Summer League Diaries 2024

Fan favorites, a crochet master, juvenile jerseys, and so much more

Summer League always brings out an eclectic mix of characters. From the hoopsters showing off the most obscure jerseys imaginable to the scouts scribbling out notes for overseas clubs to the established NBA players bumping shoulders with fans in the concourse’s Dairy Queen line, every walk of basketball life is well-represented.

Continuing an annual tradition, I’ve collected some stories from my days at Summer League. It’s a mix of basketball impressions and basketball-related anecdotes to give you an idea of what Summer League is all about.

My trip started with lunch at a Mexican restaurant a half-mile from the arena, where I ran into three young men wearing a very particular merchandise combination. They sported Jalen Suggs, Gradey Dick, and Lamelo Ball(s) jerseys. Yes, they had taped an “(s)” to the back of LaMelo’s jersey. Dick and Ball(s) were berating Suggs for leaving his Anthony Black jersey back home. I’ll let you judge the humor of the situation.

It’s Summer League for the entire NBA, not just the players. Everyone is still working out the kinks, from fans to scoreboard operators to jersey printers:

That jersey without a name perfectly encapsulates the scrambling, slightly desperate nature of Summer League. It’s certainly not the highest-quality basketball you’ll ever see, but it is our first chance to look at exciting new rookies or returning, improved second-year players. As always, some players stick out.

Houston, we have a (good) problem

Reed Sheppard was the top overall prospect on many analysts’ boards, and he showed why in his first two Summer League games. After 20+ hours of watching players throwing up brick after brick, Sheppard’s gorgeous stroke was an oasis, a place for my brain to reset itself and remember what a three-point shot should look like.

Sheppard is one of the best shooters in college basketball history, so that wasn’t a huge shock. As someone who doesn’t watch much college, I was curious to see how his ludicrous defensive playmaking stats would carry over into Summer League. You can’t judge a book by its three-game cover, but Sheppard’s steal and block rates were, in fact, ludicrous. He tallied 13 combined steals and blocks in his three games, which is extra impressive considering his paltry 6’3” wingspan.

Sheppard wasn’t the only Rocket picking pockets. Sophomore Cam Whitmore tallied 10 steals of his own while dropping 50 points across the three contests. He toyed with opposing offenses, jumping passing lanes and blasting off down the court for transition buckets. Although he shot just 1-for-14 from deep, we can point to his rookie season as proof that the shot is there. Whitmore rampaged to the rim, physically overpowering every defender in his way.

Sheppard and Whitmore were two of the four or five most impressive players at Summer League (particularly Whitmore’s first two games), and nothing suggests this is a flash in the pan. What does that mean for Houston’s crowded rotation?

The Rockets already have Fred VanVleet, Dillon Brooks, Jalen Green, Jabari Smith Jr., Amen Thompson, Jae’Sean Tate, Alperen Sengun, and Tari Eason as players who deserve steady minutes. There isn’t enough playing time for all the promising youngsters on the roster.

That embarrassment of riches is a good problem, but it’s a problem nonetheless. I’m comfortable saying that Sheppard is already the best shooter on the Rockets; his presence will make life easier for everyone else. And Whitmore is too talented a scorer to play mop-up minutes for a second year. Houston will need to make a trade at some point.

Orlando’s young guys further their depth

The Magic are already one of the league’s deepest teams after an offseason that saw them re-sign key vets and add Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. They still seemed light on shooting, but they may have some in-house answers if Summer League is any indication.

First-round pick Tristan da Silva ran the floor hard, nailed six of his eleven triples, had a few slick passes to rolling big men, and generally looked precisely like the well-rounded contributor he was supposed to be on draft night. He was very impressive.

Second-year player Jett Howard showed out from deep, firing up ten three-pointers and converting half in just 23 minutes of action in his first game before going 2-for-5 in his second game. Howard had a very disappointing rookie year, but his shooting is an element the Magic still desperately need even after the Kentavious Caldwell-Pope signing.

Orlando is overflowing with quality vets up and down the roster, but shooting always plays. If da Silva and Howard can bring a little more juice to a Magic team that projects to be a top-three defense, they might end up with home-court advantage in Round 1.

Other Player Thoughts

Terrence Shannon was a monster

Minnesota selected the 6’6” Shannon with the 27th pick in the draft, but he was one of the best rookies of the first few days of games. Shannon looked like he was moving on fast-forward, breaking defenders down off the dribble with ease, soaring through the air for thunderous dunks, and smacking away layups. I’m not sure about his distance shooting (he went 1-for-5 from deep in two games), but the sheer electricity he plays with could give the Wolves a spark plug off the bench.

Dalton Knecht will make an impact from Day 1

The most impressive thing about Dalton Knecht has been the wide variety of triples he’s fired up. Knecht went 5-for-11 in his first game and 2-for-6 in his second game despite facing aggressive defense. He looked comfortable on catch-and-shoots and pulling up off the dribble. LeBron James makes shooters’ lives easier, and Knecht’s accuracy will be a welcome release valve for LA.

