With NBA Summer League underway, these players look way too good to be here.
The NBA Draft is in the rearview mirror and we have finally arrived at the doorstep of Summer League basketball in Vegas. But, a few teams already started their abbreviated summer seasons in Sacramento. Some players might not make it to Vegas on account of being far too good for Summer League basketball.
While it's dangerous to make any grand proclamations based on Summer League performances (good or bad), it's often a good sign if a player is levels above the competition. That typically happens with returners — second or third-year players who have been around the block and faced genuine NBA-level competition.
Summer League is pro competition, there's no doubt about it. But it's not NBA competition, and any player who struggles in Summer League is going to face a learning curve in the big league. If a player is flat-out dominating, however, then it could be time to get that player off the floor.
Here are three Summer Leaguers who have already earned the right to sit out in Vegas.
No. 3 NBA Summer League standout: Julian Champagnie, Spurs
Julian Champagnie split his rookie season between Philadelphia and San Antonio, landing with the Spurs after the Sixers waived him to sign future dunk contest winner Mac McClung. In hindsight, maybe the Sixers should have clung tight to Champagnie.
In 15 appearances (including three starts) for the Spurs, Champagnie averaged a compelling 11.0 points and 4.0 rebounds on .461/.407/.824 splits. He did so in only 20.9 minutes per game. San Antonio appears to have stumbled into a legitimate rotation piece, signing the St. John's product to a four-year, $12 million contract at the start of free agency.
Now, Champagnie is backing up the hype in Summer League. He lit up the Lakers on Wednesday night, dropping 28 points on 8-of-17 from the field (5-of-10 from deep) with five rebounds and two blocks. His jumper looks absolutely pure and he's expanding his contributions to other areas of the game, especially as a defender.
Big wings who can shoot will always carry value in the modern NBA. Champagnie is 6-foot-8 and 220 pounds; he can handle a decent variety of matchups on the defensive end and he's showing a real talent for disruption on top of the offensive skill set. The man is ready for the NBA; San Antonio can probably rest him the rest of the way.
No. 2 NBA Summer League standout: Tre Mann, Thunder
OKC has the deepest pool of young talent in the NBA, especially on the perimeter. While Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the main attraction — and Josh Giddey has emerged as quite the noteworthy sidekick — the Thunder's guard depth extends well beyond the starting lineup.
The Thunder drafted Kentucky point guard Cason Wallace with the No. 10 pick in June's NBA Draft. OKC then signed Euroleague superstar Vasilije Micic at the start of free agency, ending the 29-year-old's long "stash" period overseas. We can't forget about Isaiah Joe either; he's one of the best off-ball shooters in the world.
That leaves Tre Mann, the Florida point guard now entering his third NBA season, in a tricky position. At some point OKC will have to consolidate assets — it's impossible to use all the draft picks and all the young players on the roster. Mann was the No. 18 pick in 2021, a serious investment from the Thunder, but he's already edging toward oblivion at the backend of OKC's depth chart.
He's pretty much in do-or-die territory. Mann has made quite the statement early in Summer League. He dropped 23 on the Sixers on Thursday; 28 on the Grizzlies on Wednesday; 20 on the Jazz on Sunday. Thoroughly impressive on every occasion.
Mann has a lot of interesting tools creating out of pick-and-rolls and hitting pull-up jumpers. He looks the part of a modern combo guard and he competes admirably on the defensive end. If he doesn't stick in OKC, other teams around the league should be monitoring him with extreme interest.
No. 1 NBA Summer League standout: Keegan Murray, Kings
Keegan Murray finished fifth in Rookie of the Year voting last season. He started for the No. 3 seed in the West — the only rookie to start all season for a high-end contender. If there were any lingering doubts about his professional viability, he's putting them to bed in Summer League.
Murray put together one of the most complete performances you'll ever see in Wednesday's OT win over the Heat. Murray dropped 41 points on 20 shots with five rebounds and four blocks. He got to the free throw line 15 times, showcasing facets of his game we seldom saw in year one with Sacramento.
The Kings selected Murray with the No. 4 pick in last year's NBA Draft after a historically productive season at Iowa. He was older than your typical top-four pick, but he made up for it with perceived NBA readiness. Sacramento hit the jackpot in that regard; Murray immediately contributed with the most 3-point field goals in NBA rookie history.
At 6-foot-9, Murray brings obvious value as a big wing who can set nets alight from deep. In Summer League, however, Murray is expanding his repertoire. He's hitting more shots pulling up and on the move. He's beating closeouts, getting to the rim, and creating his own looks. He's absolutely blowing up opposing plays on defense, too.
The Kings probably can't count on many 41-point performances from Murray when the real season begins, but he may be more than the 3-and-D wing many thought Sacramento was drafting. Don't be shocked if Murray isn't featured in the Kings' Vegas plans.
