SUMMARY
- The 2024 NBA Summer League is underway and several players have either exceeded expectations or improved since their debut.
- Reed Sheppard, Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Scottie Pippen are amongst the few who have stood out this year.
Every year, basketball fans look forward to the talent that gets selected in the draft to compete in the NBA. Each year brings a new perspective of what the league could become over time as well. With the Summer League currently taking place, we get a chance to witness athletes take on the main stage to showcase their abilities and possibly land themselves bigger deals with teams in the league.
The 2024 Summer League has shown us a lot already and surprisingly prospects who were expected to wreak havoc haven’t shown up as much while low-valuable talent has been improving a lot. So here are the top 5 standouts from this year’s Summer League run so far.
Top 5 Summer League standouts so far
Jordan Miller
The 24-year-old University of Miami star entered the league in 2023 during the second round of the NBA Draft. The Los Angeles Clippers spent most of his rookie season competing with the Clippers’ G League affiliate. After his rookie season, Jordan Miller managed to notch himself an NBA G League All-Rookie Team selection.
What a Summer League for Jordan Miller 👏 pic.twitter.com/qlld8ShXZu
— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) July 22, 2024
In eight appearances with the Clippers, Miller averaged 1.6 points per game. However, with the G League team, the forward averaged 22.5 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game along with 1.2 steals. Miller has improved drastically as he averaged 25.4 points on the scoring end while putting up a consistent 4.2 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game. He’s even shown great improvement defensively which could make him a mainstay in place of Paul George.
Reed Sheppard
The Houston Rockets have a ton of potential on its roster and Reed Sheppard will definitely make them a team to look out for next season. During his team in college, Reed averaged 12.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 2.5 steals per game coming off the bench. However, the guard has been the Rockets’ best player in the Summer League shooting an overwhelming 50% from the field.
This man’s trainer did him right
This off foot finish and handle is disgusting
Small guards take note. The size and athletes at the highest level force you to be skilled, have pace, and be extremely creative
Reed Sheppard is special
— Hoop Herald (@TheHoopHerald) July 21, 2024
Additionally, the former Kentucky Wildcats player also averaged a decent 20 points per game in four games. Sheppard might initially get picked off the bench in place of Fred VanVleet or any other guard on the roster. But the No.3 overall pick is certainly worth keeping an eye on.
Scottie Pippen Jr.
Scottie Pippen Jr. is a good example of hard work and perseverance. Popularly known as the son of the legendary 6x NBA Champion Scottie Pippen, he failed to make it through the 2022 NBA Draft. He spent two years with the South Bay Lakers averaging 21.4 points in year one and 18.2 points in five games during the 2023-24 season, Pippen managed to snag a deal with the Memphis Grizzlies.
Scottie Pippen Jr tough step-back 3, he’s cookin early for the Grizzlies pic.twitter.com/mBSX8YiaKl
— Aram Cannuscio (@AC__Hoops) July 21, 2024
Averaging 12.9 points, 3.2 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and 1.7 steals per game in 21 appearances with the Grizzlies, Pippen Jr. has shown great potential of blossoming into a Sixth Man of the Year caliber player. In six games during this year’s Summer League run, Scottie averaged 19.2 points, 3 rebounds, and 6.8 assists per game while nearly shooting 50% from the field.
Julian Strawther
The Denver Nuggets realized that they had a deadly weapon in their hands based on Julian Strawther’s performance during the 2023-24 season. He didn’t have a major role on the roster but came off the bench averaging a decent 4.5 points and 1.2 rebounds in 10.9 minutes per game.
Julian Strawther FLOAT game pic.twitter.com/MpNmMyTMuT
— Brett Usher (@UsherNBA) June 25, 2024
The Nuggets definitely need to up their bench lineup which will happen if the Russell Westbrook acquisition falls through. But Strawther is going to be a solid second option regardless as he averaged a staggering 28 points per game in two games during the Summer League. If he manages to maintain consistency, the Nuggets will have more depth to work with to potentially win a second title in three years.
Jaime Jaquez Jr.
The Miami Heat have a star to look forward to working with years after the Jimmy Butler or Bam Adebayo era concludes. Jaime Jaquez Jr. was one of the best rookies coming out of the 2023 NBA Draft and from this past season. In year one, Jaime averaged 11.9 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game with one steal as well. The 23-year-old star was their best player on the floor during the playoffs in Butler’s absence.
Jaime Jaquez Jr. Summer League stats vs. the Thunder:
23 PTS
5 REB
2 STL
8-13 FG
3-5 3P
4-5 FTTHE GROWTH CONTINUES 🔥🔥pic.twitter.com/vfiD9YYaye
— Nic Rohloff (@nic_rohloff) July 15, 2024
Miami is currently undefeated in the Summer League with Jaime at the helm. They could very well become a dangerous team if Jaime manages to maintain a dominant stat line during the 2024-25 season. He averaged 26 points, 8 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game in both games that the Heat have played.