LAS VEGAS — The 2024 NBA Draft class made its debut over the weekend at the Las Vegas Summer League, with the majority of this year's 58 draft picks taking the stage in front of a packed crowd at the Thomas & Mack Center and Cox Pavilion at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. The NBA's annual July summit draws people from all corners of the basketball world, with 30 teams actively evaluating not only the top rookies, but also undrafted players and young veterans battling for a spot on the fringe of NBA rosters.
Players to watch include top draft picks Zachary Lisacher (No. 1, Atlanta Hawks), Alex Sarr (No. 2, Washington Wizards) and Reed Shepard (No. 3, Houston Rockets). Lisacher and Sarr will face off in the opening game on Friday, while Sarr and Shepard will face off on Sunday.
Here are some names that have caught the attention of ESPN analysts Jonathan Givony, Jeremy Wu and Kevin Pelton so far:
Atlanta's Sarr shows promise in debut
Sarr had an eye-popping debut against the Hawks and Lisacher, recording 12 points, seven rebounds, four assists and four blocks. He made some mind-blowing plays on both ends of the court, covering ground with incredible agility, contesting shots all over the court and instinctively getting around blocks, showcasing impressive offensive versatility rarely seen from someone who stands 7'1″.
He pushed the ball out in transition, made a slick turnaround jump shot off a fake dribble handoff, sought out a teammate to attack a closeout and drilled a pair of impressive pull-up 3-pointers, showcasing his captivating offensive acumen.
There were moments of too much speed, issues dealing with contact, lack of awareness and judgment on both ends of the court — as with any 19-year-old big man of his ilk — and he's still got a lot of work to do. But he's been so incredibly entertaining to watch that it's hard not to be optimistic about his long-term prospects, even if there will clearly be some growing pains as he learns his game.
— Givony
A productive and positive start for researchers
Despite some early nervousness, Zachary Lisacher delivered a confident offensive performance, showcasing the shooting versatility, game feel and overall skill level that made him a No. 1 draft pick.
He made three of his nine three-pointers, including a beautiful pull-up off the dribble and a deep spot-up off a kick-out pass. Given more free-flowing shooting opportunities than we've seen in France to date, he was aggressive in transition, unselfishly scattering passes all over the floor, smoothly getting to the rim and deftly rebounding with his off-hand off the pick-and-roll. He attempted pull-up threes throughout the game with mixed results, and it's clear he still needs to improve on his handling and ability to play on both sides of contact and add strength to his 195-pound frame.
It wasn't the most impressive performance of the weekend, but he still managed to score in a variety of ways despite the lack of pecking order and playmaking on the Hawks roster since starting point guard Kobe Bufkin was injured a few days ago, and there were some pretty decent positives to take from it overall.
— Givony
Former University of Connecticut teammates Castle and Clingan face off
Former University of Connecticut teammates Donovan Clingan and Stephen Castle faced off for the first time on Saturday as the Portland Trail Blazers and San Antonio Spurs. Summer League can be a fickle time to evaluate, but it was interesting to see both lottery picks out of the Huskies' system and get a glimpse into their future roles in the NBA.
Castle's jump shot was the biggest unknown in terms of what type of contributor he will be. He made two 3-pointers in the first half (including a contested one against Clingan) but also missed a few jump shots, indicating his play is still a bit mixed in terms of shot selection and efficiency. It is encouraging to see him consistently get into the paint, make plays off drives, showcasing good vision in two-man situations and changing the pace well.
The Spurs are banking on Castle being able to fill the playmaking role long term, and the presence of Victor Wembanyama at the center of the offense will ease the pressure on Castle to play full-time point guard. Despite five turnovers, he finished with a game-high 22 points on 8-of-20 shooting.
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Donovan Clingan rejected by Trail Blazers
Donovan Clingan rejected by Trail Blazers
Though the Blazers trailed for much of the game, Clingan flourished, using his size to block the paint like a wall, winning 50-50 games and rebounding well, totaling 13 rebounds and five blocks despite only scoring four points on 1-of-8 shooting. He played aggressively and made an impact as a deterrent in coverage, blocking Castle near the rim late in the game. His shooting element is still theoretical. He missed two open three-pointers and looked hesitant. But many in the NBA believe he will eventually be a threat from long range.
