NBA Summer League is awesome. Yes, how players perform isn’t very reflective of how they’ll do in the big league and yes, the on-court product can be a little rough around the edges, but there’s still something magical about it. It’s like the highest level of pickup basketball in the world. I experienced Summer League in person for the first time this year, and it gave me an extra appreciation for the event. Watching hoops in the Cox Pavilion (the Thomas & Mack, too) is truly a one-of-one experience. Today, I want to talk about some players who stood out to me over the past week while watching games both on TV and in person. Let’s dive in!
David Jones-Garcia
SL stats: 22.0 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 3.4 APG, 1.2 SPG, 0.0 BPG, 52.1% FG, 51.0% 3P, 87.5% FT
As a senior at Memphis, David Jones-Garcia averaged 21.8 points, 7.6 rebounds, 2.2 steals, and shot 38.0% from three, but it wasn’t enough to get his name called in the 2024 draft. That didn’t slow him down, though. In fact, it sped him up. The lefty tore up the G League, dropping 21.3 points a game and multiple 50-pieces, and he came to Summer League with the same energy. Game in and game out, he impressed with his efficient scoring on and off the ball. He made sharp decisions with the rock in his hands, setting teammates up in their spots and rarely forcing tough looks. Overall, Jones-Garcia made one message clear: he deserves a two-way contract.
Chris Livingston and Pete Nance
Livingston’s SL stats: 20.8 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 2.2 APG, 0.8 SPG, 0.5 BPG, 49.2% FG, 38.1% 3P, 71.4% FT
With two full NBA campaigns under his belt, anything less than “too good for Summer League” play would have been a disappointment for Livingston. Luckily, he met expectations, and he earned a new guaranteed deal with the Bucks as a result. The rugged forward moved with immense confidence and filled up the scoring column from all three levels. Now, the pressure will be on for him to take some real steps in the regular season.
Nance’s SL stats: 14.2 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 2.2 APG, 1.0 SPG, 2.2 BPG, 52.5% FG, 40.9% 3P, 66.7% FT
Versatility is as important as it’s ever been for big men in today’s NBA, and Pete Nance has that trait. Not only can he hit threes, he’s also a capable screening hub and can move his feet in space defensively. The 25-year-old was the steadiest contributor across the board on Milwaukee’s Vegas squad. The team has a pretty crowded frontcourt, but if guys get hurt, Nance will be ready to step up.
Nae’Qwan Tomlin and Tristan Enaruna
Tomlin’s SL stats: 19.6 PPG, 8.2 RPG, 3.4 APG, 2.2 SPG, 0.8 BPG, 50.0% FG, 33.3% 3P, 85.7% FT
Nae’Qwan Tomlin didn’t play basketball at all until he got to college. Now, he’s making a serious push for a standard NBA deal after dominating in Summer League. That’s insane. The 6’10” forward is bouncy, strong, and he has an Energizer Bunny battery in his pack. He looked like a man amongst boys compared to the competition in Vegas, relentlessly attacking the rim and getting to the free throw line.
Enaruna’s SL stats: 13.2 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 1.4 APG, 0.8 SPG, 0.6 BPG, 52.1% FG, 35.0% 3P, 56.3% FT
Enaruna isn’t far off from being the picture-perfect role-playing forward. The Netherlands native plays within the flow of the offense, seldom pressing the issue. He scores off the ball in a variety of ways, and can hit shots in the mid-range off a couple dribbles as well. Enaruna has great positional size (6’8”, 220 lbs) and is active on defense. If he can find some more consistency from behind the arc, he’s an NBA player, full stop.
Cole Swider and Darius Bazley
Swider’s SL stats: 18.4 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 1.2 APG, 1.2 SPG, 0.5 BPG, 49.5% FG, 43.1% 3P, 77.8% FT
Like Chris Livingston, excellence was the standard for Swider heading into the week, as this was his fourth career Summer League. The three-year vet cleared that bar, especially from behind the arc, where he shot as well as anyone in the tournament. The Lakers, who could always use an extra shooter next to Luka and LeBron, will surely be keeping tabs on Swider moving forward.
Fun fact: Swider is the all-time leader in 3PM in Summer League play.
