team, a game dominated by OKC 98-77. He struggled a bit in his second outing as the Salt City altitude sapped his energy on the back-to-back game. Despite being visibly fatigued, Holmgren still managed to post 11 points, 12 rebounds, and had two blocks against Memphis.

Holmgren scored his first basket on a dunk, then splashed three consecutive 3-pointers from the top of the circle that drew oohs and aahs from the Salt Lake City crowd in attendance. He flashed the otherworldly ball-handling skills for a 7-footer, putting the ball behind his back, crossing over defenders, and comfortably bringing up the ball up the court to trigger the offense. Holmgren also made a move that would have made Dirk Nowitzki proud. He drove the lane, spun to the middle of the paint and drained a one-legged fadeaway.

But the most impressive skillset Holmgren displayed was his shot blocking. The Jazz had a couple of massive big men in Kofi Cockburn (7-0, 290 pounds) and Tacko Fall (7-6, 311 pounds) to go up against Holmgren and he more than held his own. Holmgren, whose slight 195-pound frame was a major concern for some scouts during the draft process, wasn’t bothered or overwhelmed in the paint by the bigger Cockburn or Fall. In fact, Holmgren’s enormous wingspan bothered Cockburn and Fall. Holmgren was credited with six blocks, but it felt like he should have had more. He rejected Cockburn’s first shot and blocked Fall’s shot without much of a jump.

Kevin Durant was one of the many watching who was impressive with Holmgren. Durant definitely noticed the sneakers Holmgren wore for the game. KD tweeted: “I see u cookin 7. First day on the job was a success, love the kicks @ChetHolmgren.”

Durant might one of the few people who understands the amount of pressure some of these young guys face entering the league. Durant was the No. 2 overall pick by OKC in 2007 and he also had many detractors regarding his slight build. Safe to say, KD’s career turned out just fine.

There’s a certain superstar quality about Holmgren. He naturally stirs attention because of his game and his frame. Second-year guard Josh Giddey, who shared the court with Holmgren in his summer league debut, already seems to have great chemistry with Holmgren on and off the court.

“The hype that he came in with, and the way he played tonight was big for us,” Giddey told Rowe after the game about his new OKC teammate.

“Being a high pick like that, there’s a lot of pressure coming in, and he handled it as well as he could have,” Giddey continued. “Makes my job really easy playing with someone like him, who can stretch the floor, finish at the rim, protect me — he’s got my back on the defensive end. Love playing with him. It’s been one game, and the chemistry’s only getting stronger.”

Here’s how the other top draft picks from the 2022 class did in their first summer league games:

Paolo Banchero (Orlando Magic)

No. 1 overall pick Paolo Banchero went head-to-head with No. 3 overall pick Jabari Smith Jr. on Day 1 of the Las Vegas Summer League and walked away with not just the team victory (91-77) but also won the individual matchup against his draft classmate.

Despite being a little rusty for not playing 5-on-5 fullcourt basketball since Duke’s season ended in the NCAA Final Four in April, Banchero showcased his huge potential as he scored 17 points on 5-of-12 shooting including two 3-pointers. He also dished out six assists and displayed smooth ball-handling skills for a 6-10, 250-pound power forward. Banchero seemed to relish the challenge of playing against Smith, who looked a little tentative at the start before getting going in the second half. Banchero was far from tentative as he was decisive with the ball and threw a couple of terrific pin-point passes.

Orlando Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley liked what he saw. Mosley told ESPN’s Mark Jones that he was impressed with Banchero’s feel for the game. “[He’s] willing to make the simple play. Not trying to do too much,” Mosley said. Many basketball observers were shocked that the Magic took Banchero over Smith in the draft, but after watching him in Vegas the Magic appears to have made the right choice.

Banchero backed up his superb debut with an even better performance in his second game, scoring 23 points in leading the Magic to a 94-92 overtime win over the Sacramento Kings.

Jabari Smith Jr. (Houston Rockets)

Jabari Smith Jr. had a shaky debut in summer league, getting outplayed by Banchero in their highly anticipated matchup in Las Vegas.

Smith looked nervous early in the game, scoring just one point in the first half. He couldn’t get any type of rhythm on offense partly because the Rockets guards were hijacking the offense. Smith had a better performance in the second half and finished with 10 points and seven rebounds. But there’s no panic on the Rockets as they understand one game won’t define the 19-year-old Auburn standout and he’s got a bright future ahead of him.

