NBA Summer League 2025 Hot Takes on Top Players from Cali, Utah Results on Saturday

The California Classic and Salt Lake City  2025 NBA Summer League kicked off on Saturday, showcasing a mix of recent draft standouts and hopefuls aiming to earn a spot on an NBA roster ahead of the regular season.

The California Classic features the San Antonio Spurs, Miami Heat, Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors, while the Memphis Grizzlies, Oklahoma City Thunder, Philadelphia 76ers and Utah Jazz are set to compete in the Salt Lake City portion of Summer League action.

Here is a look at the final scores and hot takes from Saturday:

Heat def. Spurs, 82–69

Carter Bryant Flashes Serious Potential in Summer League Debut

Carter Bryant, the No. 14 overall pick by the San Antonio Spurs out of Arizona, didn’t steal the spotlight on Saturday, but he displayed poise and confidence in his first NBA appearance.

The 19-year-old forward finished with seven points and five rebounds in 29 minutes, shooting 37.5 percent from the field. While he struggled from beyond the arc—hitting just 1-of-6—he didn’t hesitate to pull the trigger, staying true to the shooting confidence that saw him hit 37.1 percent from deep during his time at Arizona.

Warriors def. Lakers, 89–84

Dalton Knecht's Rough Night Sparks Sophomore Slump Concerns

Dalton Knecht got the start in Saturday’s Summer League opener—and it was a rough outing.

The 24-year-old second-year guard shot just 23.1 percent from the field and missed all six of his attempts from deep, finishing with 10 points in the Lakers’ 89–84 loss. Despite the shooting woes, he contributed elsewhere with four rebounds, two assists, two steals and a block. However, he struggled defensively as well. 

After averaging 9.1 points and 2.8 rebounds across 78 games in his rookie season with the Lakers, the inefficient performance raised some eyebrows as he looks to build on his first-year campaign.

Grizzlies def. Thunder, 92–80

Jaylen Wells Looks Better Than Ever in First Game Since Season-Ending Injury

In his first game since suffering a broken wrist and concussion on April 8 against the Timberwolves, Jaylen Wells made a statement. The Grizzlies forward looked sharp and confident, wasting no time reminding everyone of his potential.

In 27 minutes, Wells scored 20 points, shooting 35.7 percent from the field and 3-of-8 from beyond the arc. He also contributed four rebounds, three assists and two steals in his impressive return.

During his rookie season, Wells averaged 10.4 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.7 assists across 79 games, including 74 starts. Judging by his strong return, he appears poised to reach new heights in his sophomore campaign.

Jazz def. 76ers, 93-89

VJ Edgecombe Takes Spotlight Over Ace Bailey

VJ Edgecombe, the No. 3 overall pick to the Philadelphia 76ers, and Ace Bailey, the No. 5 overall pick to the Utah Jazz, went head-to-head in their Summer League debuts on Saturday. While both showed flashes of potential, Edgecombe delivered the more polished and impactful performance.

Edgecombe finished with 28 points along with 10 rebounds and a block. Bailey, meanwhile, struggled from the field, shooting just 3-of-13 with eight points. He also notched seven rebounds.

Both rookies will be exciting to watch this season, but in their first matchup, Edgecombe came out on top—even if the scoreboard said otherwise.

The California Classic Summer League will resume Sunday with the Lakers and Heat tipping off at 3:30 p.m. ET. Meanwhile, teams competing in Salt Lake City will have the day off.