Dear summer, anyone who says they are starved of hoops when it becomes hot should just look at you.
First, we have the WNBA in full swing and more international competition than we get free agency rumors after the draft.
And if that wasn’t enough, the summer breeze gives us all the draft hopes to offer the league, blowing in the wind.
Trust me, summer basketball is more than fine.
Youthful exuberance and a love for the game are displayed on the court like no other in the NBA Summer League. Sophomores soar and rookies get the chance to prove their name. Even if they haven’t been drafted. Or if their names are similar to what you’ve heard before. Like Shareef O’Neal or Scotty Pippen Jr.
Blazing a trail, Portland beat the New York Knicks to become Summer League champs for the second time since 2017. It was Brandon Williams’ 22 that spearheaded a 85-77 win out in Vegas. Running the strip and the floor like a lay-up line out in Sin City.
Jabari Walker also put up double trouble with 14 points and 11 rebounds. Trendon Watford trended with 19 and 7 for the Blazers’ third finals game in five years too. Those numbers and a unanimous vote made sure he left the game with the MVP trophy.
Your tournament MVP of this 2022 Summer League sponsored by NBA 2K23 was a King though. Sacramento’s Keegan Murray showing out with averages of 23.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, 2 assists and 1.3 steals per game. Shooting 50% overall and 40% from downtown Vegas, over four formidable games.
Forget ‘Bron in the Drew League. There was so much talent balling out in the desert, at times it felt like we were actually playing 2K.
The Summer League first team honors went to Tari Eason of the Houston Rockets, the Knicks’ Quentin Grimes, Sandro Mamukelashvili of the Bucks, the Nets’ Cam Thomas, and of course Keegan. Murray was the fourth pick in this year’s draft. Apart from him and second-year players, the other rookie in this first team was Eason, selected 17th.
Don’t despair if you can’t see some of your top ten. From Paolo Banchero to Chet Holmgren, we saw flashes of brilliance between load management.
The sophomores weren’t soft, either. Offering more. Just look at what James Wiseman could bring to a championship Warriors squad next season.
Don’t sleep like Steph in the fourth.
The competitive and compelling summer league showed us the future of the league and the franchises in it aren’t just safe. They’re stacked to the rafters.
One day, some of these youngsters will raise banners. Right now, it’s all about getting their name on the back of a jersey.
If this is how hot summer is. Imagine the fall.