“There’s a poise about him that’s well beyond his years,” Rockets head coach Stephen Silas said of his prized rookie forward.

Jaden Ivey (Detroit Pistons)

Notre Dame women’s basketball coach Niele Ivey, Jaden’s mom, gave her son a B+ on his first outing in summer league. The grade could have been higher if not for Ivey’s unsteady first half when he had four turnovers and played out of control. Once the fifth overall pick found his footing and eased up on the gas pedal, he thrived as he finished the game with 20 points, six rebounds, and six assists.

The Purdue All-American guard flashed his blazing speed in the second half, including one play where he split a trap and turned on the afterburners on his way to the basket for a layup. He also threw down an alley-oop dunk on a fastbreak that wowed the Thomas & Mack Center crowd.

The knock on Ivey entering the draft was his inconsistent 3-point shot. He drained two shots from behind the arc to show that he’s capable of making them. They were more like set shots than true jumpers, but as long as they go down the Pistons won’t mind.

Ivey’s time at the Vegas summer league was cut short after he suffered an ankle injury in his second game. The injury was a setback, but it won’t change how the Pistons view Ivey as being an integral part of their rebuilding process.

Bennedict Mathurin (Indiana Pacers)

Bennedict Mathurin, the No. 6 selection in the draft, made a lot of noise off the court when he made a bold statement in a pre-draft interview with the Washington Post. Mathurin told the Post he wanted to see how great LeBron is. “I don’t think anybody is better than me,” Mathurin said. “He’s going to have to show me he’s better than me.”

Mathurin brings a boatload of confidence, which is exactly what the Indiana Pacers need to give their struggling franchise a boost. Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle was in attendance in Vegas and had to like what Mathurin displayed on the court against the Charlotte Hornets. The 6-foot-6 Arizona product backed up his bravado with an efficient debut in summer league, scoring 23 points on 9-of-16 shooting from the field. He knocked down the first of his three 3-pointers on the Pacers’ first possession and never looked back.

Mathurin showed he’s a three-level scorer with above-average 3-point range. He wasn’t rushed on any of his moves and also competed on the defensive end.

He followed up his impressive debut with a solid performance in a 101-87 victory over Detroit. In that game, Mathurin scored 20 points, had five rebounds, three assists, and three steals. He went 5-for-9 from the field and converted 9-of-10 free throw attempts. Carlisle told NBA TV that Mathurin is an NBA scorer right now. “He has tremendous upside because there are parts of his game that are still very raw and that’s exciting,” Carlisle said. “We view that as an exciting thing, not a negative by any stretch.”

Shaedon Sharpe (Portland Trail Blazers)

The biggest mystery of the draft was the biggest disappointment on opening night of the Vegas summer league. Shaedon Sharpe, the seventh overall pick in the draft, played just six minutes against the Detroit Pistons before shutting it down for the rest of the Vegas summer league. An MRI showed Sharpe suffered a small labral tear in his left shoulder.

Despite Sharpe’s short stint, Portland Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups remains optimistic about the 6-6 wing and is excited to see his development.

“He plays with a veteran’s pace. You can’t really speed him up. For a 19-year-old kid, [he’s got] pretty good feel for the game. He’s got this quiet competitiveness that I really like. I think he’s got a chance to be a special talent.”

Billups also pointed out that Sharpe — who hasn’t played in an organized basketball game in almost a year — will be learning from one of the best leaders in the game in Damian Lillard. Lillard, who was in attendance in Vegas, won’t allow Sharpe to settle for being average.

Keegan Murray (Sacramento Kings)

Keegan Murray showed the Sacramento Kings that he’s ready to roll if the regular season started today. Sacramento’s No. 4 overall pick in the 2022 NBA draft was easily the best player in the California Classic at San Francisco’s Chase Center. In three games against the Miami Heat, L.A. Lakers and Golden State Warriors summer league squads, Murray averaged a tournament-best 19.7 points. He also averaged 8.0 rebounds and had a solid plus-minus (+13) while averaging 30.1 minutes per game.

The 6-8 forward made his first basket the first time he touched the ball in his pro debut — a corner 3-pointer. He finished with 26 points on 10-for-14 shooting from the field and 4-for-5 from 3-point range with eight rebounds in the Kings’ 86-68 win over the Warriors.

