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Biggest Winners and Losers from 2025 NBA Summer League
LAS VEGAS — The entire NBA community gathered this month in Las Vegas to network, make transactions and watch the league's newest rookies.
However, the biggest on-court headlines came not from this year's rookie group, but from the 2024 draft class. A number of NBA sophomores had excellent summer leagues that could hint at breakout 2025-26 seasons.
Unfortunately, Cooper Flagg, Dylan Harper and Tre Johnson were held to just two games, and VJ Edgecombe and Ace Bailey missed time with injuries.
And there were some returning players entering important seasons who struggled, creating some concern over their development and trajectories.
We picked the biggest standouts and disappointments among players who logged at least three games in July.
Winner: Kyle Filipowski (Utah Jazz, PF/C)
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There were a handful of second- and third-year players who put up big numbers in summer league. Kyle Filipowski may have been the most convincing in terms of the translatability of his improved skill level and execution.
The 21-year-old averaged 29.3 points with nine threes in three games in Vegas. The fluidity and confidence in his shooting popped. He didn't look like a big who's just capable from beyond the arc—he looked liked like an actual shooter with his shot prep and decisive release.
Filipowski also used his dribble and footwork throughout to get to spots, including on a game-tying drive into a dunk in the closing seconds against the San Antonio Spurs.
Otherwise, the 2024 No. 32 overall pick was dominant around the basket using his size, body, hands for finishing and motor.
His offensive game has gotten sharper in every season since his freshman one at Duke.
A lack of explosiveness in the paint has been problematic over the years, but more strength and perimeter polish should help compensate. Regardless of the competition during summer league, Filipowski seems ready to play a sizable role in Utah's 2025-26 rotation.
Winner: David Jones-Garcia (San Antonio Spurs, SG)
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Undrafted in 2024, David Jones-Garcia should have earned himself some real looks after a standout summer.
Between California and Las Vegas, he scored over 20 points in five-of-six games. A relentless combination of rim pressure, instincts in the lane and shotmaking fueled his scoring attack.
His confidence was evident while watching him knock down 20-of-36 threes. But he also used his handle and change of speed to create in the half court and get to spots inside the arc, where he sliced to the rim and used his runner and mid-range game around the key.
Jones-Garcia produced with the type of creativity, instincts and contested shooting ability for the Spurs (or any team) to picture a potential instant-offense weapon during the regular season.
Winner: Yang Hansen (Portland Trail Blazers, C)
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With Cooper Flagg shut down after two games, much of the excitement around summer league in Vegas quickly shifted to Yang Hansen. He was the biggest draw for most of the week, with his visible confidence, nifty passing and shooting winning fans over.
The 20-year-old was often used as a facilitator from the top of the arc, where he directed offense and hit cutters. His basketball IQ was easy to detect. The ability to act as a playmaking weapon at 7'2", height he uses to see and dish over the top with, is something that clearly separates him and allows Portland to bring opposing centers away from the rim.
Hansen also showed some ability to put the ball down and make a play off the dribble, using his footwork and body control to separate and finish drives.
He hit four threes in three games as well. While it's unrealistic to expect a reliable shooter next year, he did make 16 threes last season in China, and he clearly has enough confidence and touch to become a more regular threat from deep down the road.
Scouts (aside from the Blazers') were mostly hesitant about his game translating against quicker and more explosive athletes compared to the CBA. But between his NBA combine appearance and summer league showing, his offensive skill level, feel and ambitious approach have worked well offensively.
Physicality under the boards and defensive mobility look like the biggest weaknesses Portland and Hansen will have to address.
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Winner: Terrence Shannon Jr. (Minnesota Timberwolves, SG/SF)
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After scoring 37 points in 39 total minutes against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA playoffs, Terrence Shannon Jr. was given a green light to play in Las Vegas. And frankly, he looked out of place.
The 24-year-old averaged 22.7 points, 6.0 boards, 5.0 assists and 1.7 steals in the three games he played.
