Tracking How Former Purdue Basketball Stars Perform in 2026 NBA Summer League
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NBA Summer League action has begun for former Purdue standouts Braden Smith, Trey Kaufman-Renn, Fletcher Loyer and Oscar Cluff. All four earned spots on summer rosters and will try to prove they belong in the league.
Throughout NBA Summer League action, Purdue Boilermakers On SI will provide updated coverage of those former Boilers while they're in Vegas. As a reminder, here's who Smith, Kaufman-Renn, Loyer and Cluff will play for in Summer League:
- Braden Smith — Indiana Pacers
- Trey Kaufman-Renn — Minnesota Timberwolves
- Oscar Cluff — Houston Rockets
- Fletcher Loyer — Los Angeles Clippers
NBA Summer League action in Vegas runs from July 9 through July 19.
Thursday, July 16
Oscar Cluff, Rockets
Like he has done all throughout Summer League, Cluff was a monster on the boards in the final day of pool play for the Rockets. He ended the afternoon with a game-high 10 rebounds, nine coming on the defensive end.
Cluff didn't get many looks at the basket against the Brooklyn Nets, finishing with just two points but missing his lone field goal attempt. He proved to be a productive player off the bench for the Rockets throughout Summer League and filled his role well.
- Final score — Rockets 100, Nets 83
- Cluff's stats — 2 points (0/1 FG), 10 rebounds
Wednesday, July 15
Fletcher Loyer, Clippers
Loyer enjoyed his best performance of the NBA Summer League, finally getting some shots up in the finale against the Washington Wizards on Wednesday night. The former Boilermaker showed little hesitation in his 18 minutes, really making his time on the floor count.
The sharp-shooting guard connected on 4-of-9 attempts from the floor in Wednesday's finale. He was just 1-of-4 from behind the three-point line, but did convert on a pair of free throws. Loyer ended the contest with 12 points, his most productive performance of Summer League.
Thanks to his help off the bench, the Clippers were able to close out Summer League with a win over the Wizards.
- Final score — Clippers 108, Wizards 94
- Loyer's stats — 12 points (4/9 FG), 1 rebound, 1 steal
Braden Smith (Pacers), Trey Kaufman-Renn (Timberwolves)
The Pacers and Timberwolves squared off in Las Vegas on Wednesday afternoon, so we'll combine Smith and Kaufman-Renn this time. It was fun to see the former Boilers going head-to-head in NBA Summer League action, and probably felt a little odd for both guys.
Wednesday's game was one of the better ones for both Smith and Kaufman-Renn. Smith knocked down some early shots but really controlled the offense and passed the basketball well. Kaufman-Renn drew a lot of contact throughout the game and had his highest scoring output of the summer.
Kaufman-Renn finished with 14 points, getting 10 of those from the free-throw line. Smith had a game-high eight assists and scored eight points, shooting the ball much better than in previous contests.
It was a positive way to close out Summer League action for both former Purdue stars.
- Final score — Timberwolves 114, Pacers 98
- Smith's stats — 8 points (3/6 FG), 8 assists, 6 rebounds
- Kaufman-Renn's stats — 14 points (2/2 FG), 3 rebounds, 1 steal
Tuesday, July 14
Fletcher Loyer (Clippers)
Loyer didn't see a lot of action in the first half on Tuesday night, but did log 11 minutes in the final two quarters for the Clippers in his third NBA Summer League game.
Off the bench, Loyer attempted only two shots, both coming in the second half. He missed both of those, but he was able to knock down a few free throws to finish the game with four points.
- Final score — Lakers 99, Clippers 85
- Loyer's stats — 4 points (0/2 FG), 2 assists
Oscar Cluff (Rockets)
Cluff didn't get many shot attempts in his third NBA Summer League contest, but he continued to hit the glass hard for the Rockets in Tuesday's game. He finished with a team-high nine rebounds, with eight coming on the boards.
The former Purdue center did have a really good sequence in the third quarter. He scored his first bucket on an alley-oop dunk, then he recorded a steal and raced down the floor to score a layup in transition. He continued to run the floor extremely well.
Cluff has come off the bench in all three games for Houston, but has been very productive during his time on the floor.
- Final score — Rockets 90, 76ers 64
- Cluff's stats — 4 points (2/4 FG), 9 rebounds, 1 block, 1 steal, 1 assist
Monday, July 13
Trey Kaufman-Renn (Timberwolves)
Kaufman-Renn put together a solid performance in his third NBA Summer League game of the summer. He logged 16 minutes off the bench and had his most productive contest thus far.
The former Boiler finally found his shot, going 4-of-7 from the floor and continued to hit the boards hard. He didn't look hesitant at all, which is impressive after undergoing three root canals because of a forearm shot he took to the mouth in Minnesota's last game.
Kaufman-Renn has just one game remaining with the Timberwolves, a July 15, matchup against his former teammate, Braden Smith.