The former Iowa standout looked extremely comfortable on the court on both ends and played with veteran-like poise. Aside from the offensive efficiency (50% from the field), Murray has rebounded (7.3 boards) and defended well for (1.3 steals).

Murray continued his stellar summer with an outstanding performance in Las Vegas. He went over the 20-point mark in each of his games in Vegas, including against high-profile matchups against Banchero and Holmgren. Murray is the first rookie top-10 draft pick to average 21 points per game in the Vegas summer league since Damian Lillard did it in 2012.

The consistency Murray, who averaged 23 points per game during his sophomore season at Iowa, has shown throughout the summer could be a precursor of what his rookie season for the Kings could look like. The Vegas Summer League MVP should make an immediate impact for first-year coach Mike Brown.

Jalen Suggs couldn’t stop smiling after he left the court in his NBA summer league debut as a member of the Orlando Magic.

The former Gonzaga star put on a show for the Las Vegas crowd. He scored 24 points, grabbed nine rebounds, had two steals, and two blocks. He led his team to a 91-89 victory over the Golden State Warriors in overtime.

Suggs embraced the whole experience, even the tough ones. He enjoyed every single moment of his first live NBA game. Well, until the regular season begins. For now, it’s practice jerseys and teammates who may never see again.

“I’m just so happy to be here, to be honest,” Suggs told NBATV’s Dennis Scott.

“Tempo is a lot different,” said the 6-4, 205-pound guard, who was the fifth overall pick in the 2021 NBA draft. “Coming off the picks and going up and down the floor, the physicality. The bumps.”

Orlando was thrilled Suggs was still available when it made its selection at No. 5. Many draft experts predicted that Suggs would be taken fourth and wear the Toronto Raptors jersey. But the Raptors pulled off a draft-day shocker by taking Florida State forward Scottie Barnes. Raptors general manager Masai Ujiri is one of the most well respected and highly regarded NBA executives, but after what we’ve witnessed in the NBA summer league in Las Vegas, Ujiri and the Raptors may regret not selecting Suggs.

Barnes hasn’t been bad in the summer league. He’s just not Suggs.

Barnes is seen as a do-it-all forward who can play multiple positions. Positionless basketball has become fashionable these days. But not having a clear position also has its disadvantages. You still need a primary ballhandler or a 1, you still need a 5 man (aka center), and you still need wing players (2-3). The power forward (also referred to as 4) has evolved over the years. The 3 and 4 have become interchangeable, and some 4s are able to play the small-ball 5.

Suggs is clearly a 1 or 2. But what is Barnes?

At Florida State, Barnes came off the bench and was utilized as a Swiss Army knife. Seminoles coach Leonard Hamilton subscribes to positionless basketball and Barnes falls in line with other positionless athletic wing players who came through Hamilton’s system: Patrick Williams, Jonathan Isaac, and Terance Mann. Williams, Isaac, and Mann are good role players but none of them are going to receive a max contract.

Sometimes NBA scouts and executives fall in love with trends. Barnes was a trendy pick because of his versatility. He could ultimately be a solid player for the Raptors. He’s shown he can fill up the stat sheet and can defend multiple positions. However, Barnes hasn’t flashed star quality. Suggs, on the other hand, has star quality. He already looks like a superstar capable of lifting an entire franchise and leading a huddle. Suggs looks like a natural leader, and his background as a top high school quarterback gives him a leg up over other rookies. He can lead.

The Magic have completely retooled their team in the last two years, moving off Aaron Gordon and Nikola Vucevic and sending their massive contracts to the Denver Nuggets and Chicago Bulls, respectively. Orlando mutually parted ways with head coach Steve Clifford and handed over the reins to Jamahl Mosley.

Mosley, the 15th head coach in franchise history, comes to Orlando after spending the previous seven seasons as an assistant coach with the Dallas Mavericks. He is considered as a rising star in the Magic’s eyes and he’ll be tasked with helping the franchise rebuild. And Suggs appears to be the cornerstone of the rebuilding process along with second-year guards Cole Anthony and R.J. Hampton.

