Between the W and 3×3, basketball never really stops. Not even the NBA. Just days after the Oklahoma City Thunder were crowned champion, the NBA Draft blew in. Closely followed by the free agency frenzy.
Nothing beats the action on court, mind you, but not even a mere month since the NBA Finals, the National Basketball Association was back with its storied Summer League, sponsored by NBA 2K6.
Showcasing the next up young talent of the L, sometimes it felt like you were watching a video game with some of these pulled off highlights. Even if at times it felt like you were thumbing the controls too hard, as the raw talent on display fumbled harder than all those dudes that didn’t put a ring on the finger of Ana de Armas.
It didn’t take long for the top pick in the 2025 Draft, Cooper Flagg, to get acclimated to the action as the Duke grad dunked off a great drive to start his pro career. In his first game, against the Lakers, he was guarded heavily by Bronny James, who some said wasn’t a solid professional player last year. He was a rookie. No nepotism, James Jr. balled out this summer, alongside fellow sophomore star Dalton Knecht.
The real story of the NBA 2K26 Summer League, mind you, was the Charlotte Hornets. As if LaMelo Ball didn’t have enough talent to dish off to in the form of Seth Curry, Spencer Dinwiddie and new pick-up Collin Sexton, there’s now even more talent set top thrive from the hive once the honeycomb breaks open.
With a teal headband holding hair that’s floppier than King James in the post-season, fourth pick Kon Knueppel could have been selected a few spots higher in the draft. No matter, he’s now your 2025 NBA 2K26 Summer League MVP after his team-high 21 points led Charlotte to the championship.
The hive mentality of Buzz City stung Sacto early, before the Californian side came back like a tractor beam. Lighting each other up, the two sides traded punches in a hard fought battle until the Charlotte Hornets prevailed over the Sacramento Kings, 83-78.
Alongside Knueppel, second-rounder Ryan Kalkbrenner had a line of 15 points, nine rebounds, one steal and one block, to go along with 11 apiece from Jaylen Sims and KJ Simpson for the Hornets.
Over on the Sacramento side, Isaac Jones paced the young Kings with a double-double of 24 points and 11 rebounds. Devin Carter stuffed the stat sheet with 13 points, seven assists, two rebounds and two blocks. Nique Clifford also added 10 points, eight rebounds and two assists.
Charlotte are now leaving Las Vegas with some gold, whilst the Kings’ gamble didn’t pay off in Sin City. Both teams can rest assured, mind you, that their respective futures are secured with some real young guns taking charge.
The traditional Thomas and Mack Center in Nevada was treated to a great championship came. Not to mention, a terrific tournament.
The future of the NBA is bigger and brighter than the Sphere on The Strip.
The one that always kind of looks like a basketball this time of year.
