The 2026 Las Vegas Summer League wrapped up Sunday with the Golden State Warriors' victory over the Memphis Grizzlies in the championship game.
Here are our takeaways from the 11-day offseason showcase of the NBA's top emerging talent:
Dybantsa is exactly who we thought he was
AJ Dybantsa made it abundantly clear why the Washington Wizards drafted him with the first overall pick, impressing in games against the Utah Jazz and Sacramento Kings before being shut down.
Dybantsa averaged 25 points - the most by a No. 1 pick in Las Vegas Summer League history - along with seven rebounds, 2.5 steals, two assists, and 1.5 blocks on 39.4% shooting. Across 50 total minutes played, he boasted a 40% usage while showing his effectiveness in the paint, converting 8-of-9 opportunities at the rim. His only miss came on a dunk attempt that Kings center Dylan Cardwell blocked.
The 19-year-old also displayed a knack for drawing fouls and converting free throws, going 12-of-14 from the charity stripe. Notably, his 10.08 free throws per 36 minutes eclipsed Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's league-leading 8.6 from the 2025-26 season. Dybantsa has a diverse offensive repertoire, but his 1-of-11 (9%) clip from deep highlighted some predraft concerns. However, pro-level coaching should help refine his shooting mechanics.
Bulls rookie Wilson has range
Fourth overall pick Caleb Wilson admitted he was "emotional" during his Summer League debut - his first competitive action since Feb. 10. Although a broken wrist forced him to miss the end of his freshman campaign at North Carolina, Wilson showed little rust in a 97-96 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies.
The 19-year-old scored 35 points - the second-highest total for a Las Vegas Summer League debut since the event began in 2004 - while drilling 7-of-11 3-point attempts. Remarkably, those seven made triples equaled his total from 24 collegiate outings. Though Wilson may have shot just 25.9% from deep on 27 attempts in college, his 71.3% clip from the charity stripe hinted at decent shot mechanics and perimeter proficiency.
Wilson finished Summer League shooting 41.9% from 3-point range on 7.8 tries. That kind of shotmaking will create mismatches at the NBA level and provide head coach Tiago Splitter with floor-stretching options amid the Chicago Bulls' wholesale rebuild.
Peterson dishing dimes, struggling with shot
The Utah Jazz took Darryn Peterson with the second overall pick under the assumption they were selecting the player with the draft's most polished offensive weapons.
Given that Peterson averaged 1.6 assists in college and never recorded more than four in 24 appearances with Kansas, the Jazz may not have foreseen his playmaking being a strength as well. Yet he tallied 12 assists versus the Grizzlies during a Salt Lake City Summer League outing and then averaged four assists across three outings in Vegas.
A willingness to involve teammates should help Peterson acclimate to the pro level, especially since he appears to be struggling with his shot. In Las Vegas, he connected on just 30.8% of his 17.3 attempts per game and 23.1% from deep on 4.3 attempts. A few factors are contributing to his inefficiency, including uncharacteristic timidness, a strangely flat jumper, and increased physicality from defenders. Those issues were on full display in the Jazz's 94-82 defeat to the San Antonio Spurs, with Peterson shooting 4-of-16 from the field and hitting the front of the rim on several jumpers. Early days still.
Acuff is a liability on defense
The Kings didn't take Darius Acuff Jr. with the seventh overall pick to turn him into the next Jrue Holiday. There were no misconceptions about Acuff's capacity for defense. He's an efficient three-level scorer who, at Arkansas, displayed a caliber of advanced shotmaking and elite passing that suggests he could be the face of the Kings' rebuild.
Acuff's three Las Vegas outings featured moments when he was completely disengaged on defense. The most glaring example of his nonchalance was when Dybantsa blocked the point guard on a 3-point attempt, leading him to jog back as the BYU product easily converted a layup. His transition defense, off-ball work, and one-on-one defending all need improvement.
Like with any first-year player at Summer League, Acuff's sample size is microscopic, and it feels harsh to bemoan a player who, like many others in Las Vegas, appears short on conditioning. But Acuff also struggled on the other end of the floor, where he shot 36.5% from the field on 17.3 attempts per game and 26.2% from deep. Those numbers are in stark contrast to his college marks of 48.4% and 44%, respectively. Plus, he averaged 4.7 turnovers. It's still too early to ring the alarm, but the smallest of signs are there.
Lendeborg will be instant contributor for Dubs
Yaxel Lendeborg will be 24 when he makes his NBA debut, which some scouting aficionados considered a red flag. While that may be considered old amid the one-and-done climate, the former Michigan standout is versatile and polished, and he plugs many holes: the perfect addition for a win-now organization. The Golden State Warriors are exactly that.
He averaged 14.8 points, 6.8 boards, four assists, and 1.5 steals on 45.9% shooting in six games. Lendeborg played three positions for the Warriors' Summer League squad, including as a small-ball center, and passes the eye test.
Lendeborg also shot 45.9% from the field on 12.3 attempts per contest. That efficiency, paired with his defensive versatility and 7-foot-3 wingspan, should see the 11th overall pick earn a spot in the rotation immediately, especially with Jimmy Butler and Moses Moody sidelined to start the season.
