2025 NBA Summer League: Top Players to Watch on All 30 Teams

With the California Classic and Salt Lake City Summer Leagues concluded, attention now turns to the main event of the NBA offseason: the 2025 NBA 2K26 Las Vegas Summer League. This 11-day tournament kicks off Thursday and runs until July 20, culminating in a championship game.

The spotlight will be on the newest draft class, including top 2025 picks Cooper Flagg, Dylan Harper, and VJ Edgecombe, alongside recent draftees like Bronny James, Reed Sheppard, and Rob Dillingham, and free agents seeking roster spots. After four preliminary games, the top four teams will proceed to the playoffs, with semifinals on July 19 and the final on July 20. The remaining 26 teams will play a fifth game between July 18-20.

Here, analysts Kevin Pelton and Jeremy Woo highlight the key players to watch on each of the 30 teams.

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Atlanta Hawks

Kobe Bufkin: SG
2023 draft: Round 1, No. 15

This Summer League is crucial for Bufkin, returning after shoulder surgery and entering his third NBA season. The 21-year-old guard from Michigan, drafted in 2023, has played only 27 regular-season games. As Atlanta retools under a new front office, Bufkin has a vital opportunity to prove he`s a part of the team`s long-term plans.

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Boston Celtics

Hugo Gonzalez: SG
2025 draft: Round 1, No. 28

As Boston`s sole first-round pick, Gonzalez joins a team with available wing minutes, presenting a favorable situation. After limited minutes at Real Madrid, the 19-year-old will get extended playing time in the NBA. Known for his high motor, this Summer League offers a key opportunity for his development, potentially into an important role player for the Celtics.

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Brooklyn Nets

Egor Demin: PG
2025 draft: Round 1, No. 8

The headliner of the Nets` five-man draft class, Demin is the most intriguing in his new situation. Brooklyn presumably plans to maximize his potential as an on-ball playmaker. Expect him to share those duties with other rookies, but Demin`s passing vision should shine in the wide-open environment of Vegas. It will be interesting to see how he looks, perhaps even in creative pick-and-roll sets with fellow draft pick Danny Wolf.

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Charlotte Hornets

Kon Knueppel: SF
2025 draft: Round 1, No. 4

Knueppel will likely be the focal point for the Hornets in Las Vegas, giving him a platform to showcase his excellent shooting (64.8 true shooting percentage at Duke) and developing secondary playmaking skills. He`s expected to be one of the more polished rookies immediately, and this event should provide ample opportunities for him to demonstrate his scoring ability.

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Chicago Bulls

Matas Buzelis: SF
2024 draft: Round 1, No. 11

While Buzelis may only play a game or two in Las Vegas, his significant improvement in the second half of last season was a major positive for the Bulls, who plan to rely on him more in the future. He should have plenty of scoring chances on a summer league roster largely built around him. Also noteworthy is 2025 No. 12 pick Noa Essengue, adding another versatile forward for Chicago to develop.

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Cleveland Cavaliers

Jaylon Tyson: SG
2024 draft: Round 1, No. 20

The Cavaliers selected only two players in the second round this year, making last year`s 20th overall pick, Tyson, the main attraction for their summer league squad. He saw limited action on a strong Cleveland team in 2024-25 but could have a larger role next season after the trade of Isaac Okoro. Tyson`s size for his position and offensive skills should stand out in Vegas.

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Dallas Mavericks

Cooper Flagg: SF
2025 draft: Round 1, No. 1

Drawing from a strategy used with Giannis Antetokounmpo years ago, Mavericks coach Jason Kidd stated his intention to “make him uncomfortable and see how he reacts” regarding Flagg`s summer plans, including having him “run the show, being able to play the 2, play the 3.” A power forward at Duke, Flagg will need to adapt to playing on the perimeter in the NBA due to Dallas`s crowded frontcourt. We`ll get our first look at this transition in Las Vegas.

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Denver Nuggets

DaRon Holmes II: PF
2024 draft: Round 1, No. 22 by Phoenix

A major setback last summer was Holmes suffering an Achilles rupture in his Denver debut, forcing him to miss his entire first NBA season. The 2024 first-round pick is finally set to return to the court. Holmes` ability to contribute as a rookie could be particularly important if the Nuggets cannot retain veteran Jonas Valanciunas.

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Detroit Pistons

Ron Holland II: SF
2024 draft: Round 1, No. 5

Holland played a limited role in a crowded Pistons wing rotation as a rookie but should have more opportunities moving forward after being drafted higher than many anticipated in 2024. Showcasing his abilities in Summer League, where he`ll be a featured player, would be a positive step, especially if his shooting accuracy (28.3% from 3 last season) improves.

