LAS VEGAS — Summer League is a time for glimpses, not guarantees.
From an analysis standpoint, toes are being dipped in the water here; it’s how you get a feel for who players are, what they like, where they have to grow once competition ramps up during preseason play, and again once the regular season begins.
More than anything, Summer League is supposed to be fun. I recently left Vegas, and while I don’t miss the (dry) heat, I do miss the general vibe there. Walking around the arena, not knowing if you’re going to run into fellow basketball sickos — fans, friends, media members, coaches, players, former league-mates — is part of the charm. You never know what throwback jerseys you’re going to see, either.
This piece is less about nitty-gritty analysis, and more about celebrating the things that have brought me joy through a week-plus of Summer League action.
Let’s hand out some awards, shall we?
The Old Spice Swagger Award: AJ Dybantsa, Washington Wizards
There’s generally a level of self-belief — and (not so) borderline arrogance — you need to become a top pick. AJ Dybantsa certainly has that in spades.
Beyond the pure talent — his ability to will himself into the paint for shots at the rim, free throws, or both, might just be unrivaled in this class — there’s a way that he reacts to defenses as a concept that I enjoyed watching up close.
AJ Dybantsa is showing why he was the No. 1 pick in the 2026 draft. (AP Photo/John Locher)
(AP Photo/John Locher)
For the Wizards-Jazz showdown, the very game that Dybantsa dropped 27 & 7 in a 92-88 win, what probably sticks with me the most was the way he was literally shaking his head after baskets. Like, it was as if he was confused and disgusted at the thought of someone having the audacity of trying to contain him.
There’s some level of shot selection refinement needed, but that isn’t new for a talented top pick. I do already appreciate his aggression and his approach. He’s not scared of anyone.
There’s plenty to like about the Caleb Wilson experience so far. He shined in his debut against the Cameron Boozer-led Memphis Grizzlies on Friday, dropping a game-high 35 points on what felt like every variation of off-the-dribble 3 you can think of. On Monday night, he followed that up with a less-efficient 19-point outing, but still managed to fill the statsheet with eight rebounds and seven stocks (two steals, five blocks).
He’s going to be a problem, especially if the shooting is a heavier, more reliable part of his diet than initially anticipated.
But we’re not here to talk about any of that. We’re here to talk about him making future Hall of Famer Blake Griffin proud with this bad boy against the Jazz:
Wheeeeeeeeeew!
So, three things:
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It’s not easy to elevate that way, from that angle, and still have the coordination and accuracy to pull this off. It’s a special display of athleticism from a prospect who oozes plenty of it on a per-possession basis.
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What a great call on that dunk: “ExPLOSIVE…WHOA!”
Succinct, but meets the moment. Handshakes all around.
For the gospel music fans out there, you’ve probably heard “Joy” by VaShawn Mitchell in some capacity. If you haven’t, I’d recommend it. Quality vibes, uplifting message — as it goes, so it goes. The hook is a simple one:
You give me joy
Down deep in my soul
Down deep in my soul
Down deep in my soul
If you were to take this hook from its religious context and apply it to basketball, I don’t know if it would fit any player more than Kings center Dylan Cardwell.
That guy plays basketball like it’s his first and only love. He’s ecstatic after every dunk; enthusiastic after every hustle play. He’s hyping teammates up like they won the lottery after anything, whether he’s on the floor or not.
Not only is that energy infectious, it’s endearing. I’m rooting for that dude to carve out a 15-year career just because of the way he carries himself. That pure unbridled love for basketball is something I appreciate immensely.
The Caretaker Award: Brayden Burries, Milwaukee Bucks
What an awesome start to the summer for Brayden Burries.
He’s been fun defensively (2.3 steals, 1 block per), navigating the balancing act between screen navigation, switchability and off-ball feel pretty darn well to start.
Offensively, he’s shot the leather off the ball (44.4% on six 3s per) while sprinkling in some you’re-coming-with-me drives that has me pretty excited about the scoring pun-
[finger to earpiece]
[nods]
… scoring prowess he can provide in the NBA — and the playmaking that can complement that gravity.
A quietly impressive note for me: among 70 players to log at least 100 touches during the Vegas portion of Summer League, he’s committed a turnover on just 1.9% of those touches. It’s the fourth-lowest mark in the league, behind three players (Javon Small, Donte Maddox Jr., Donovan Williams) who don’t have the on-ball usage, responsibility or (external) expectations he has.
The Lob City Award: Sergio de Larrea and Kaodirichi Akobundu-Ehiogu, Dallas Mavericks
Well, if we’re going to have a Blake Griffin Award, we might as well show the Clippers some love as a concept.
The primary draw for me with the Mavericks’ Summer League team is lottery pick Morez Johnson, who certainly didn’t disappoint in his debut (27-8-3-3-2) against the Warriors on Thursday. Quickly rising up the power ranking for me is the two-man game of de Larrea and Akobundu-Ehiogu.
De Larrea’s 12-assist outing against the Grizzlies on Monday night was filled with dimes — and specifically lobs — to Akobundu-Ehiogu. The latter did such a good job of getting out of his screens, while the former consistently threw on-time, on-target jump balls for him to slam down.
To put a number on it: Including the aforementioned Warriors matchup, the de Larrea/Akobundu-Ehiogu duo has connected for 18 on-ball picks in Vegas, generating an absurd 1.25 points per possession on those trips. Not only are they electric, they’ve been incredibly effective together.
We could just talk about his bucket-getting altogether; nobody is averaging more Vegas points than Thomas (28.3), and he’s doing so on incredible efficiency.
(Brief aside: I’m such a fan of his actual jump shot. Give me a lean, a sway or a flick, and I’m probably in; give me a combination and I’m definitely in. His jumper is kinda Tim Hardaway Jr.-coded, and I mean that as a compliment.)
I wanted to focus on the drives, because he’s such a treat to watch when he wins cleanly. He lulls you with hang dribbles, ducks as he speeds past you, then you’re at the mercy of him getting all the way to the basket for a variety of off-glass finishes, or him decelerating on a whim to get into a floater.
And boy, does he love his floaters.
To put a number on this, too: among 26 players to log at least 20 drives in Vegas, Thomas’ 42.4% blow-by rate laps the field. Thomas, Ebuka Okorie (he’s been tons of fun) and Jameer Nelson Jr. (there is no way I’m this old already) are the only three players to log double-digit blow-bys so far.
Have fun trying to contain this guy for the rest of the summer.
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