(Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
The NBA Summer Pro League is the best place to evaluate a rookie, a second-year player, or a developmental league player looking for a guaranteed contract. If a player can survive and thrive in the summer league, they will most likely succeed in the NBA.
The summer league is where coaches, scouts and, general managers get to see their prized rookies during the controlled scrimmages and find out if they scored a home run or struck out in the draft.
There were a handful of first- and second-year players who stood head and shoulders above the rest. They were (in no particular order):
BLAKE GRIFFIN, L.A. Clippers, PF: Griffin was named the Most Outstanding Player of the Las Vegas Summer Pro League. In his summer league debut, the No. 1 overall pick scored 27 points on 11-of-15 shooting from the field and grabbed 12 rebounds.
Against the Memphis Grizzlies and their top rookie Hasheem Thabeet, Griffin scored 18 points, grabbed 15 rebounds, and lowered the boom on the Griz with three spectacular dunks in the first half.
He is the most NBA-ready player from the class of 2009. The 6-foot-10, 250-pound man child from the University of Oklahoma has tremendous bounce off the floor and terrific athleticism for a true power forward. He runs the floor incredibly well and attacks the rim with force.
The Clippers are extremely happy to have Mr. Griffin, and he should complement second-year guard Eric Gordon and point guard Baron Davis. As long as he doesn’t get hurt, Griffin is a lock to be the 2010 NBA Rookie of the Year.
RUSSELL WESTBROOK, Oklahoma City Thunder, point guard: The second-year point guard was easily the best player in the Orlando Summer League. The former UCLA standout showed great explosion on his dribble drives and finished strong at the rim.
Westbrook was paired with rookie shooting guard James Harden, and the two lit up the scoreboard and played like vets. After a solid rookie season, Westbrook is primed for a breakout season and validates OKC’s gamble in last year’s draft.
TYLER HANSBROUGH, Indiana Pacers, SF-PF: The Pacers definitely got their money’s worth with this pick. Hansbrough is a coach’s dream, and Coach Jim O’Brien is gushing about his prized rookie.
“The first thing that he brings is intensity and an energy level that very few people that I’ve been around in my life can bring to a practice,” O’Brien said of Hansbrough, who was named to the All-Summer League First Team in Orlando.
STEPHEN CURRY, Golden State Warriors, PG: The book on Curry was that he is a lights-out shooter with a quick release and unlimited range.
What the book didn’t say about the son of former NBA sharp-shooter Dell Curry is his court awareness. One scout at the Vegas Summer League said Curry has “super court savvy” and is “deceptively good getting to the basket.”
Don Nelson has been able to find gems in the past—Mitch Richmond, Tim Hardaway, Latrell Sprewell, Dirk Nowitzki, and Josh Howard—and Curry is no exception. In five games, Curry averaged 17 points and made 10-of-29 3-pointers.
TYREKE EVANS, Sacramento Kings, PG-SG: Whether he’ll end up as a point guard or shooting guard with the Kings, one thing is certain; Evans is a player.
At 6-foot-5 and 190 pounds, Evens has the size and the athleticism to get his own shot, create match-up problems against smaller backcourts, and defend. He’ll pair up quite nicely with 6-foot-6 shooting guard Kevin Martin.
One scout said Evans “looked smooth.” Against the Milwaukee Bucks’ summer league team, Evans poured in 33 points and converted 17 of 19 free throw attempts. He also added seven rebounds and seven assists.
BRANDON JENNINGS, Milwaukee Bucks, PG: The Euroleague experience has definitely paid off for Jennings. The 6-foot-1 left-hander looks comfortable running pick-and-rolls and his body has matured enough to the point where he can get in the painted area, set up teammates, or score on his own.
Jennings averaged 14.6 points and a summer-league best 8.2 assists. His quick hands were also on display, averaging 3.6 steals per game. Bucks coach Scott Skiles has liked what he has seen so far from his future point guard.
Against the Sacramento Kings, Jennings scored 13 points, dished out 14 assists, and racked up a summer pro league record seven steals.
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