The NBA Summer League in Las Vegas offers a crucial platform for emerging talent, including recent draftees and young prospects, to compete against elite opposition as they prepare for the NBA season. It provides a vital glimpse into which 2025 rookies might be poised for immediate impact in fantasy basketball or for betting considerations. Furthermore, the league highlights second and third-year players who could be ready for expanded roles on their respective NBA teams. Observing the Summer League firsthand is indispensable for assessing these young athletes and forecasting their immediate future contributions. Below are my insights from Las Vegas and their potential implications for the upcoming season.
Impact Rookies
Cooper Flagg, SF, Dallas Mavericks
He possesses that special quality. One significant advantage of watching games in person, as opposed to simply checking box scores or even television broadcasts, is the ability to experience the entire atmosphere. This includes observing other players—both on and off the court—the crowd`s energy, and the overall feeling within the arena. It’s about sensing the magnitude of the moment.
For instance, in the second quarter of Flagg`s debut, he took a powerful step into the paint, which was packed with Lakers defenders, planted his feet, and exploded upwards to dunk over what felt like the entire state of California. At that moment, another NBA analyst and I paused our conversation, grabbed each other`s arms, whispering, “I know he`s not about to…” And then, the entire arena fell silent, collectively holding its breath.
Well, that was truly a moment.
Beyond that specific play, I was deeply impressed by Flagg`s skill level. This was evident in his first game, where he delivered a strong all-around performance despite his shot being slightly off, and in his second game, where he dropped 31 points, showcasing his scoring potential when his shot was in rhythm. I was also struck by Flagg`s physical size; in person, he appeared larger than I had anticipated, which bodes well for his readiness to handle the physicality of professional play. All these factors are crucial.
When it comes to elite prospects and their likelihood of making an immediate impact, it’s rare to see someone with “it” in Vegas who then fails to impress during their rookie season. We’ve been hearing about and anticipating Flagg’s arrival for several years. He was the favorite to win Rookie of the Year as soon as his name was called on draft night. After witnessing his performance in Vegas, I am entirely convinced.
Barring injury, expect Flagg to have a phenomenal rookie season for a Mavericks team that desperately needs his contributions. I would conservatively draft him in the fourth round of fantasy basketball leagues right now.
Dylan Harper, PG, San Antonio Spurs
I have been scouting the Las Vegas Summer League for two decades. One of the most impressive early performances I witnessed was from Brandon Roy in 2006. Roy did not win the Summer League MVP that year; that honor went to Randy Foye, for whom Roy was acquired on draft night. While Foye was explosive and spectacular with his ability to create his own shot off the dribble, it was Roy who quietly delivered the more impressive performance.
Roy was a tall guard at 6-foot-6, but he demonstrated in Summer League that he could effectively run a team as the point guard. He could maneuver to any spot on the court without rushing, either utilizing screens or angles to gain an advantage on his opponents and bypass them. And he absolutely dominated the action. He went on to showcase that same ability at the NBA level, ultimately winning the 2007 Rookie of the Year award.
The highest compliment I can give Harper’s performance in Vegas is that it strongly reminded me of what I saw from Roy in 2006.
Harper is another tall, silky-smooth guard who can dictate the pace of play without appearing to force anything. He consistently penetrated the paint off the dribble, either using picks or simply breaking down his defender, and once at the rim, his size and explosiveness made him a constant threat to score or draw a foul. He also skillfully drew in defenders before dishing to open teammates. His athleticism translated to both offense and defense; in fact, he produced one of the tournament`s highlights with a ridiculous, circus-level blocked shot as the sole defender on a fast break.
On draft night, I didn’t initially project Harper to produce significant fantasy basketball stats as a rookie due to the Spurs’ depth at his position. They have All-Star De’Aaron Fox at point guard and several talented wings, including reigning Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle. It remains difficult to envision Harper securing enough minutes to compete with his classmates like Flagg for Rookie of the Year honors.
Nevertheless, Harper was incredibly impressive in the Summer League and appears ready to contribute in whatever role the Spurs assign him. If that role is substantial, Harper possesses the game to be a favored contender in the Rookie of the Year race and a strong presence in fantasy basketball rankings. In Vegas, that was the question I needed answered.
Tre Johnson, SG, Washington Wizards
Neither No. 3 pick VJ Edgecombe nor No. 5 pick Ace Bailey participated in the Las Vegas Summer League, so I gained no additional insights into their potential contributions this season. However, Johnson, the No. 6 pick, did play, and he performed admirably, showcasing many skills likely to translate into strong numbers as a rookie.
