My thoughts on rookies from all three 2026 NBA Summer Leagues.

• Competitive matchups like Washington’s AJ Dybantsa (No. 1 pick) vs. Utah’s Darryn Peterson (No. 2 pick) and Memphis’ Cameron Boozer (No. 3 pick) vs. Chicago’s Caleb Wilson (No. 4 pick) set the tone for a potential all-time great draft class. Yes, Dybantsa and Wilson won their matchups, but AJ & Darryn were inefficient from the field in Vegas, Boozer clearly got outplayed by Wilson, and Caleb hit just 23% of his free throws. So I wouldn’t say that anyone in the top-4 made their case enough as the clear-cut best rookie heading into 2026-27, but that’s mainly because of how versatile/talented they all are (nobody was one-dimensional/Peterson is a better passer than I thought/sky’s the limit for Wilson if he carries over productive three-point shooting at Summer League into the season).
• Milwaukee’s Brayden Burries (No. 10 pick) played like the best 2026 lottery guard at Las Vegas Summer League. His efficient three-level scoring ability and possessions where he ran the point/played off the ball/got in passing lanes for steals stood out each game as a two-way combo guard. Peterson, the LA Clippers’ Keaton Wagler (No. 5 pick) and Brooklyn’s Mikel Brown Jr. (No. 6 pick) were solid on both ends but weren’t as efficient as Burries/Sacramento’s Darius Acuff Jr. (No. 7 pick) & Atlanta’s Kingston Flemings (No. 8 pick) were way too inefficient (Acuff’s defense will continue to be a question/Flemings needs to find a consistent three-point jumper). 
• At 7-foot-3, the way that Oklahoma City’s Aday Mara (No. 12 pick) passed the basketball and blocked shots at Michigan was quite intriguing. However, it’s clear that Dallas’ Morez Johnson Jr. (No. 9 pick) and Golden State’s Yaxel Lendeborg (No. 11 pick) are more NBA ready/better players right now. Summer League showed Mara’s lack of scoring, conditioning, and defensive presence outside the paint. Johnson & Lendeborg, on the other hand, impressed me in those areas and beyond (Johnson made things happen with and without the ball/Lendeborg earned MVP & Championship Game MVP).
• Milwaukee’s Nate Ament (No. 13 pick) has potential that can be unlocked over time with more consistency, perfecting go-to moves, and strengthening his frame. Ament’s summer league performance showed that he has the size, athleticism, and skillset to become a starter in this league. Charlotte’s Hannes Steinbach (No. 14 pick) picked up right where he left off in college. He is just so polished on both ends. It’s hard to find a weakness in his game. Although, I thought he would have less turnovers/would put up more steals/blocks.
• You could definitely make the argument that Cleveland’s Meleek Thomas (No. 34 pick) had the best summer league of any rookie. Thomas absolutely balled out, but what stood out to me the most was his confidence. I always knew he was a microwave scorer throughout high school, but the former Razorback did so much more than that at Arkansas, which made me super confused to see him fall in the draft.
• I wasn’t worried about Chicago’s Dailyn Swain (No. 15 pick) not making a three in Vegas (shot 29.3% in college), but him going 4-for-31 from the field made me concerned. If Swain’s not going to be an effective iso scorer from 2-pt/3-pt range, how is he going to score in the NBA? Oklahoma City’s Bennett Stirtz (No. 16 pick), Detroit’s Ebuka Okorie (No. 17 pick), and Charlotte’s Christian Anderson Jr. (No. 18 pick) weren’t efficient from three, but definitely showed that they can comfortably get shots off/score and distribute the basketball/defend on the perimeter.
• San Antonio’s Jayden Quaintance (No. 20 pick), Memphis’ Karim Lopez (No. 21 pick), Memphis’ Richie Saunders (No. 32 pick), and Oklahoma City’s Otega Oweh (No. 41 pick) are somewhat of mysteries. Quaintance missed summer league due to getting right knee surgery, Lopez only appeared in one game, Saunders suffered a torn ACL at BYU this past February, and Oweh injured his left ankle during Salt Lake City Summer League. Orlando’s Izaiyah Nelson (No. 51 pick) suffered a fractured left ankle early on in Vegas, but still displayed a high motor like he did in college.
• Toronto’s Allen Graves (No. 19 pick), Philadelphia’s Labaron Philon Jr. (No. 22 pick), Atlanta’s Zuby Ejiofor (No. 23 pick), the LA Lakers’ Cameron Carr (No. 24 pick), San Antonio’s Tarris Reed Jr. (No. 26 pick), Boston’s Chris Cenac Jr. (No. 27 pick), Phoenix’s Koa Peat (No. 30 pick), Houston’s Bruce Thornton (No. 31 pick), Denver’s Trevon Brazile (No. 35 pick), the LA Clippers’ Baba Miller (No. 36 pick), Miami’s Ryan Conwell (No. 37 pick), Boston’s Dillon Mitchell (No. 40 pick), San Antonio’s Ja’Kobi Gillespie (No. 42 pick), San Antonio’s Maliq Brown (No. 44 pick), Sacramento’s Emanuel Sharp (No. 45 pick), Washington’s Felix Okpara (No. 46 pick), New York’s Tyler Nickel (No. 47 pick), and Denver’s Bryce Hopkins (No. 49 pick) looked like they can contribute right away. I didn’t think Dallas’ Sergio de Larrea (No. 25 pick), Brooklyn’s Joshua Jefferson (No. 28 pick), Sacramento’s Alex Karaban (No. 29 pick), Minnesota’s Isaiah Evans (No. 33 pick), Indiana’s Braden Smith (No. 38 pick), New York’s Jack Kayil (No. 39 pick), Brooklyn’s Tyler Bilodeau (No. 43 pick), and Dallas’ Tobi Lawal (No. 48 pick) were at the same level as those players.
• Atlanta’s Henri Veesaar (No. 52 pick), Golden State’s Lajae Jones (No. 54 pick), the LA Clippers’ Nick Martinelli (No. 55 pick) and Dallas’ Vsevolod Ishchenko (No. 56 pick) impressed me most in the 50-60 range while Toronto’s Jaden Bradley (No. 50 pick), Detroit’s Ugonna Onyenso (No. 53 pick), New Orleans’ Jaron Pierre Jr. (No. 58 pick), Minnesota’s Trey Kaufman-Renn (No. 59 pick), and Milwaukee’s Malique Lewis (No. 60 pick) didn’t play their best basketball. Miami’s Tre Donaldson, Houston’s Quadir Copeland, Miami’s Tre White, and Golden State’s Graham Ike definitely made statements that they should have been drafted. Lastly, if you’re wondering about No. 57 pick Narcisse Ngoy (Los Angeles Clippers), he will play college basketball at Auburn this upcoming season.