The NBA Summer League rarely gives teams definitive answers. It does, however, provide valuable clues.
Across 11 days in Las Vegas, the 2026 rookie class supplied explosive scoring performances, polished all-round displays and several reminders that draft position does not guarantee immediate success.
The Golden State Warriors finished the competition as champions after overturning a 12-point fourth-quarter deficit to beat the Memphis Grizzlies 94–90 in the final. Yaxel Lendeborg led the comeback with 21 points, 10 rebounds and two steals, earning championship game MVP honours.
Cameron Boozer produced another composed performance for Memphis, while Caleb Wilson, Bruce Thornton and Sergio de Larrea were among the other players who left Las Vegas with stronger claims to meaningful NBA roles.
The official NBA championship recap confirmed a fitting end to a tournament in which the leading rookies generally lived up to expectations. Embed: The basketball court inside the Las Vegas arena before the 2026 Summer League championship game**
Golden State finish Summer League with a comeback title
Memphis controlled much of the final and carried a 12-point advantage into the fourth quarter. Golden State then raised their defensive intensity, attacked the paint and trusted Lendeborg to make the biggest decisions.
The Warriors’ first-round pick scored nine points in the final period, including a personal 7–0 run that shifted the game. Deivon Smith also delivered 21 points from the bench as Golden State recorded a 52–40 advantage in points scored in the paint.
It was the Warriors’ second Las Vegas Summer League championship following their first success in 2013.
The victory will not change the expectations surrounding Golden State’s senior roster overnight. However, it gave the organisation another versatile young forward to consider as it navigates a demanding Western Conference.
For broader basketball coverage throughout the season, the World in Sport NBA hub follows the league’s leading stories, play-off races and developing players.
Lendeborg turns promise into a winning role
Lendeborg was not the most discussed prospect before the tournament. By the end, he had become its decisive figure.
The No. 11 pick averaged 14.8 points, 6.8 rebounds and four assists during the Las Vegas competition. More importantly, he demonstrated several qualities that should translate beyond Summer League.
He defended different positions, carried the ball in transition and made quick passing decisions when the defence collapsed. His shooting remains a developing part of his game, but he made two three-pointers in the final and looked comfortable taking important attempts.
Golden State do not need Lendeborg to become a primary scorer immediately. They need him to defend, rebound, move the ball and punish opponents who leave him open.
Summer League suggested that he can begin filling that type of role sooner than expected. This shows why Memphis trusted his polish
Cameron Boozer arrived as the third overall pick and played with the control expected from one of the most accomplished prospects in the class.
He opened his Las Vegas schedule with 23 points, six rebounds and four assists against Chicago. He later scored 24 points as Memphis secured their semi-final place before finishing the championship game with 19 points, eight rebounds and four assists.
The numbers mattered, but Boozer’s consistency provided the more encouraging sign.
He remained patient when defenders crowded the paint, recognised passing opportunities and did not rely on one type of scoring action. He finished through contact, stepped outside for three-pointers and competed on the defensive glass.
Memphis will face more difficult decisions once the regular season begins, particularly when Boozer shares the floor with established frontcourt players. Still, his Summer League performances showed that he should not require a completely simplified role.
The Grizzlies appear to have drafted a player capable of contributing without dominating every possession and delivering the tournament’s loudest scoring burst
Caleb Wilson provided one of the defining performances of the competition during his Las Vegas debut.
The Chicago Bulls rookie scored 35 points against Memphis and made seven of his 11 attempts from three-point range. Although Chicago lost 97–96, Wilson’s shooting range and confidence immediately changed how defenders approached him.
He followed that display with 19 points and eight rebounds against Washington. Wilson also recorded 21 points and eight rebounds in Chicago’s defeat against the Los Angeles Lakers.
Summer League shooting can fluctuate sharply, so the Bulls should not expect seven three-pointers every night. The more important development was Wilson’s willingness to attack close-outs, run the floor and contribute on the glass when his outside shot was not falling as regularly.
Chicago are attempting to reshape their roster around younger players. Wilson’s combination of size, movement and shooting gives them a flexible building block rather than a prospect tied to one position.
The Bulls will need patience, but Wilson gave supporters an early reason for optimism. Embed: Caleb Wilson shooting from the perimeter during his 35-point Summer League debut**
Dybantsa and Peterson need little time to justify the hype
AJ Dybantsa and Darryn Peterson entered Summer League carrying the heaviest expectations in the class.
They answered many of the early questions during their first meeting.