He showed maturity with his decision-making, initiating and passing. He picked the right spots to use his burst for attacking or playmaking. And each game he sprinkled in some ball-handling and one-on-one offense into drives, runners or pull-up jumpers.
The Timberwolves are going to value Shannon's athleticism and potent shotmaking most next season. But the reads he was making in Vegas appeared to show real growth with his feel for the game.
Winner: Ajay Mitchell (Oklahoma City Thunder, PG/SG)
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Ajay Mitchell nearly averaged 20 points a game in summer league, scoring with the same type of craftiness and signature pacing he used to average 20 at Santa Barbara.
He's the type of ball-handler that should make evaluators start putting less stock into athleticism or explosiveness. While the game can move fast for rookies, it always looks like Mitchell is seeing it in slow motion, allowing him to make the right moves and reads. He continues to activate his change of speed, timing, footwork and body control to create separation and get to his spots.
Always an efficient finisher, the 23-year-old flashed his instincts and touch around the basket, while his passing IQ showed on the 5.0 assists per game.
Though never a volume three-point shooter, the past two seasons plus this summer league (8-of-20), he's been efficient from behind the arc by making his spot-ups and picking the right spots to pull up.
Appearing like one of the most seasoned guards in summer league, Mitchell is going to be difficult to keep on the bench, even for the NBA champions. And at 6'5", he should offer enough size and versatility to be used at either guard spot for the Thunder.
Loser: Dalton Knecht (Los Angeles Lakers, SG/SF)
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Dalton Knecht may be the type of player who'll have an easier time in a complementary role alongside established creators and scorers. But it was still disappointing to watch him struggle to create separation and make shots as a 24-year-old, second-year summer-leaguer.
While the 25.0 percent mark from three was likely fluky, his 40.5 two-point percentage was more concerning.
Going No. 17 in the 2024 draft was considered a major slide for Knecht. Teams worrry about the room for improvement and trajectory of prospect his age, so he plateauing will be something to monitor.
Regardless, even with the addition of Jake LaRavia, the Lakers still have a need for Knecht to provide second-unit offense.
Winner: Nique Clifford (Sacramento Kings, SF/PF)
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One of the draws to Nique Clifford was the idea he'd be ready to handle NBA minutes. That seems even more likely after he averaged 18.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 1.5 steals through four summer league games.
More of a jack-of-all-trades, master of none as a college junior, the 23-year-old soared up boards this past season by emerging as a 6'6" initiator. That development showed in Vegas, where he often brought the ball up, set up teammates and created for himself. A sharper handle has weaponized it, turning him into a player who can break down defense and get his own shot in different ways.
His improved pull-up shooting was on display along with his shotmaking versatility. Aside from hitting 9-of-17 threes, he made a number of tough self-created fallaways and runners in the lane.
Clifford ultimately looked like the type of positionless player the Sacramento Kings will be able to use in different roles and situations, on or off the ball.
Winner: Chris Livingston (Milwaukee Bucks, SF)
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Chris Livingston was a clear winner at summer league, considering he earned a fully-guaranteed one-year deal after averaging 20.8 points through four games in Vegas.
The combination of physical driving and shotmaking worked well for the 21-year-old. At 6'6", 220 pounds, he attacked through contact and made counters in the lane while converting 8-of-21 threes.
The shooting was easily the most important development, and it will remain his big ticket to NBA playing time.
Loser: Khaman Maluach (Phoenix Suns, C)
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It seemed odd that the Phoenix Suns would draft Khaman Maluach and then almost instantly trade for Mark Williams. It makes a little more sense after watching summer league, where the No. 10 pick struggled offensively and averaged 4.0 fouls in just 23.3 minutes.
It was fun and encouraging to see Maluach get off 13 three-point attempts after only taking 16 all season at Duke. He's clearly not ready to be a regular threat from outside, though.
And while the size, length and movement remain functional for finishing lobs and protecting the rim, summer league showed his rawness and lack of physicality around the post.