Anthony, the son of former NBA player Greg Anthony, was the Magic’s first-round pick in the 2020 draft and showed some flashes of brilliance in the second half of his rookie campaign. Anthony and Suggs have shown they already have strong chemistry, Mosley should at least try to pair them together in the starting lineup. Suggs thinks the combination of himself and Anthony will be “dangerous.”

“The moment we started going, the rhythm that we get the closeness. It’s gonna get dangerous,” Suggs said. “We’re gonna continue to work. We’re both workaholics. We both want to be great.”

Marvin Bagley III and DeAndre Ayton go head-to-head in NBA summer league. (Getty Images)

LAS VEGAS — You don’t have to be a basketball junkie to love the NBA summer league, especially if the venue is Las Vegas. For the general admission price of $35, you’ll be able to watch a slew of games at UNLV’s Thomas & Mack Center and Cox Pavilion. And if you’re paying close attention, you could bump into some NBA executives or big-time players.

It’ll be like watching 10 live shows for the same price you would pay for a dinner buffet at Mandalay Bay or Planet Hollywood.

The event is fast becoming one of the best shows on the Vegas Strip, and this year should bring a tremendous amount of buzz thanks to a heralded draft class headed by No. 1 overall selection DeAndre Ayton (Phoenix Suns), No. 2 pick Marvin Bagley III (Sacramento Kings), No. 4 pick Jaren Jackson Jr. (Memphis Grizzlies), and No. 5 pick Trae Young (Atlanta Hawks). This will be the first year all 30 NBA teams are participating in the Vegas summer league.

Here is the jam-packed schedule through the first five days (All times EST):

Friday, July 6

Houston vs. Indiana (3 p.m., NBATV)

Toronto vs. New Orleans (3:30 p.m., ESPNU)

Brooklyn vs. Orlando (5 p.m., NBATV)

Oklahoma City vs. Charlotte (5:30 p.m., ESPNU)

Milwaukee vs. Detroit (7 p.m., NBATV)

Boston vs. Philadelphia (7:30 p.m., ESPN)

Cleveland vs. Washington (9 p.m., NBATV)

Dallas vs. Phoenix (9:30 p.m., ESPN)

Denver vs. Minnesota (11 p.m., NBATV)

Los Angeles Clippers vs. Golden State (11:30 p.m., ESPN)

Saturday, July 7

Portland vs. Utah (3 p.m., NBATV)

San Antonio vs. Indiana (3:30 p.m., ESPN2)

Miami vs. New Orleans (5 p.m., NBATV)

New York vs. Atlanta (5:30 p.m., ESPN)

Oklahoma City vs. Brooklyn (7 p.m., NBATV)

Phoenix vs. Sacramento (7:30 p.m., ESPN)

Detroit vs. Memphis (9 p.m., NBATV)

Chicago vs. Cleveland (9:30 p.m., ESPN2)

Boston vs. Denver (11 p.m., NBATV)

Philadelphia vs. Los Angeles Lakers (11:30 p.m., ESPN)

Sunday, July 8 

Minnesota vs. Toronto (3 p.m., NBATV)

Washington vs. San Antonio (3:30 p.m., ESPN2)

Charlotte vs. Miami (5 p.m., NBATV)

Portland vs. Atlanta (5:30 p.m., ESPN2)

Dallas vs. Milwaukee (7 p.m., NBATV)

Golden State vs. Houston (7:30 p.m., ESPN2)

Utah vs. New York (9 p.m., NBATV)

Memphis vs. Orlando (9:30 p.m., ESPN2)

Sacramento vs. Los Angeles Clippers (11 p.m., NBATV)

Los Angeles Lakers vs. Chicago (11:30 p.m., ESPN2)

Monday, July 9

New Orleans vs. Detroit (3 p.m., ESPNU)

Toronto vs. Oklahoma City (3:30 p.m., NBATV)

Indiana vs. Cleveland (5 p.m., ESPN2)

Washington vs. Philadelphia (5:30 p.m., NBATV)

Charlotte vs. Boston (7 p.m., ESPN2)

Golden State vs. Dallas (7:30 p.m., NBATV)

Milwaukee vs. Denver (9 p.m., ESPNU)

Orlando vs. Phoenix (9:30 p.m., NBATV)

Brooklyn vs. Minnesota (11 p.m., ESPNU)

Los Angeles Clippers vs. Houston (11:30 p.m., NBATV)