Dybantsa scored 27 points with seven rebounds as the Washington Wizards beat the Utah Jazz. Peterson replied with 24 points and displayed the composed shot creation that made him the second overall pick.
The opening-night duel between Dybantsa and Peterson delivered the marquee contest the NBA had hoped for. Dybantsa matched the Summer League record for points by a No. 1 pick on his debut, while Peterson showed that he could create against NBA-level size without rushing his decisions. The player needed an extended tournament to prove that he belonged.
Dybantsa’s strength and downhill scoring should give Washington an immediate attacking option. Peterson’s combination of balance, passing and difficult shot-making gives Utah a guard capable of controlling possessions.
Their development will not follow a straight line, but both looked comfortable with the responsibility attached to their draft positions.
The NBA’s search for its next generation of leading stars has already become an important league-wide storyline, as explored in World in Sport’s look at who could become the face of the NBA.
Thornton and De Larrea emerge from the second wave
The leading lottery selections attracted the largest crowds, but several less celebrated guards produced some of the tournament’s most useful performances.
Houston’s Bruce Thornton strengthened his case for immediate rotation minutes. The No. 31 pick began with 27 points, three rebounds, three assists and three steals against Denver.
He later added 18 points and four assists against Philadelphia before helping the Rockets reach the semi-finals. Thornton played with control, protected the ball and created scoring opportunities without slowing Houston’s offence.
Sergio de Larrea offered a different type of promise for Dallas.
The No. 25 pick recorded 14 assists and nine rebounds in a 97–87 victory over Oklahoma City. He had also produced 16 points and 12 assists earlier in the tournament, demonstrating the vision and size required to organise a NBA offence.
Brooklyn’s Mikel Brown Jr. also impressed with 20 points in a convincing victory over the New York Knicks. His ability to change direction and score from different areas of the court gave the Nets another encouraging young guard to develop.
Thornton, De Larrea and Brown may begin the season with different levels of responsibility. All three showed skills that coaches can use without redesigning an entire offence around them.
| Player | Team | Why his outlook improved |
|---|---|---|
| Yaxel Lendeborg | Golden State Warriors | Delivered a 21-point double-double and controlled the fourth quarter of the championship game |
| Cameron Boozer | Memphis Grizzlies | Combined consistent scoring with rebounding, passing and physical defence |
| Caleb Wilson | Chicago Bulls | Showed genuine three-point range during a 35-point debut |
| Bruce Thornton | Houston Rockets | Played with maturity while scoring, creating and defending at the point of attack |
| Sergio de Larrea | Dallas Mavericks | Displayed high-level court vision with 14 assists and nine rebounds against Oklahoma City |
| Mikel Brown Jr. | Brooklyn Nets | Created his own offence and scored 20 points in a convincing win over New York |
Coward makes another case for a bigger Memphis role
Not every Summer League winner was a first-year player.
Cedric Coward gave Memphis a reliable second scoring option throughout their run to the final. He finished the championship game with 19 points, six rebounds and four assists while making all five of his three-point attempts.
Coward already has NBA experience, so he was expected to look more settled than most of the rookies around him. Even so, his efficient shooting and defensive activity should strengthen his case for an expanded role.
Memphis were at its best when Boozer and Coward shared responsibility rather than taking turns in isolation. That balance could become useful once the regular season exposes the limitations of inexperienced line-ups.
Teams across the league will now move from experimentation towards final roster decisions.
World in Sport’s NBA free agency 2026 guide explains the wider financial and squad-building pressures shaping those choices.
What should fans take from Las Vegas?
Summer League should never be treated as a reliable prediction of a player’s career.
The games feature unfamiliar line-ups, limited preparation and players fighting for contracts. Leading rookies may face opponents who will spend most of the season outside regular NBA rotations.
However, certain qualities remain valuable in any setting.
Players who make quick decisions, defend with discipline, shoot with balance and understand spacing give themselves a chance of earning minutes. Lendeborg, Boozer, Thornton and De Larrea all demonstrated those transferable qualities.
Wilson’s scoring explosions and the opening-night battle between Dybantsa and Peterson supplied the spectacle. Golden State’s comeback supplied the tournament’s defining result.
The next challenge will arrive when regular-season opponents have scouting reports, established defensive systems and experienced players on the court.
Supporters following that transition can also use World in Sport’s guide explaining how to watch the NBA in the UK, alongside coverage of the reigning NBA champions from New York.
Las Vegas did not settle every debate surrounding the 2026 rookie class. It did show that several of its most highly rated players are ready to compete for meaningful roles immediately. This bodes well for the upcoming season, promising some exciting matchups in the future.
