News Summary
The NBA 2K26 Summer League concluded in Las Vegas, with the Charlotte Hornets taking the championship title with a perfect 6-0 record. Kon Knueppel, a standout lottery pick, was named MVP, scoring 21 points in the final against the Sacramento Kings. The event also showcased other top 2025 draft picks, including Cooper Flagg and Dylan Harper, who demonstrated significant potential despite various challenges. Overall, the tournament provided a glimpse into the future of these young players as the new NBA season approaches.
Las Vegas – The NBA 2K26 Summer League has wrapped up in Las Vegas, setting the stage for the upcoming training camps as fans eagerly anticipate the start of the new NBA season. The highlight of the tournament was the Charlotte Hornets, who clinched the Summer League championship with an impressive undefeated record of 6-0, bolstered by the standout performance of Kon Knueppel, a highly touted lottery pick.
Knueppel was instrumental in securing the championship for the Hornets, scoring 21 points in the final match against the Sacramento Kings, which earned him the MVP honors of the Summer League. His performance has generated considerable buzz around his potential impact in the upcoming regular season.
Alongside Knueppel, the Summer League featured a host of remarkable talents from the 2025 NBA Draft class. Notably, Cooper Flagg, the No. 1 overall pick selected by the Dallas Mavericks, showcased his skills by averaging 20.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 2.5 assists. His performance positions him as a leading candidate for the Rookie of the Year award. Flagg ranked 14th among Summer League participants in scoring, suggesting that while his debut was strong, there is still room for improvement.
The San Antonio Spurs’ second overall pick, Dylan Harper, exhibited promise with an average of 16.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 2.0 assists in the limited time he played before a groin injury sidelined him for the duration of the tournament. Meanwhile, VJ Edgecombe, selected third by the Philadelphia 76ers, demonstrated his dynamic potential with averages of 15.6 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 3.8 assists.
Another notable performance came from Tre Johnson of the Washington Wizards, who averaged 19.5 points per game with an impressive shooting percentage of 45.5% from the three-point line. Conversely, Jeremiah Fears of the New Orleans Pelicans had a challenging introduction to the league, averaging 17.4 points but faced criticism for his decision-making, tallying up to 25 turnovers during the Summer League.
Among other top picks, Khaman Maluach, the 10th overall pick from the Phoenix Suns, struggled with efficiency but showed glimpses of his potential as a tall asset at 7-foot-2. Derik Queen, selected by the Pelicans at No. 13, became known for his rebounding strength but required wrist surgery following a tournament injury. Egor Demin, chosen eighth by the Brooklyn Nets, demonstrated shooting skills, hitting 43.5% of his shots from downtown while averaging 11.3 points.
Additionally, Carter Bryant, drafted at No. 14 by the Spurs, displayed impressive defensive capabilities and made significant contributions to his team, despite challenges with perimeter shooting. Ace Bailey, who faced an injury-limited season, managed to average 13.0 points in the Salt Lake City league.
Overall, the top 14 picks from the 2025 NBA Draft showcased a blend of promising performances and areas that require improvement during the Summer League. This event has provided valuable insights into player development, team dynamics, and the outlook for these rookies as the professional basketball season approaches.
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Additional Resources
- NBA: How Lottery Picks Fared in 2025 Summer League
- Wikipedia: NBA 2025
- ESPN: 2025 NBA Draft Executives Debate
- Google Search: 2025 NBA Draft
- NBA Big Board: High Stakes Hot Takes
- Google Scholar: NBA Summer League
- Bleacher Report: Grading Every NBA Team’s Top Rookies
- Encyclopedia Britannica: NBA Summer League
- Nets Wire: Which Nets Played the Best
- Google News: NBA Rookie 2025
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