Tuesday, July 10 

San Antonio vs. Portland (4 p.m., NBATV)

Utah vs. Miami (4:30 p.m., ESPNU)

Atlanta vs. Chicago (6 p.m., NBATV)

Sacramento vs. Memphis (6:30 p.m., ESPN2)

Los Angeles Lakers vs. New York (8:30 p.m., ESPN2)

Playoffs start Wednesday, July 11

Sixers guard Markelle Fultz made a strong first impression at the Utah summer league. (AP)

LAS VEGAS — You don’t have to be a basketball junkie to love the NBA Summer League, especially if the venue is Las Vegas, Nevada. For the general admission price of $25 you get to watch a slew of games at UNLV’s Thomas & Mack Center and Cox Pavilion. And if you’re paying attention you could bump into some celebrities or NBA executives.

That’s like watching four live shows for the same price you would pay for a dinner buffet at Mandalay Bay.

The event is fast becoming one of the best shows on the Vegas Strip, and this year should bring a tremendous amount of buzz with most of the heralded 2017 NBA draft class — headed by No. 1 overall selection Markelle Fultz (Philadelphia 76ers), No. 2 pick Lonzo Ball (L.A. Lakers) and No. 3 pick Jayson Tatum (Boston Celtics) — playing for their new teams.

Here is the jam-packed schedule through the first five days (All times Pacific):

Friday, July 7

Toronto Raptors vs. New Orleans Pelicans
Cox Pavilion 3:00 PM

Milwaukee Bucks vs. Cleveland Cavaliers
Thomas and Mack Center 3:30 PM

Brooklyn Nets vs. Atlanta Hawks
Cox Pavilion 5:00 PM

LA Clippers vs. Los Angeles Lakers
Thomas and Mack Center 5:30 PM

Houston Rockets vs. Denver Nuggets
Cox Pavilion 7:00 PM

Phoenix Suns vs. Sacramento Kings
Thomas and Mack Center 7:30 PM

Saturday, July 8

Washington Wizards vs. Memphis Grizzlies
Cox Pavilion 1:00 PM

Dallas Mavericks vs. Chicago Bulls
Thomas and Mack Center 1:30 PM

Portland Trail Blazers vs. Utah Jazz
Cox Pavilion 3:00 PM

Toronto Raptors vs. Minnesota Timberwolves
Thomas and Mack Center 3:30 PM

Miami Heat vs. San Antonio Spurs
Cox Pavilion 5:00 PM

Boston Celtics vs. Los Angeles Lakers
Thomas and Mack Center 5:30 PM

Houston Rockets vs. Cleveland Cavaliers
Cox Pavilion 7:00 PM

Philadelphia 76ers vs. Golden State Warriors
Thomas and Mack Center 7:30 PM

Sunday, July 9

Atlanta Hawks vs. New Orleans Pelicans
Cox Pavilion 1:00 PM

Phoenix Suns vs. Dallas Mavericks
Thomas and Mack Center 1:30 PM

Milwaukee Bucks vs. Brooklyn Nets
Cox Pavilion 3:00 PM

Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Denver Nuggets
Thomas and Mack Center 3:30 PM

