Summer League, Day 2: Five Players Who Stood Out in Saturday's Action
LAS VEGAS, Nev. — There was a lot of high-level basketball played on Saturday in the second day of the Las Vegas Summer League. There were eight games, and here are five players who really stood out to me during games at the Thomas & Mack Center and Cox Pavilion.
Cason Wallace, Thunder
The Oklahoma City loved Kentucky one-and-doner Cason Wallace in the run-up to the 2023 NBA Draft, so much so that they traded up with the Dallas Mavericks to get him.
Wallace verified that choice pretty well in his Las Vegan Summer League debut on Saturday. The 6-foot-4 guard had 20 points on 6-for-10 shooting from three-point range in a 91-80 in over Dallas. The Thunder made 19-of-43 three-pointers, an impressive 44.2 percent
“I just go out and play my best ball,” said Wallace, who was the Texas high school player of the year in 2022. “Whatever happens happens. Today, the shot was falling, that’ll happen. I can’t tell you what next game’s gonna be like, but hey, I’m just out there and enjoying it
“It was definitely fun, and I’m just glad to be here,” the 19-year-old Wallace said. “This moment was great for me, and just gonna keep stacking wins with the guys.”
The Thunder play again on Tuesday, taking on the Houston Rockets. The game starts at 6:30 p.m. ET and will be televised by NBATV.
Orlando Robinson, Heat
The Miami Heat are hoping that 6-foot-10 Orlando Robinson takes a big jump in his second year, especially with the Heat wanting more production inside. They had to like everything they saw on Saturday, when he scored 36 points in a 99-88 win over the Boston Celtics in the NBA's Las Vegas Summer League.
Robinson was an undrafted free agent of out Fresno State a year ago and was on a two-way contract with Miami. But he's continued to improve. He was 13-for-22 from the field, including 3-for-4 on three-pointers, and made 7-of-8 free throws. He also had 11 rebounds, four assists and two blocks in 33 minutes, and didn't make a single turnover.
“This is the thing we talked about during the course of the season,” Heat Summer League coach Caron Butler said of Robinson’s growth. “He was just ready. He was prepared.”
The Heat's next game is Monday at 6:30 p.m. ET against the Phoenix Suns.
Jaden Springer, 76ers
Jaden Springer is in his third season in the Philadelphia 76ers organization and he's spent most of his time in the G League. He helped win a G League title this year for his Delaware Blue Coats team and was MVP of the championship game.
They like what he can do defensively, but to help in the NBA, the Sixers need the Tennessee product to be more of a scoring threat, too. They saw some of that on Saturday, when the 6-foot-4 guard scored 23 points on 8-for-14 shooting and 2-for-6 from three-point range in a 110-101 win over the New York Knicks.
“I know I’ve been working,” Springer said of his shot. “I know all the work I put in with my shot and everything. I know to just stay with it and, eventually, it’s going to drop. It’s just timing, just stay confident, and stay comfortable and everything will be alright.”
The Sixers play again on Monday at 8 p.m. ET against the Dallas Mavericks.
James Wiseman, Pistons
It didn't work out for James Wiseman in Golden State, but the Detroit Pistons feel like they got a steal with him. He can play, and for an injury-riddled Pistons team that only won 17 games last year, they need all the talent they can get.
Wiseman, a 7-foot center who was the No. 2 overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, dominated their summer league game with the Orlando Magic on Saturday. He scored 20 points, had 12 rebounds and had a plus-minus of 20, making good things happen every time he was on the floor.
This is a big year for Wiseman, who's in the final year of his rookie contract. They want to see him be a factor this season, and it got off to a good start on Saturday.
Keyonte George, Jazz
Utah Jazz rookie Keyonte George made six three-pointers — five in the second half — and scored 33 points in Utah's 105-99 win over the Los Angeles Clippers. He also had 10 assists and just two turnovers in 34 minutes of game action.
George, the No. 16 overall draft pick last month, impressed his summer league coach, Evan Bradds.
“Every quarter, he gets a little bit better,” Bradds said after the game. “[He’s making the] simple plays — it just seems like he sees it and makes the right play. I don’t think he’s tying to thread the needle, make the Instagram highlight pass or anything like that. He lets the game come to him, and whatever pass he needs to make, he makes it.”
