2025 NBA Summer League rookie report: Big-time performances, disappointing weeks

The 2025 NBA Summer League events have come to a close, with the two-week showcase in Las Vegas wrapping up on Sunday night. The Charlotte Hornets claim a championship thanks to an undefeated record across six games. The rest of the league goes home with datapoints to assess.

On the first days of Summer League action, the gyms were packed with fans looking to watch NBA rookies for the first time in their new jersey. Surrounding these young players is a combination of returning talent and hired hands looking to showcase themselves in front of scout across the globe.

For many of these rookies, it is a first chance to compete head-to-head with NBA talent – even if the stars are established veterans are on the sideline, not the court.

That is why overreactions to Summer League performances good or bad do little to help determine the story of a player’s career long-term. However, teams still want to see a few things: Talent, growth, competition.

Here are some of the 2025 NBA Draft class members who stood out, for better or worse this month. The performances do not dictate how their career will unfold, but show where they stand today.

Standout rookies

All stats via NBA.com

Tre Johnson
Stats: 19.5 points, 3 rebounds, 1.5 assists
2 games, 58.3 FG%, 45.5 3P%
Johnson showcased just how good he can look as a shot-maker, continuing his hot form in two games. In a setting where many players had ups and downs, he was among the few to produce at a steady pace while on the floor.

Kon Knueppel
Stats: 15.6 points, 4.8 rebounds, 3.8 assists
5 games, 40.6 FG%, 34.3 3P%
As the best player on the team which went all the way, Knueppel puts himself near the top of the list exiting Summer League. He was a steady force throughout, showing why many believe he is a high-floor NBA rotation piece early in this career.

Nique Clifford
Stats: 15.2 points, 6.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists
5 game, 49.3 FG%, 45.8 3P%
Clifford showcased how much he can impact winning basketball by using well-rounded skills to fill the boxscore. The efficient shooting also helps build hope that his college numbers provide an accurate representation of his growth as a shooter.

Cooper Flagg
Stats: 20.5 points, 5 rebounds, 2.0 stocks*
2 games, 35.7 FG%, 21.4 3P%
Flagg struggled in his NBA Summer League debut to knock down shots, but was still able to make a defensive impact. The second, and final, game saw an offensive explosion which showed off just how high his ceiling could be when paired with a better supporting cast.

Hansen Yang
Stats: 10.8 points, 5 rebounds, 3.8 assists
4 games, 45.7 FG%, 33.3 3P%
Perhaps no player at the NBA Summer League showcased more star power than Yang, who drew crowds no matter which gym he played in. The playmaking from the top of the key is real, but questions remain about his speed at the next level.

Disappointing weeks

Noa Essengue
Stats: 12.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2 stocks*
3 games, 41.9 FG%, 26.7 3P%
Almost regardless of the stats he put up in the week, Essengue was sure to top this list after becoming a meme after a poster dunk against him. This is certainly not how he would have envisioned becoming the talking point of the week.

Yanic Konan Niederhauser
Stats: 4.3 points, 5 rebounds, 3.7 stocks*
3 games, 42.9 FG%, 50 FT%
While his length and athleticism took him from fringe prospect to first-round pick, the lack of college production gave way to a lack of Summer League production. He still has a ways to go before seeing minutes in the NBA.

Brooklyn Nets
Egor Demin: 11.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 40.7 FG%, 43.5 3P%
Nolan Traore: 7.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 30.4 FG%, 14.3 3P%
Drake Powell: Did not participate
Ben Saraf: 7 points, 2 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 30.4 FG%, 0 3P%
Danny Wolf: 9 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3 stocks*, 36.4 FG%, 33.3 3P%
The Brooklyn Nets had five first-round picks on the floor, and even worse than having no efficient performances, there were almost no statlines to discuss at all. Every member was at best a role player even in this setting.

Khaman Maluach
Stats: 10 points, 5.7 rebounds, 2 stocks*
3 games, 35.7 FG%, 23.1 3P%
Maluach certainly has traits that bring excitement, but there is still a long way for his development to progress before it all translates to winning basketball. The 3-point shot has been a big selling point, but has still never gone in at a high rate during game action.

Ace Bailey
Did not participate
For one of the top prospects and most polarizing figures of the draft class to play zero minutes over the course of five games is certainly disappointing for NBA fans. While Bailey did see the floor in the Salt Lake City Summer League, the big stage lacked his presence.

Other rookie performances

Dylan Harper
Stats: 16 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists
2 games, 35.7 FG%, 12.5 3P%

VJ Edgecombe
Stats: 15 points, 6 rebounds, 3 stocks*
1 game, 28.6 FG%, 16.7 3P%

Jeremiah Fears
Stats: 17.4 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.6 assists
5 games, 40 FG%, 18.2 3P%

Collin Murray-Boyles
Stats: 10.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.8 stocks*
4 games, 57.1 FG%, 22.2 3P%

Derik Queen
Stats: 14 points, 11 rebounds, 1.7 stocks*
3 games, 43.8 FG%, 50 3P%

Carter Bryant
Stats: 7 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.5 stocks*
4 games, 27.3 FG%, 27.8 3P%

Joan Beringer
Stats: 6.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, 3.3 stocks*
4 games, 52.6 FG%, 70 FT%

Walter Clayton
Stats: 21 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists
1 game, 47.1 FG%, 40 3P%

Kasparas Jakucionis
Stats: 15 points, 3.7 rebounds, 3 assists
3 games, 44.8 FG%, 35.3 3P%

Will Riley
Stats: 10.5 points, 1.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists
2 games, 58.3 FG%, 57.1 3P%

Asa Newell
Stats: 13.5 points, 8.3 rebounds, 1.8 stocks*
4 games, 51.3 FG%, 42.9 3P%

Jase Richardson
Stats: 16.5 points, 2.5 assists, 1.5 stocks*
2 games, 55.6 FG%, 50 3P%

Hugo Gonzalez
Stats: 10.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists
4 games, 37.9 FG%, 20 3P%

Liam McNeeley
Stats: 18 points, 8.5 rebounds, 4 assists
2 games, 40.7 FG%, 42.9 3P%

* Stocks = Steals + Blocks