Utah Jazz vs. LA Clippers
Cox Pavilion 5:00 PM

Portland Trail Blazers vs. Boston Celtics
Thomas and Mack Center 5:30 PM

Memphis Grizzlies vs. Sacramento Kings
Cox Pavilion 7:00 PM

Philadelphia 76ers vs. San Antonio Spurs
Thomas and Mack Center 7:30 PM

Monday, July 10

Atlanta Hawks vs. Chicago Bulls
Cox Pavilion 1:00 PM

Miami Heat vs. Washington Wizards
Thomas and Mack Center 1:30 PM

Brooklyn Nets vs. New Orleans Pelicans
Cox Pavilion 3:00 PM

Houston Rockets vs. Phoenix Suns
Thomas and Mack Center 3:30 PM

Denver Nuggets vs. Toronto Raptors
Cox Pavilion 5:00 PM

Golden State Warriors vs. Cleveland Cavaliers
Thomas and Mack Center 5:30 PM

LA Clippers vs. Milwaukee Bucks
Cox Pavilion 7:00 PM

Los Angeles Lakers vs. Sacramento Kings
Thomas and Mack Center 7:30 PM

Tuesday, July 11

San Antonio Spurs vs. Portland Trail Blazers
Cox Pavilion 1:00 PM

Utah Jazz vs. Memphis Grizzlies
Thomas and Mack Center 1:30 PM

Chicago Bulls vs. Washington Wizards
Cox Pavilion 3:00 PM

Philadelphia 76ers vs. Boston Celtics
Thomas and Mack Center 3:30 PM

Miami Heat vs. Dallas Mavericks
Cox Pavilion 5:00 PM

Golden State Warriors vs. Minnesota Timberwolves
Thomas and Mack Center 5:30 PM

Fans packed Thomas & Mack Arena for the Lakers-Knicks game.

LAS VEGAS — The Samsung NBA Summer League in Las Vegas hit the ground running with a record-setting opening night. The marquee matchup between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Minnesota Timberwolves pulled in the largest crowd to watch a summer league game at UNLV’s Thomas & Mack Center, as more than 12,000 came to watch No. 1 overall pick Karl-Anthony Towns and No. 2 pick D’Angelo Russell.

The crowd, predominantly Lakers fans, filled up all of the lower bowl and arena officials had to open up the upper deck to accommodate more people.

The NBA learned their lesson from last season when fans had to be turned away for a game between that featured Andrew Wiggins and Jabari Parker. That marquee game was inexplicably played at the smaller venue, Cox Pavilion, which only seats about 3,000. This year, almost all of the featured games were played at Thomas & Mack, which seats 19,522.

Fans who paid $25 to watch the games got real treat this year, as there were plenty of outstanding performances. Here are 10 things we learned from our basketball pilgrimage to Sin City:

— Becky Hammon may be ready to become a NBA head coach sooner rather than later. The former WNBA star became the first woman to coach an NBA squad in the summer league, and she passed with flying colors by leading the San Antonio Spurs to a summer league championship. Hammon lost just one game and appeared real comfortable being the leading voice in the huddle. Whenever Gregg Popovich decides to call it a career, Hammon could be one of the leading candidates to replace him.

— More Spurs love here. Former UCLA point-forward Kyle Anderson showed he’s ready for a bigger role with the Spurs this upcoming season. The versatile swingman averaged 22 points and six rebounds, and was named the MVP of the Vegas Summer League.

— Speaking of UCLA, the biggest surprise in the summer league may have been the play of former Bruins guard Norman Powell. The second-round pick by the Toronto Raptors made the Vegas Summer League first team, joining Anderson, New Orleans’ Seth Curry, Chicago’s Doug McDermott, and Phoenix’s T.J. Warren. The Raptors were so impressed with Powell they signed him to a three-year contract.

— New York Knicks rookie Kristaps Porzingis may not be a bust after all. The 7-foot-3 forward-center has a good feel for the game and a nice shooting touch. He’s only 19 so he’ll fill out (hopefully). Even though he’s got body by Shawn Bradley he didn’t look frail or weak inside. He altered a lot of shots in the paint and didn’t shy away from contact. If the Knicks are patient with him, he could turn out to be a very good NBA player.

— D’Angelo Russell had an up-and-down showing in Vegas, but he did finish strong with a 21-point effort in the Lakers’ final game. Russell is not an elite athlete, so he struggles turning the corner coming out of pick-and-rolls. He could get exposed defensively against some of the quicker guards in the Association. Turnovers were also an issue for him, but that can be easily corrected with more court time with his new teammates. Lakers coach Byron Scott tried to squash the hype around Russell a tad by saying “he’s not Magic Johnson.” The Lakers brass, mainly Scott, Mitch Kupchak and Jim Buss, believe Russell can be a superstar. From what he displayed in Vegas, Russell has a lot of work to do.

— One player who didn’t have a problem turning the corner off ball screens was Lakers guard Jordan Clarkson. Last year’s second-team all-rookie performer showed flashes of Russell Westbrook-like ability. The 6-5 combo guard loves to attack the rim (just ask Utah’s Jack Cooley) and plays better when he’s at the point. If given the opportunity he could be an 18-20 point scorer.

— Julius Randle still has a ways to go before he returns to his old form. The Lakers’ top pick from the 2014 draft doesn’t appear to be fully recovered from his ACL injury, although he did get better as he got more time on the court. The Lakers had a minutes restriction on Randle, making it difficult for him to find a rhythm. He HAS to develop more post-up moves because that spin move will get stale awfully quick.