Neither the Spurs nor the Trail Blazers have high expectations for next season, but both players are expected to contribute as rookies. NBA teams have been very impressed with how the University of Connecticut staff has groomed this recent crop of talent for the professional ranks. How quickly Clingan and Castle can adapt will be an interesting question this season.
— Woo
Shepard claims to be the top draft pick
The No. 3 pick, Shepard, was my top statistical prospect for this year's draft, and he's clearly proven why in his first two games. After pouring in 23 points against the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday, he recorded 22 points, seven assists, six rebounds and five steals against Sarr and the Wizards on Sunday.
After scoring 20 or more points just seven times in 33 games at Kentucky, Shepard has already recorded 20 or more points in each of his first two pro games. His ability to get the ball where he wants and put distance between him and opponents with his hard crossovers stands out.
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Reed Sheppard scores 23 points in debut
Third overall pick Reed Shepard impressed in his Summer League debut, scoring 23 points and leading the Rockets to a win over the Lakers.
It was already known that Shepard was a strong shooter, having shot 52 percent from the line in college from 3-point range. He hit a shot from 27 feet out in the third quarter on Sunday and finished with nine points on 4-of-6 shooting and two assists.
Defensively, Shepard's aggressive hand movement consistently creates deflections. He recorded three blocks on Friday and two pick-six steals on Sunday.
Shepard will join starters Jalen Green and Fred VanVleet, 2023 top draft pick Amen Thompson and veteran Aaron Holiday in Houston's backcourt, but based on Shepard's performance so far in Las Vegas, he's likely to be a regular as a rookie.
— Pelton
Notable rookie performances
Bub Carrington | PG | Washington Wizards
While Lisacher and Searle stole the show in Friday's featured match-up, Carrington produced a composed all-round performance. just Carrington finished just shy of a triple-double with 19 points, nine rebounds and eight assists. He turns 19 on July 21 and looked comfortable enough to be one of the youngest players in the summer league. He showed glimpses of his offensive prowess and basketball IQ, making him attractive enough for the Wizards to trade for him at No. 14 overall. — Woo
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Bub Carrington makes two 3-pointers
Wizards first-round draft pick Bub Carrington made two 3-pointers.
Terrence Shannon Jr. | SG/SF | Minnesota Timberwolves
Shannon opened Summer League with 25 points on 9-of-14 shooting against the New Orleans Pelicans and looks to be a valuable addition to the Timberwolves' roster this season. He scored efficiently, was explosive down the field, was active defensively and competed hard — traits that bode well for him to have a chance to be a value player as the 27th pick. — Woo
Cody Williams | SG/SF | Utah Jazz
Williams showed off the skills that make him a very intriguing long-term player in Utah's one-point win over the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday. He came in with more confidence and aggressiveness than he did against Colorado, knocking down three 3-pointers and taking longer strides to get into the paint and score in transition. Reaching that level more consistently as a scorer is the next step in his progression. — Woo
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Cody Williams continues scoring streak for the Jazz
Cody Williams had a big dunk and then a layup on the next possession.
Ryan Dunn | SF | Phoenix Suns
Dunn's ability to wreak havoc defensively was on display in Phoenix's season opener against the Golden State Warriors on Saturday. Phoenix used the 6-foot-6 Dunn as a defensive guard and deployed him on the perimeter in a 2-3 zone to pressure the ball-handler. Dunn recorded three steals and two blocks, including a pass over Warriors point guard Yuri Collins in the backcourt. — Pelton
Dalton Knecht | SG/SF | Los Angeles Lakers
After a slow start to the California Classic, shooting just 30 percent from the field through three games, Knecht made 9 of 18 shots and scored a game-high 25 points in his Las Vegas debut on Friday in front of a packed house of Lakers fans. Knecht made five 3-pointers, showed vision off the dribble and dished out four assists. — Pelton