Williams' 3rd-year struggles on display
A single Summer League campaign is the goal for most players, while a second might represent an opportunity to build on a rookie season that didn't afford enough minutes. A third-year player on a guaranteed contract suiting up in Las Vegas has the makings of a red flag.
Tidjane Salaun (Charlotte Hornets), Olivier-Maxence Prosper (Grizzlies), and Pacome Dadiet (New York Knicks) are among a small number of third-year NBAers to appear at this year's Summer League, though none are doing as much harm to their professional futures as Jazz forward Cody Williams.
Yes, Williams is only 21 years old, and yes, his brother, Jalen, was only debuting with the Oklahoma City Thunder at that age, but there are reasons to become increasingly concerned about Cody's development arc. That's not to say the 10th pick in the 2024 draft has been terrible, despite what his recent zero-point, 23-minute effort against the Los Angeles Clippers might suggest; he just hasn't grown as expected. The deadline for Utah to exercise his $7.7-million fourth-year option is Oct. 31.
Next up: 7 sophomores who shined at Summer League
Joan Beringer (Timberwolves)
Hop aboard the Beringer train; the next station is stardom. Okay, perhaps that's a bit ambitious, but there are concerns about the Minnesota Timberwolves' frontcourt depth following the trades of Julius Randle and Naz Reid, and hopes are that Beringer's two-way play can earn him substantial rotation minutes.
In Las Vegas, the 19-year-old displayed elite rim protection and the ability to switch on defense. He's emerged as an explosive lob threat and paint presence, courtesy of a 7-foot-4 wingspan and top-level athleticism. A breakout season awaits.
Johni Broome (76ers)
Entering the NBA, Broome, a former Auburn All-American, fit the profile of a collegiate star who would struggle at the next level due to a dearth of athletic traits and explosiveness. The 23-year-old's rookie season was then marred by sporadic minutes and a meniscus tear.
Broome will now hope that what happens in Vegas doesn't stay in Vegas. He averaged 14.6 points and nine boards on 45.2% shooting and peaked with a 19-point, 13-rebound showing versus the Detroit Pistons. In his second season, Broome could play a bigger role as part of the Sixers' thin frontcourt.
Egor Demin (Nets)
The Brooklyn Nets played a Demin-Mikel Brown Jr. backcourt twice at Summer League, winning those games by a total of 58 points. Demin, in particular, averaged 21 points, 4.3 assists, and 3.3 rebounds on 42.6% shooting in three games before being shelved.
"I got so much stronger, and that gave me more confidence," the Russian said of his offseason efforts to bulk up. Those improvements have shown in his assertive drives during Summer League. Suddenly, Brooklyn boasts one of the league's more intriguing guard combos in Demin and Brown, the sixth overall pick.
Hugo Gonzalez (Celtics)
Gonzalez, whose plus-11.9 net rating a year ago quietly led all rookies who averaged 14 minutes, is looking to benefit from the Boston Celtics' depleted wing depth following Jaylen Brown's move to Philadelphia. The 20-year-old Spanish forward appears up for the task.
Gonzalez's 24-point, 10-rebound, five-assist effort in a victory over the Kings was a microcosm of his two-way attributes and elite motor. His halfcourt offensive tools and 3-point shooting need work, but all indications are that Gonzalez is ready for a bigger role in Year 2.
Will Riley (Wizards)
Second-year Canadian forward Riley exploded in Summer League, recording 25 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game on 53.8% shooting from the field and an absurd 70% clip from deep on five attempts per contest over two appearances. Riley can exploit defenses thanks to his varied attacking tools.
Length, perimeter shooting, and high basketball IQ are the calling cards of a player who should enjoy a long NBA career. Riley is also shifty in possession and can get past defenders and downhill in a hurry, not to mention he displayed elite halfcourt shot creation in Las Vegas.
Khaman Maluach (Suns)
Maluach is a great example of the importance of having patience with young players. Initial expectations were high for the 10th overall pick of the 2025 draft as an 18-year-old coming off a breakout freshman campaign at Duke. He then played 8.9 minutes a game in 46 contests for the Phoenix Suns.
Maluach now resembles a different player after his second Summer League, where he posted 19.5 points and 12.8 boards on 53.2% shooting across four games. His lateral movement on defense and deft screen setting shined in Las Vegas. A sophomore leap is loading.
Jase Richardson (Magic)
For many, Richardson's most notable moment last season was a scary fall during the Slam Dunk contest in which the former Michigan State guard was lucky to escape significant injury. Ultimately, he had a forgettable rookie campaign. Fast forward a few months, however, and Richardson is poised for new beginnings.
The 20-year-old excelled in Las Vegas as the Orlando Magic's primary playmaker and looked confident running the offense. He averaged 18.3 points on 50% 3-point shooting, an asset for a team that's long struggled from deep. Richardson should challenge Jevon Carter for backup guard minutes.
Honorable mentions: Cedric Coward (Grizzlies), Tre Johnson (Wizards), Noah Penda (Magic), Liam McNeeley (Hornets)