- Final score — Trail Blazers 111, Timberwolves 84
- Kaufman-Renn's stats — 10 points (4/7 FG), 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal
Braden Smith (Pacers)
Smith's shooting woes continued on Monday, but he was still able to impact the game. The NCAA's all-time assist leader dished out nine dimes in the Pacers' loss to Toronto. He also pulled down three rebounds and had two steals.
For as much as he's been handling the basketball, Smith has played within himself and has controlled the offense for the Pacers. The one issue in his first three games has been on the shooting front. He was scoreless on Monday afternoon and was 0-of-7 from the floor, which included four attempts from three-point range. That's an area where he must improve.
Smith had a chance to help the Pacers get the win, but the ball slipped out of his hands as he drove to the basket and tried to get Rienk Mast an open look at the hoop.
- Final score — Raptors 94, Pacers 93
- Smith's stats — 0 points (0/7 FG), 9 assists, 3 rebounds, 2 steals
Sunday, July 12
Fletcher Loyer (Clippers)
Loyer didn't see much action for the Clippers on Sunday night. He played just three minutes in the second quarter and was inserted with under five minutes to play in the fourth, when the game had already been decided.
Loyer was able to take advantage of his short time on the floor in Las Vegas on Sunday. He finished the contest with five points, making his lone free throw attempt (worth two points in Summer League) and going 1-of-2 from three-point range.
- Final score — Clippers 104, Jazz 82
- Loyer's stats — 5 points (1/2 FG), 0 rebounds, 0 assists
Saturday, July 11
Oscar Cluff (Rockets)
Cluff started in his NBA Summer League debut on Friday, but came off the bench for the Rockets in Saturday night's game against the Raptors. At times, it looked like the second game of a back-to-back may have affected the former Boiler, but he settled in as the game progressed.
Cluff finished the game with just two shot attempts: a missed three-pointer and a made layup. He continued to hit the glass, finishing the contest with five boards. He also had five fouls and three turnovers. It was a bit sloppier than his performance in his first game.
Playing games on conseccutive nights is the norm in the NBA, and Cluff showed some wear and tear. That's one area where he's going to have to improve to earn a roster spot.
- Final score — Raptors 102, Rockets 89
- Cluff's stats — 6 points (1/2 FG), 5 rebounds, 3 turnovers
Trey Kaufman-Renn (Timberwolves)
Kaufman-Renn's night ended early on Saturday. The former Boilermaker played just 1:22 before exiting the contest with a mouth contusion, per the Amazon Prime broadcast. He was ruled out for the remainder of the game.
Kaufman-Renn attempted just one shot in his 82 seconds on the floor.
- Final score — Nuggets 101, Timberwolves 82
- Kaufman-Renn's stats — 0 points (0/1 FG), 0 rebounds, 0 assists
Braden Smith (Pacers)
Smith looked much more comfortable in his second day in Las Vegas. He controlled the offense much better, played within himself and finally got some shots to fall from the field. Most of that success came in the second half.
The former Boiler played 28 minutes in Saturday afternoon's game against the 76ers and scored 16 points and dished out five assists with only one turnover. It was much better than his opener, when he had four assists and four turnovers and shot just 1-of-8 from the floor.
In addition to playing under control, Smith also hit some big shots. He knocked down a buzzer-beating fadeaway to close out the third quarter, hit a clutch three in the fourth and made a pair of free throws to force overtime. The former Boiler was in his element Saturday.
- Final score — 76ers 100, Pacers 93
- Smith's stats — 16 points (3/5 FG), 5 assists, 2 rebounds, 2 steals
Replays of some Braden Smith highlights from the game, as it goes to overtime pic.twitter.com/iWd3jwiRvw
— MrBuckBuck (@MrBuckBuckNBA) July 11, 2026
Friday, July 10
Oscar Cluff (Rockets)
Cluff may have had the best debut of any of the four Boilermakers participating in NBA Summer League action. The 7-footer moved extremely well, defended multiple positions and crashed the glass hard throughout his first game with the Rockets.
Efforts on the defensive end were the most impressive by Cluff, as he didn't seem to have any trouble defending the perimeter or switching onto guards. He caused a lot of problems on that end of the floor, forcing guys into difficult shots throughout the evening.
Offensively, Cluff was efficient. He finished the game with only six points, but was 3-of-5 from the floor, with his only two misses coming from behind the three-point line. He also made a number of great passes, although he was only credited with one assist. Cluff also finished the game without a turnover.
- Final score — Rockets 97, Nuggets 86
- Cluff's stats — 6 points (3/5 FG), 9 rebounds, 2 blocks, 1 assist, 1 steal, +10 (+/-)
São 6 pts e 6 rebs em 7 minutos para um ativo Oscar Cluff nessa estreia do Rockets na Summer League.