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Golden State Warriors

L.J. Cryer: PG
2025: Undrafted

An All-America selection who helped lead Houston deep into last year`s national tournament, Cryer is an undrafted rookie whose shooting prowess could make him a standout in Las Vegas. Ranked highly in pre-draft projections due to his 40% career NCAA 3-point shooting, Cryer should have significant opportunities on an Exhibit 10 contract with a Warriors roster featuring primarily second-rounders and G-League prospects.

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Houston Rockets

Reed Sheppard: PG/SG
2024 draft: Round 1, No. 3

Sheppard was a star of last year`s summer league, earning first-team honors after impressive scoring, assisting, and stealing numbers. However, that performance rarely translated into significant NBA minutes as a rookie (just 654 minutes played). He`s back to earn more playing time in his second year on a Rockets team now aiming for contention, highlighting the importance of his summer showing.

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Indiana Pacers

Taelon Peter: SG
2025 draft: Round 2, No. 54

One of the draft`s genuine sleeper picks, Peter led Division I in true shooting percentage (73.5%) last season at Liberty, albeit in limited minutes off the bench. Indiana drafted him late in the second round, and it will be fascinating to see how he adapts to the significant jump in competition level. Peter is an outstanding athlete, but he`ll need to maintain some of his elite efficiency against better opponents, making Summer League a crucial test.

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LA Clippers

Kobe Brown: PF
2023 draft: Round 1, No. 30

This is a critical summer for Brown, who has accumulated 666 minutes over two seasons since being drafted. With the Clippers prioritizing roster flexibility, they may be hesitant to pick up his $4.8 million team option for 2026-27 unless he demonstrates he can consistently be a rotation player. His performance in Summer League will be closely watched.

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Los Angeles Lakers

Bronny James: SG
2024 draft: Round 2, No. 55

Much of James`s rookie development occurred outside the NBA spotlight, as he played only 181 minutes for the main team. He saw much more action for the G League`s South Bay Lakers, showing improved efficiency in the regular season after initial struggles, including making 38% of his 3-pointers. The Lakers will be hoping to see those improved numbers in Summer League, which could pave his way to becoming an NBA contributor.

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Memphis Grizzlies

GG Jackson: PF
2023 draft: Round 2, No. 45

The Grizzlies` roster features recent draft picks like Cam Spencer and Jaylen Wells, but the most exciting player to watch remains the 20-year-old Jackson. Still the youngest player on the team by a significant margin, Jackson played 29 games in his second NBA campaign after dealing with injuries. He showed flashes of his scoring potential in a recent game, sharing the scoring lead with Wells.

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Miami Heat

Kasparas Jakucionis: SG
2025 draft: Round 1, No. 20

Jakucionis was a surprising draft faller, becoming a valuable pick-up for the Heat who need a playmaking guard. While he had a slow start in the California Classic, better performances are anticipated. He should have ample opportunities to create offense in Las Vegas and has a potential path to contributing to the main roster, especially with the team getting younger and limited guards clearly ahead of him.

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Milwaukee Bucks

Mark Sears: PG
2025 draft: Undrafted

The Bucks have limited depth at guard after moving on from Damian Lillard, relying on veteran players on inexpensive contracts to fill minutes. Sears, a two-way signee from Alabama, has a chance to earn a spot on the back end of the roster if he can consistently make shots and perform well this summer despite his lack of size. He is likely to be given the primary ball-handling duties for the summer league squad.

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Minnesota Timberwolves

Rob Dillingham: PG
2024 draft: Round 1, No. 8 by San Antonio

Nickeil Alexander-Walker`s departure opens up minutes for several young guards playing in Las Vegas, including Terrence Shannon Jr. and Jaylen Clark. Among them, Dillingham saw the least playing time as a rookie, particularly in the playoffs after returning from an ankle injury. He has the best chance to potentially back up veteran Mike Conley, making this Summer League a crucial period for his development and role definition.

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New Orleans Pelicans

Jeremiah Fears: PG
2025 draft: Round 1, No. 7

The Pelicans drafting Fears in the top 10 was partially overshadowed by their subsequent trade to move up and draft Derik Queen. While Queen`s traditional skills might not fully translate to the fast-paced Summer League, the environment should suit Fears well. His scoring and assist numbers in college were among the best for one-and-done prospects, suggesting he can thrive in this setting.