An underrated #1 pick

Zaccharie Risacher was the least-hyped number-one pick since the shocking Anthony Bennett selection back in 2013, so perhaps my expectations were too low. But I was pleasantly surprised by the young Frenchman’s clever cutting, niftier-than-expected ballhandling, and sweet passing. The shot didn’t go down, but he was aggressive in looking for it, which is a fantastic sign.

I have no idea what Risacher’s ceiling is, and that’s ultimately what first overall selections are judged on. But Hawks fans must feel at least a little excited about Risacher’s performance through two games. Playing with Trae Young should only make his offensive transition easier, too.

Rissacher also had an enjoyable off-court interaction. After conducting a postgame interview near where I was sitting, Rissacher began walking to the locker room. A fan saw him, pointed, and yelled, “Rissacher, you nice!” Rissacher looked genuinely shocked, put on an enormous grin, and flashed a heart sign back at the fan. It was adorable, and I will now defend Rissacher to the death.

Neemias Queta is still dominant

Queta has scored 20+ points in both of his Summer League games while dominating the glass on both ends. Score-first ballhandlers usually run Summer League, but Queta’s physical dominance has stood out, as he combines overwhelming strength with a high motor. Boston converted the Portuguese center from a two-way contract to a standard deal last year, and he has rewarded their faith in him so far. Queta should earn some playing time this season as the team’s fourth big while Kristaps Porzingis heals from his offseason surgery. The broadcasters pronounced his name differently every time he did something of note, but they’ll learn it soon enough.

The Heat and Celtics put on a show

Throughout the Summer League days I attended, several close games occurred, but nothing matched the intensity of the Miami-Boston match.

Very few players present have had anything to do with those two franchises’ past playoff battles, but you wouldn’t know it from the atmosphere. The quality of play was much higher than any other games I attended.

The Heat lived in the air, throwing down alley-oop after alley-oop, while the Celtics put up enough three-pointers to make their big-league club proud. Jaime Jaquez Jr., an All-Rookie First-Teamer, looked way too good to be on the court with his supposed peers, dropping 29 points and living at the free-throw line.

Basketball Poetry favorite Jaden Springer, typically known more for his defense, put on an offensive show himself, scoring 23 points on an array of difficult jumpers. I hope he can stick in the league, as his defensive highlights are top-notch.

Miami shot 61.5% from the field, and Boston cracked 50%. Summer League isn’t typically known as a high-efficiency time, so to see two teams consistently trading haymakers was a rare treat.

Fan Favorites

The general Summer League crowd showed more love to three players than anyone else.

The Thomas and Mack Center, home to half of the Summer League’s matches, was as full as I’ve ever seen it for the Lakers’ first game. Lakers fans love Las Vegas, and the anticipation for rookies Dalton Knecht and some guy named LeBron James Jr. was immense. The crowd roared when Bronny James sprang free for a one-handed dunk early in the game, sounding like a Lakers home crowd cheering for the elder James in a playoff contest.

But that didn’t quite match the excitement when recent NCAA Tournament standout DJ Burns checked into the game for Cleveland. Burns, who is roughly the size and shape of a small blimp, quickly hit a floater that kissed the sky. The Cox Pavilion crowd, filled to its 2,500-person capacity, lost its mind.

The final fan favorite was Yongxi “Jacky” Cui, a 6’8” wing from China. Cui checked into a Trail Blazers game and made an immediate impact, splashing two three-pointers. The crowd loved it, and Cui was so excited that he gave fellow Blazers rookie Donovan Clingan a big sneak hug from behind after a timeout, startling the big man. Fun moment.

Random Observations

-I have no idea who the large player lugging around his game-worn clothes and a giant Playstation 5 box around the concourse was, but kudos for the gaming dedication. That shiny new NCAA Football 2K25 won’t play itself, after all.

-It was disappointing that there was no NBA Con 2.0. I covered the inaugural event last year, which was a lot of fun, but despite indications to the contrary, the NBA seemingly never put it together. I reached out to the league office for a comment but never heard back.

-At one point, I emerged from the restroom to find dozens of screaming tweens sprinting down an elevator corridor. Assuming LeBron James or Michael Jordan had made an appearance, I followed suit, only to see the children raising their phones and begging for an acknowledgment from Jared McCain, the Sixers’ first-round pick and a TikTok superstar (3.5 million followers). Sports, in general, are less popular among children than they used to be, but McCain’s sports-adjacent popularity with the youth may provide an exciting roadmap forward for the next generation of athlete-celebrities.

-Shout-out to the lady who looked vaguely like my grandmother in the Team Personnel section of the stands who steadfastly crocheted… something(?) for more than four straight hours:

As play waxed and waned, teams changed over, and fans left and were replaced, she never wavered or lost focus. Her dedication to her craft was awe-inspiring. I hope the players on the bench took notes.