— Clutch City Brasil (@ClutchCityBR) July 10, 2026
Isaiah Crawford (11 pts) e Bruce Thornton (8 pts) vão liderando o time no primeiro tempo.pic.twitter.com/kXf0mj8rYT
Braden Smith (Pacers)
Smith was Indiana's starting point guard for its first NBA Summer League game on Friday. The former Boiler had some ups and downs, but he looked like a player who will only get more comfortable as Summer League action continues.
Shot-making and turnovers were a bit of an issue for Smith in his Pacers' debut. He finished the game with only five points and was just 1-of-8 from the floor. He missed his first six shots from the floor. The second-round pick also had four turnovers, at times playing out of control.
There were still plenty of positives from Smith's day in Las Vegas. He chased down eight rebounds and had some great passes throughout the afternoon. Smith had some early struggles in the NBA Scouting Combine, too, but he overcame them as the camp progressed. Ultimately, he helped the Pacers get off to a 1-0 start with a win over the Cavaliers.
- Final score — Pacers 99, Cavaliers 93
- Smith's stats — 5 points (1/8 FG), 8 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 turnovers, 3 steals, -5 (+/-)
Braden Smith ➡️ Jalen Slawson 🎯 pic.twitter.com/QZIrwbM9Oc
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) July 10, 2026
Braden Smith his the 3-pointer for his first Summer League bucket in Las Vegas - 1/8 from the field, 1/2 FT pic.twitter.com/grK5OSziio
— MrBuckBuck (@MrBuckBuckNBA) July 10, 2026
Thursday, July 9
Fletcher Loyer (Clippers)
Loyer played just 12 minutes in his NBA Summer League debut on Thursday night, but made a significant impact for the Clippers, especially in the fourth quarter. He ended the game with a plus-six, the second-best mark on the team.
In the first half, Loyer played just five minutes in the second quarter and grabbed two rebounds. He missed his only two shot attempts at that point, both three-pointers. The former Boiler didn't get back on the floor until the fourth quarter, which is when he really shined.
Loyer got his first bucket after he used a shot fake to get around a defender and knocked down a floater. His second score came on a layup and he scored on a transition three-pointer later in the fourth. He ended the evening with seven points, scoring all of those in the final quarter. He was 3-of-5 from the floor for the game, but was a perfect 3-of-3 in the fourth.
- Final score — Kings 91, Clippers 85
- Loyer's stats — 7 points (3/5 FG), 3 rebounds, 1 assist, +6 (+/-)
Fletcher Loyer pulls up for 3⃣
— NBA (@NBA) July 10, 2026
Clippers on a 10-0 run, 6-point game with under 5 to go on ESPN! pic.twitter.com/LPUHIJcSpB
Trey Kaufman-Renn (Timberwolves)
Kaufman-Renn's first game in NBA Summer League action had some ups and downs. It took the former Purdue forward a few minutes to get comfortable. He rushed his first shot attempt and found himself in some bad defensive positions early, but he improved as the game continued.
After the early jitters wore off, Kaufman-Renn began attacking the glass as he did at Purdue, especially on the offensive end. By the end of the first half, the former Boilermaker pulled down three offensive rebounds, including one off a missed free throw that resulted in his lone bucket of the game. He ended the contest with five rebounds, four of those coming on the offensive glass.
The biggest concern with Kaufman-Renn's game came on the defensive end. He found himself in some bad spots throughout the game, and multiple guys were able to rise over him for clean looks at the basket. That's going to be an area where he must improve, especially around the perimeter.
- Final score — Timberwolves 105, Pelicans 92
- Kaufman-Renn's stats — 2 points (1/3 FG), 5 rebounds (4 ORB), 1 steal, 1 turnover, +6 (+/-)
Zyon Pullin scores the And-1, and the Trey Kaufman-Renn (59th pick) with the tip-in for his first Summer League points.
— MrBuckBuck (@MrBuckBuckNBA) July 9, 2026
12 Points, 5 Rebounds, 7 Assists, 1 Steal, and 1 Block for Pullin so far. pic.twitter.com/LABj2QIjLm
Boilers earn NBA Summer League spots
Purdue's four seniors from the 2025-26 season landed on NBA Summer League rosters in a variety of ways.
Smith was selected in the second round by the Chicago Bulls with the 38th overall pick. He was then immediately traded to the Indiana Pacers, his hometown team. Kaufman-Renn was the second Purdue player taken in the NBA Draft, going No. 59 overall to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Loyer was signed to an Exhibit-10 contract by the Los Angeles Clippers, earning a spot on the franchise's Summer League roster. The Houston Rockets picked up Cluff and signed him to the organization's Summer League squad.
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Dustin Schutte is the publisher of Purdue Boilermakers on SI and has spent more than a decade working in sports journalism. His career began in 2013, when he covered Big Ten football. He remained in that role for eight years before working at On SI to cover the Boilermakers. Dustin graduated from Manchester University in Indiana in 2010, where he played for the men's tennis team.
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