— SMU coach Larry Brown was absolutely right about point guard Emmanuel Mudiay. He is easily the best point guard in the 2015 draft class. The Congo native looked NBA ready, and his 12-game stint in China did him a lot of good. He showed he can run an offense. And the game wasn’t too fast for him. Once he fixes his jump shot he’ll be real scary. The Nuggets basically gave the keys to the franchise to Mudiay by trading Ty Lawson.

— The Philadelphia 76ers has a budding star in Jahlil Okafor. The 6-11 big man didn’t disappoint, as he showed off his fantastic offensive skills around the basket and looked better shooting his free throws.

— Kentucky products Towns (Timberwolves), Devin Booker (Suns), Trey Lyles (Jazz) and Willie Cauley-Stein (Kings) should all contribute right away for their respective NBA teams. How in the world did Kentucky not win the NCAA title?

L.A. Lakers guard Jordan Clarkson plays in Las Vegas. (GETTY IMAGES)

LAS VEGAS — You don’t have to be a basketball junkie to love the NBA Summer League, especially if the venue is Las Vegas, Nevada. For the general admission price of $25 you get to watch a slew of games at UNLV’s Thomas & Mack Center and Cox Pavilion. And if you’re paying attention you could bump into some celebrities or NBA executives.

That’s like watching four live shows for the same price you would pay for a dinner buffet at Mandalay Bay.

Each year I make a pilgrimage to Sin City to observe and absorb what is fast becoming one of the best shows on the Vegas Strip. This year should real exciting with most of the heralded 2015 NBA draft class — headed by Karl-Anthony Towns (Minnesota Timberwolves), D’Angelo Russell (L.A. Lakers) and Jahlil Okafor (Philadelphia 76ers) — playing for their new teams.

Here is the 2015 NBA Las Vegas Summer League schedule, featuring 24 teams and 67 games over 11 days. All times Pacific:

Friday, July 10

Cox Pavilion
3 p.m. – Milwaukee vs. New Orleans
5 p.m. – Atlanta vs. Denver
7 p.m. – D-League Select vs. Houston

Thomas & Mack
3:30 p.m. – Sacramento vs. Toronto
5:30 p.m. – Minnesota vs. L.A. Lakers
7:30 p.m. – Golden State vs. Cleveland

Saturday, July 11

Cox Pavilion
1 p.m. – New Orleans vs. Dallas
3 p.m. – Washington vs. Phoenix
5 p.m. – Boston vs. Portland
7 p.m. – Brooklyn vs. Cleveland

Thomas & Mack
1:30 p.m. – New York vs. San Antonio
3:30 p.m. – Chicago vs. Minnesota
5:30 p.m. – L.A. Lakers vs. Philadelphia
7:30 p.m. – Miami vs. Utah

Sunday, July 12

Cox Pavilion
1 p.m. – Washington vs. D-League Select
3 p.m. – Chicago vs. Toronto
5 p.m. – Sacramento vs. Denver
7 p.m. – Portland vs. Dallas

Thomas & Mack
1:30 p.m. – Phoenix vs. Houston
3:30 p.m. – Milwaukee vs. San Antonio
5:30 p.m. – Golden State vs. Atlanta
7:30 p.m. – Philadelphia vs. Boston

Monday, July 13

Cox Pavilion
1 p.m. – Cleveland vs. Milwaukee
3 p.m. – D-League Select vs. Atlanta
5 p.m. – Miami vs. Denver
7 p.m. – Toronto vs. Houston

Thomas & Mack
1:30 p.m. – New Orleans vs. Brooklyn
3:30 p.m. – Golden State vs. Sacramento
5:30 p.m. – L.A. Lakers vs. New York
7:30 p.m. – Utah vs. Minnesota

Tuesday, July 14

Cox Pavilion
12 p.m. – Portland vs. San Antonio
2 p.m. – Brooklyn vs. Chicago
4 p.m. – Miami vs. Boston

Thomas & Mack
12:30 p.m. – Washington vs. Dallas
2:30 p.m. – New York vs. Philadelphia
4:30 p.m. – Phoenix vs. Utah

Playoffs begin Wednesday, July 15