On draft night, ESPN analyst Jay Bilas praised Johnson as the best overall 3-point shooter in this year’s class, noting his ability to hit them at high volume and with accuracy both off the dribble and from spot-up positions. Johnson demonstrated this shooting prowess in Vegas, where he often played point guard and showed great comfort in creating and sinking his own shots. Johnson did this effectively in the half-court, and he also displayed a willingness to pull up and drain the trey on fast breaks.
Johnson will be playing for a Wizards squad deeply entrenched in a rebuilding phase. The Wizards have recently offloaded their leading scorers from the past two seasons (Kyle Kuzma to the Bucks at the trade deadline, Jordan Poole to the Pelicans this offseason). Although the Wizards acquired veterans CJ McCollum and Khris Middleton, the overwhelming majority of their rotation consists of very young players, and their focus is clearly on the future.
Johnson fits perfectly into that timeline and appears to be a natural shooter/scorer who should receive significant minutes immediately. After what I witnessed in Vegas, I now have him even more firmly in contention for the Rookie of the Year race and high on my fantasy basketball radar.
Sophomores on the Rise
Alex Sarr, C, Wizards
Despite not showcasing much in last year`s Summer League, Sarr went on to have a very respectable rookie season. As a sophomore, Sarr delivered one of the most memorable performances I witnessed in his second game on Sunday in Vegas. Sarr was truly ubiquitous on the court, especially on defense, and it seemed as though he blocked every shot. I wasn`t surprised when it was revealed he had blocked eight shots, falling just two blocks short of a triple-double (16 points, 12 rebounds, 8 blocks).
Sarr is an exceptional athlete in the paint and utilizes his athleticism effectively on both the boards and as a rim protector. Offensively, Sarr can leverage that same athletic ability to finish around the rim, but he is also a reliable shooter who continues to refine his 3-point shot. He is also the sole starting-caliber center on an extremely young Wizards squad that aims to make him their franchise player. I fully expect Sarr to build upon his strong rookie season and deliver a very impressive performance as a sophomore.
Reed Sheppard, PG/SG, Houston Rockets
Sheppard was lauded as the best shooter of the 2024 draft class and delivered an impressive performance in Las Vegas as a rookie. However, once the regular season commenced, there simply weren`t enough minutes available for him on a Rockets squad that boasted significant depth on the perimeter. This offseason, the Rockets traded their starting shooting guard and small forward, Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks, as well as another talented young wing in Cam Whitmore. Consequently, more minutes should now be available for Sheppard, and based on what he demonstrated in Vegas this season, he is ready to capitalize on those minutes.
Ironically, Sheppard’s shooting was his weaker point in Vegas this season; he engaged in volume shooting rather than displaying his characteristic marksmanship from deep. Nevertheless, in the action I observed, he was clearly the dominant player on the court. Sheppard played only two games before being sidelined, but he was undoubtedly among the sophomores I considered “too good for the Summer League.” In addition to the 46 points he amassed across two games, he also secured 11 rebounds and an impressive eight steals. Sheppard possesses the talent to produce an all-around statistical line for fantasy basketball purposes, and it certainly appears he should earn at least sixth-man minutes as a sophomore.
Ronald Holland II, SF, Detroit Pistons
Holland, the No. 5 pick in the 2024 NBA draft, accumulated significant experience as a rookie, playing in 81 regular season games and even getting some playoff minutes. As such, it`s not surprising that the Summer League game seemed effortlessly easy for him. It felt like he was omnipresent in his first game, scoring at will (28 points on only 12 field-goal attempts) from both inside (13 free-throw attempts) and outside (4-for-5 from 3-point range). Holland also dominated the boards in his Vegas sophomore debut, simply out-muscling and out-quicking his opponents to grab 11 rebounds. I didn’t get to see his third game, but he asserted his dominance defensively in that game with six steals in 33 minutes.
Holland possesses a nuanced offensive game, capable of creating off the dribble and scoring from all three levels. He is a strong defender and rebounder and plays a vital role for a young Pistons team. While it seems unlikely he`ll secure starter minutes, if he can earn legitimate sixth-man minutes, Holland’s production could significantly increase, making him highly relevant in fantasy basketball during his sophomore campaign.
Rob Dillingham, PG and Terrence Shannon Jr., SG/SF, Minnesota Timberwolves
Dillingham appeared significantly improved in Vegas this season compared to his rookie year, when he seemed to struggle integrating his shot into the offense while trying to run more at point guard. The Timberwolves need Dillingham to develop into their future lead guard as Mike Conley ages out of the position. Even more critically, they require another playmaker in the main unit alongside Anthony Edwards.