Bazley’s SL stats: 11.7 PPG, 7.9 RPG, 1.7 APG, 0.6 SPG, 2.1 BPG, 58.5% FG, 33.3% 3P, 63.3% FT
It feels like Darius Bazley has been around forever— he’s played for four NBA teams in five years. However, he’s still just 25 years old, and continues to be intriguing enough to earn more looks. Bazley is an ultra-versatile defender who blocks shots as well as any non-big in the league right now. He also has some ball skills and rebounds very well. Even if he can’t find the three-point efficiency that’s been eluding him, he could still be an impact role player in the right system.
Rayan Rupert and Caleb Love
Rupert’s SL stats: 16.0 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 3.0 APG, 1.5 SPG, 0.0 BPG, 58.3% FG, 64.3% 3P, 100.0% FT
For a guy to truly be “too good for Summer League”, they need to play with a type of composure and collectiveness that rises above the messy basketball being played. That’s what third-year forward Rayan Rupert did for the Blazers. The former 43rd overall pick impacted the game on both ends, even showing off a much-improved three-point shot. He’s just 21 and should rise in Portland’s rotation in the near future.
Love’s SL stats: 15.6 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 2.6 APG, 0.8 SPG, 0.2 BPG, 35.1% FG, 33.3% 3P, 72.2% FT
NCAA superstar Caleb Love may not have reached the potential he was said to have during his early days at UNC, but he’s become a legitimate pro player, which he showcased in Vegas. Yes, Love is a score-first guy, but his shot selection looked as good as it ever has during summer play, and he was also engaged in doing all the little things. He worked hard on defense and grabbed more rebounds than what’s typical for a guard.
Tolu Smith
SL stats: 13.0 PPG, 8.0 RPG, 1.6 APG, 0.4 SPG, 2.2 BPG, 50.0% FG, 0.0% 3P, 67.6% FT
The Pistons are transitioning back to their trademark hard-headed Bad Boy culture, and Tolu Smith fits right in. While he’s on the short side for a center (6’10”), he’s built tough with a ton of muscle on him and can bang in the paint on both ends. He’s an impressive play finisher too, he just needs to improve his touch a little bit. Smith played in only one game for Detroit as a rookie in 2024-25, but in that appearance, he put up 14 points and 8 rebounds. As a sophomore, he should get more chances to shine.
Charles Bassey
SL stats: 15.3 PPG, 11.0 RPG, 0.3 APG, 0.7 SPG, 2.0 BPG, 70.4% FG, 0.0% 3P, 100.0% FT
Bassey, a four-year NBA vet, made a surprise cameo appearance in Summer League, checking in to Boston’s first game despite not being listed on their official roster. He played three games, outshone the competition, and then he was gone, just as out of the blue as his arrival, as he had a “prior engagement”. The Celtics have a really thin center room right now, and it would be smart to at least give Bassey another look in preseason, if not sign him to a standard deal right now.
Jacob Toppin
SL stats: 15.3 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 1.3 APG, 0.7 SPG, 0.0 BPG, 56.7% FG, 40.0% 3P, 66.7% FT
In many ways, Jacob Toppin is similar to his brother, Obi. He’s 6’9” and bouncy, he plays with a high motor, and he’s an improving three-point shooter (37.1% in the G League last season). With the way Atlanta’s roster is shaping up, they should be running a high-speed pace-and-space system with plenty of transition opportunities (similar to Indiana), and Toppin could make a real impact off the bench in that environment.
Jaylen Sims
SL stats: 14.2 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 1.8 APG, 1.8 SPG, 0.0 BPG, 55.1% FG, 43.8% 3P, 80.0% FT
The Hornets won the Summer League title, and the unsung hero of their run was Jaylen Sims. The North Carolina native is the all-time scoring leader for Charlotte’s G League affiliate, and he gets his buckets in ideal NBA role-player fashion. Sims is savvy off the ball on both ends of the floor. He’s a smooth movement shooter and has acute instincts in the passing lanes on D. Last year, he played with the Hornets on 10-day contracts, but he should earn a two-way for the upcoming year.
The 13 guys I wrote about here are far from the only players who had impressive Vegas performances. Other standouts included KJ Simpson, MarJon Beauchamp, Drew Timme, Keshad Johnson, Yuki Kawamura, RayJ Dennis, Judah Mintz, Elijah Harkless, Jackson Rowe, Jahmir Young, Jamaree Bouyea, EJ Liddell, and Dexter Dennis. Let me know who stood out to you on X! My handle is @finleykuehl. Thanks for reading, and see you next time!
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