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New York Knicks

Tyler Kolek: PG
2024 draft: Round 2, No. 34

Even as a high second-round pick, Kolek played sparingly for the Knicks last season. His path to minutes remains challenging with other guards in the mix, but Kolek should have the opportunity to lead the offense in Las Vegas and strengthen his case. He is a skilled playmaker who could benefit from more opportunity, although his physical profile presents limitations for a second-unit leader.

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Oklahoma City Thunder

Nikola Topic: PG
2024 draft: Round 1, No. 12

More than a year after being drafted by the Thunder while recovering from ACL surgery, Topic finally debuted in an Oklahoma City jersey at the Salt Lake City Summer League. He showed flashes with points but also struggled with turnovers. The Thunder will not have this year`s No. 15 pick, Thomas Sorber, who is still rehabbing from toe surgery that ended his college season early.

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Orlando Magic

Jase Richardson: SG
2025 draft: Round 1, No. 25

The Magic found good value with Richardson falling to them, potentially providing a younger alternative for Cole Anthony`s bench minutes. Richardson can play both guard spots but may be best suited to point guard given his size, a role he didn`t exclusively fill in college. Orlando will likely want him to handle the ball extensively to assess his readiness to lead a second unit, potentially making him a key bench player as the Magic aim to compete in the East.

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Philadelphia 76ers

VJ Edgecombe: SG
2025 draft: Round 1, No. 3

In his Utah summer league debut, Edgecombe demonstrated the explosive, smooth downhill scoring ability the Sixers drafted him for. Although he missed subsequent games with a minor thumb injury, assuming he`s active in Vegas, he`ll have significant room to create offense and attack the rim. NBA spacing already seems to make it difficult for defenders to stay in front of him. His impressive first game highlighted why Philly prioritized him during the pre-draft process.

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Phoenix Suns

Khaman Maluach: C
2025 draft: Round 1, No. 10

It`s a new era for the Suns, whose summer roster is filled with draft picks, including three from this year. None is more significant than Maluach, their highest draft addition since 2020. Despite also adding a veteran center, the Suns are hopeful Maluach can contribute as a rookie, leveraging his defensive versatility and finishing ability around the basket.

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Portland Trail Blazers

Yang Hansen: C
2025 draft: Round 1, No. 16

Yang actually has prior summer league experience, having played with the China national team in the California Classic last year as a 19-year-old. He showed promise but struggled with turnovers and fouls. We`ll be watching to see how much he has improved in these areas between his summer league appearances as he joins the Trail Blazers.

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Sacramento Kings

Nique Clifford: SG
2025 draft: Round 1, No. 24

Clifford is quite familiar with the Las Vegas court, having played against UNLV there and putting up impressive scoring, rebounding, and assist numbers while leading Colorado State to a conference tournament title in March. Those strong performances helped solidify his status as a first-round pick by the Kings, and he`s expected to be an older, more NBA-ready wing capable of contributing as a rookie.

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San Antonio Spurs

Dylan Harper: SG
2025 draft: Round 1, No. 2

Fans hope to see the No. 2 pick in Las Vegas after he missed the California Classic with a minor groin injury. Harper would be given the keys to the Spurs` summer offense in a way that won`t be possible during the regular season alongside established guards. Fellow lottery pick Carter Bryant did play recently but is not as far along in his development, putting more focus on Harper`s potential return.

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Toronto Raptors

Collin Murray-Boyles: PF
2025 draft: Round 1, No. 9

Murray-Boyles was a divisive prospect, known for his production, intelligence, and defensive versatility despite lacking a consistent jump shot and having average size for a power forward. It will be intriguing to see how he adapts to what should be a more structured team environment in Vegas. Key things to watch include how much the Raptors utilize him as a passer on offense and whether he shows confidence in taking 3-pointers.

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Utah Jazz

Ace Bailey: SF
2025 draft: Round 1, No. 5

After generating significant discussion leading up to the draft due to his decision not to work out for teams, Bailey landed with Utah. Now, we begin to assess whether he lives up to the attention he received after his season at Rutgers. While he showed strengths in shotmaking and rim protection for his size, his shot selection and playmaking were concerns. His initial debut was not encouraging regarding his shot selection, but there`s more to see.

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Washington Wizards

Tre Johnson: SG
2025 draft: Round 1, No. 6

Johnson is expected to be a prominent scorer in Summer League, showcasing his polished perimeter game as a potential centerpiece for the developing Wizards. A key area for monitoring is his playmaking; while he`ll draw defensive attention, making the right decisions and becoming a more willing passer are crucial for his growth. The Wizards have a stacked summer roster with multiple first-round picks, but Johnson is likely to have a featured role, both this week and in the upcoming season.