The 2024 NBA Summer League is just getting underway, with the Las Vegas games taking place July 12-22. Games already occurred in California (July 6-10) and Salt Lake (July 8-10) giving fans an early look at how their franchise’s young stars are acclimating to a professional setting.
The 2024 NBA draft class was considered weak, particularly at the top, but the amount of depth in this class is already on full display with strong performances from players picked all over the board. While Summer League data is always worth taking with a large grain of salt, seeing players picked in the top five and in the bottom five having all kinds of success in the early going may be a sign this class wasn’t nearly as weak as advertised.
Below is a look at ten rookies from this draft class – all who come from the college basketball ranks – who are off to solid starts in Summer League, starting with the No. 3 overall pick who had a terrific debut for the Rockets:
Reed Sheppard – Houston Rockets
Lucas Peltier-USA TODAY Sports
School: Kentucky Wildcats
Draft: No. 3 overall
Stats: 22.5 points, 6.0 assists, 5.0 rebounds, 3.0 steals, 2.0 blocks, 45.5% from 3 in two games
Bub Carrington – Washington Wizards
Lucas Peltier-USA TODAY Sports
School: Pitt Panthers
Draft: No. 14 overall
Stats: 18.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, 6.5 assists, 44.4% from 3 in two games
Zach Edey – Memphis Grizzlies
(Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images)
School: Purdue Boilermakers
Draft: No. 9 overall
Stats: 14 points, 15 rebounds, 4 blocks on 7-12 shooting in first game
Terrence Shannon Jr – Minnesota Timberwolves
(Photo by Candice Ward/Getty Images)
School: Illinois Fighting Illini
Draft: No. 27 overall
Stats: 19 points, 2.5 rebounds, 2.5 blocks, 1.5 steals, 1.0 assists, 65% from field in two games
Dalton Knecht - Los Angeles Lakers
Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
School: Tennessee Volunteers
Draft: No. 17 overall
Stats: 25 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, 1 block on 45.5% (5-11) from 3 in one game
Tristan Da Silva - Orlando Magic
Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
School: Colorado Buffaloes
Draft: No. 18 overall
Stats: 18 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.5 steals, 54.5% from 3 in two games
Cam Spencer - Memphis Grizzlies
Syndication: The Commercial Appeal
School: UConn Huskies
Draft: No. 53 overall
Stats: 15 points, 4 assists, 3 steals, 60% (3-5) from three in one game
Cody Williams - Utah Jazz
Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
School: Colorado Buffaloes
Draft: No. 10 overall
Stats: 21 points, 4 assists, 3 rebounds, 50% (3-6) from 3 in first game
Jaylon Tyson - Cleveland Cavaliers
Syndication: Akron Beacon Journal
School: California Golden Bears
Draft: No. 20 overall
Stats: 14.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.0 steals, 37.5% from 3 in two games
Enrique Freeman - Indiana Pacers
David Banks-USA TODAY Sports
School: Akron Zips
Draft: No. 50 overall
Stats: 10.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 88.9% from the field in two games
