Noah Graham/NBAE through Getty Photographs
The NBA Summer season League hasn’t but kicked into full gear, however basketball followers had a comparatively full slate Wednesday night time with 4 video games unfold throughout the schedule.
The California Basic and Salt Lake Metropolis Summer season Leagues each drew to a detailed as everybody within the league will quickly shift their focus to Las Vegas. Listed here are a number of the greatest takeaways from the motion.
Bronny James Nonetheless a Work in Progress
Bronny James delivered a multifaceted efficiency in his 29 minutes on the ground within the Los Angeles Lakers’ 80-76 loss to the Miami Warmth. He shot 1-of-3 from the ground for 3 factors, although he added 5 rebounds, three assists and two steals.
The 6’2″ guard additionally bought a style of what it will be wish to defend within the NBA.
NBA @NBA
WHAT A PLAY 😮💨
Alondes Williams with the silky spin and slick end excessive off the glass!
California Basic on ESPN2 pic.twitter.com/PtB1otoyWt
That spotlight will obscure James’ bigger contributions on that finish of the ground, although. Displaying out on protection solely goes to date when it comes to mapping out his potential given the extent of competitors, however the instincts he possesses are clear to see.
Evan Moore🏀😎🏀 @MooreHoops727
The best way Bronny performs protection is purpose alone for why he deserves this chance. If he develops offensive sport, folks’s agendas are going to be utterly cooked.
Adrian @JelloIzJigglin
Bronny protection is a factor . Good baseline, now’s he gonna lock into creating as playmaker and turn into a rondo or get a jumper turn into perhaps a Van Vleet
EvanScales @evanvonscales
Lebron has been forcing us to care about stats and averages for a decade
Bronny will get drafted and we all of a sudden care about help-side protection and ‘impression’
😭🤌🏽
Matthew Peralta @_MatthewPeralta
Did not get to look at an excessive amount of of the sport, however from the few clips I did see I can say I believe Knecht can be simply tremendous. Bronny’s protection additionally stands out, can be enjoyable to look at him hound gamers for South Bay
James wasn’t the Lakers rookie that had most individuals speaking, although.
Dalton Knecht Makes Most of Inexperienced Gentle on Offense
Dalton Knecht poured in a team-high 20 factors and narrowly missed out on a double-double by hauling in 9 boards. He additionally had one help, which got here on a feed to James within the first quarter.
ESPN @espn
Knecht ➡️ Bronny pic.twitter.com/3gss4IklGk
NBA @NBA
Dalton Knecht scores 20 and grabs 9 boards in a powerful displaying from the Lakers’ No. 17 choose 🔥
📍 California Basic Summer season League pic.twitter.com/9Yk01bkTTl
Knecht took 18 pictures, eight of which got here from deep. That is the form of self-confidence he’ll want to be able to make an impression on a workforce that features LeBron James and Anthony Davis. They will expect Knecht to fireside away once they put the ball in his fingers.
Ben Sig 🚬 @sig_50
I actually hope that the Lakers/JJ Redick purpose to make use of Dalton Knecht right away. Albeit he’ll have some rookie rising pains/and many others however can have a sound impression in that Bogdan Bogdanovic utilization//function off the principle core.
^He will thrive in that respect scoring off the principle expertise.
Josiah Ross @JosiahNRoss
I believe Knecht is a extremely good off-ball participant however he cannot dribble.
Josh Ward @Josh_Ward
It is nonetheless foolish Dalton Knecht fell to No. 17 within the draft (and never due to tonight’s summer season league efficiency). https://t.co/h4bF8DWRUN
The 2024 SEC Participant of the 12 months regarded like a steal when he fell to L.A. with the seventeenth choose. Nothing from Wednesday night time would refute that concept.
Keyonte George Steals Highlight from Jazz Rookies
The Summer season League is usually an ideal showcase for second-year gamers as a result of they’ve an expertise edge on most of the opponents they’re matched up in opposition to. Keyonte George’s displaying within the Utah Jazz’s 93-85 win over the Philadelphia 76ers was a main instance of that.
George dropped 31 factors in 31 minutes, and he put the crowning glory on the victory with this thunderous alley-oop.
NBA @NBA
Keyonte George’s lob throwdown places the ‼️ on the Jazz Salt Lake Metropolis Summer season League win 😤
31 PTS, 5 AST for the 2023 No. 16 choose 🔥 pic.twitter.com/7aMEazrgqM
After struggling a bit as a rookie, the 6’4″ guard could be turning a nook in 12 months 2.
Andy Larsen @andyblarsen
Significantly better efficiency from Keyonte George on this summer season league sport… environment friendly, facilitated extra, extra connected (although nonetheless room for enchancment) on protection. Confirmed actual command of the sport.
David J. Smith @davidjsmith1232
Keyonte George has been one of the best participant within the court docket—precisely what Jazz followers wish to see. MUCH extra environment friendly statline: 25 pts (7-13, 2-6, 9-10), 4 ast, 2 rbd.
Jacob Moreno @jmoreno76ers
I’m additionally changing into a giant fan of Keyonte George’s sport. The Jazz have a enjoyable squad of younger expertise
Utah’s three draft picks, in contrast, weren’t as much as his degree. Cody Williams and Kyle Filipowski mixed to shoot 1-of-14 and had two factors apiece. Isaiah Collier was extra environment friendly, with 12 factors on 4-of-6 taking pictures, however dedicated six fouls in simply 19:36.
Of the three, Filipowski’s Summer season League has been essentially the most regarding to date.
Andy Larsen @andyblarsen
Would make sense if Kyle Filipowski is a “takes time to regulate to the NBA 3” man… however I believe it is fairly clear there can be a major adjustment interval
Alma Bean @AlmaBean23
Kyle Filipowski has been having a tough night time. Flooring spacing has been off, unable to catch passes, unaware of the shot clock. He will want time within the G League and make vital enhancements if he needs to see NBA minutes#SLCSL #TakeNote #UtahJazz #PHIvsUTA
Nate Babcock NBA Draft @coachnatebdraft
Filipowski within the 2nd quarter of this sport is struggling.
I stay bullish on him however the sport is simply too quick for him proper now. Positively one thing he’ll modify to.
The previous Duke star could be spending a whole lot of his time with the Salt Lake Metropolis Stars within the NBA G League as a rookie.
Scotty Pippen Jr. Builds on Summer season League Opener
For the second time this week, Scotty Pippen Jr. was a standout performer in a dropping effort for the Memphis Grizzlies.
Pippen completed with 17 factors, three rebounds, 5 assists and three steals as Memphis fell 80-77 to the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder. Granted, his field rating appears to be like a lot better if you happen to ignore his taking pictures line (6-of-19 total and 1-of-8 on threes).
Desert Dweller Sports activities Community @DesertDwellerSN
No Zach Edey tonight however Scottie Pippen Jr. can be enjoying, which is nice for the Memphis protection. They wanted some extent guard final night time.
GG Jackson and DeJon Jarreau beginning. Nice information for us!
L-e-m-a-a-r @1Lemaar
The Grizzlies have some actual go getters on their summer season league workforce. Scotty Pippen Jr is a pacesetter.
RANDOM HOOPS @HoopsRandom
Grizz have one in Scotty Pippen Jr! pic.twitter.com/DdP25Oa95M
Pippen was discovered cash for the Grizzlies final yr as he averaged 12.9 factors and 4.7 assists in his 21 appearances. With the good thing about a full offseason with the franchise, he is poised to emerge as a stable function participant within the backcourt behind Ja Morant.