It's obviously all about the long term for Maluach, who's 7'2" with a 9'6" reach and some shotmaking range. However, it's difficult to picture him playing anything but an energy or backup role in the short term.
Winner: Ron Holland (Detroit Pistons, SG/SF)
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Ron Holland was productive and active defensively for the Detroit Pistons last year in his limited role, but shooting has been an issue dating back to high school.
Improvement from three could unlock significant scoring potential, given how explosive and aggressive he is attacking, and how much his handle and self-creation have grown.
The 2024 No. 5 overall pick hit 7-of-15 threes through three summer league games, finishing with averages of 21.7 points and 4.0 steals.
He knocked down jumpers in a variety of ways with visible decisiveness. Meanwhile, his signature transition offense, rim pressure, counter finishing and defensive aggression were highly effective.
Holland, who just turned 20 years old early in the month, could have a real chance to crack the rotation this year with Malik Beasley out of the picture. Producing and shotmaking like he did in Vegas was at least a promising sign, though Holland should bring something to Detroit's table even without a 35.0 percent three-ball.
Winner: DaRon Holmes II (Denver Nuggets, PF/C)
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After missing all of season No. 1 with an Achilles injury, DaRon Holmes showed up to summer league with his signature athleticism and motor. He also showed the improved shooting, face-up game and passing that helped launch the 6'9" big man up boards at Dayton.
The 22-year-old buried seven threes through his first three games, looking confident in pick-and-pop and catch-and-shoot situations. He looked equally comfortable using his threat to fake and attack closeouts, navigating his way to the basket for driving finishes.
The Denver Nuggets don't have a frontcourt player like Holmes, who would offer a different type of spring, energy and inside-out versatility compared to Jonas Valančiūnas behind Aaron Gordon and Nikola Jokić.
His play in Vegas should at least make Denver considering experimenting with Holmes off the bench early on.
Loser: Yves Missi (New Orleans Pelicans, C)
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The New Orleans Pelicans' center depth will be something to watch after they traded up for Derik Queen and then signed Kevon Looney.
Yves Missi may suddenly have some pressure on him to take the next step. His summer league performance wasn't particularly promising, though, as the second-year big made just 9-of-31 shots from the field.
To his credit, his role during the regular season will be simpler. Ultimately, he played away from his strengths in Las Vegas by trying to create for himself and score one-on-one. It didn't work very well.
Queen is clearly the more interesting player, and one the team made a huge investment and gamble on by trading an unprotected 2026 first-rounder.
Missi's defense is still important to the Pelicans' rotation, but it doesn't appear he's made many strides offensively.
Winner: Nae'Qwan Tomlin (Cleveland Cavaliers, PF)
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Nae'Qwan Tomlin was one of the biggest eye-openers in Vegas with his production and updated fluidity. He flashed wing skills while providing big-man plays around the basket with his timing and motor for finishing and offensive rebounding.
The perimeter scoring popped as well, with the Memphis product making 9-of-22 threes and showing impressive footwork and body control on drives and adjustment layups.
Though already 24 years old, his rise has become noteworthy, considering he didn't play organized basketball until college.
Tomlin won't start the year in the Cavaliers' rotation, but given the consistent rate he's developing, plus the value tied to his archetype, he's become a prospect to monitor in their system.
Winner: Kon Knueppel (Charlotte Hornets, SG/SF)
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The Charlotte Hornets became 2025 NBA summer league champs, with Kon Knueppel scoring 21 points in the finals to win MVP.
Throughout the week in Vegas, he delivered a balanced attack of on and off-ball scoring, demonstrating both his signature shooting prowess and comfort level handling the ball and making reads off the dribble.
The athletic limitations didn't appear problematic for Knueppel, who used his skill level, IQ and feel to create for himself and finish plays. But his playmaking popped as well, mostly with how advanced he looked playing at right pace in ball-screen situations to help set up teammates.
While history suggests we shouldn't overreact to summer league, the Hornets look like they made the right pick at No. 4. Knueppel's well-rounded, mature offensive game/approach seem like an ideal fit for this particular group.
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