Dillingham demonstrated in this Summer League that he has made substantial progress, and that the professional game is beginning to slow down for him. What stood out most to me was his comfort level on the court and how smoothly he transitioned from floor general to offensive threat this season. Dillingham was strong in his second game in Vegas, which I witnessed in person, scoring 15 points and dishing out seven assists. He was even better on Wednesday, after I left, dropping 23 points, seven assists, and seven rebounds. I foresee a significant sophomore leap in production for Dillingham, as he settles into a major role in the Timberwolves’ rotation.
The same can be said for Dillingham’s teammate and classmate, Shannon, who was the most impressive player on the court in the Timberwolves’ first Summer League game. He was aggressive off the dribble, both in the half-court and on the fast break, finishing with 20 points, nine assists, six rebounds, and two steals. Shannon went on to score 20 or more points in each of his first three games, and at various times, he controlled the action with his rebounding and playmaking as well.
The Timberwolves lost Nickeil Alexander-Walker this offseason, and Shannon looks poised to assume a larger role as a sophomore. Shannon was drafted 27th in 2024 but had been considered lottery talent before a December 2023 arrest. Shannon was found not guilty of felony rape and aggravated assault by a jury in Kansas weeks before the draft, then played his way onto the court for the Timberwolves as a rookie, even earning meaningful minutes in the playoffs. He is another player who could achieve fantasy basketball respectability in a rotation role as a sophomore.
Kyle Filipowski, PF, Utah Jazz
My initial notes on Filipowski from his first Summer League game as a sophomore read: “Filipowski posts at the free throw line, draws the foul on the drive. He looks too good for Summer League, but does have 4 fouls… make it 5… with 3 minutes left in the second quarter. He then knocks down another 3 at the other end.” Filipowski would go on to drop 32 points in that game, adding six rebounds, five assists, and a blocked shot.
Sometimes a player has only one exceptional outing, and if that happens to be the one I witness, I might form a better impression of him than if I had seen other games. However, Filipowski was dominant throughout the league, scoring 21 points and six rebounds in his second game, and a remarkable 35 points with 11 boards on Monday. Filipowski was solid as a rookie, averaging 9.6 PPG and 6.1 RPG on 50.2 FG% in 21.1 MPG. Given that the Jazz traded starting power forward John Collins, Filipowski could be in for an expanded role as a sophomore. His rookie production was already noteworthy for fantasy basketball purposes, but based on what I observed in Vegas and his projected larger role, Filipowski possesses legitimate fantasy basketball upside as a second-year player.
Quick Hits and Other Notes
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Trail Blazers center Yang Hansen garnered significant attention in Vegas. In his first game, Hansen received one of the loudest crowd reactions during introductions that day, trailing only Flagg and Bronny James. When the game began, he won the opening tip, then ran down the court calling for the play he wanted the Trail Blazers to run. They executed it, and he curled through the paint, then back to the top of the key, received the ball, and delivered a perfect bounce-pass to a cutter for an easy layup. He followed that up a couple of minutes later with an even more spectacular dime and proved himself to be one of the better passing big men in this year’s class. He’s currently behind last year’s lottery pick Donovan Clingan on the depth charts, but I’d keep an eye on Yang to see what his role looks like as a rookie. He has potential.
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I observed the Charlotte Hornets a couple of times in Vegas with an interest in No. 4 pick Kon Knueppel, but it was No. 29 pick Liam McNeeley who stole the show with 22 points, 12 rebounds, six assists, and three 3-pointers. McNeeley had two strong games before being sidelined with Achilles tendonitis, and he faces an uphill battle for minutes this season. However, he looked good in Vegas, so I’ll continue to monitor him. Knueppel struggled in the first game but did improve as the league progressed. He also has a shorter path to playing time for the Hornets and could receive meaningful minutes as a shooter right from the opening tip.
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Walter Clayton Jr., the No. 18 pick last month and star of the NCAA champion Florida squad, played only one game for the Jazz before injuring his hamstring. However, in that single game, he showcased the shooting prowess that made him the Most Outstanding Player in the NCAA tournament and earned him a draft selection. In that game against Charlotte, Clayton sank four 3-pointers, scored 21 points, and grabbed six rebounds. He’ll be playing for a very young Jazz team in a full rebuild, and I could see Clayton earning an important role right from the opening tip if he remains healthy.
