Complete Summer League Recap - Top Standouts, Cores, and Teams

Rising Stars, Up & Coming Duos, and More - The NBA Summer League's Top Takeaways

The league is in good hands.

As NBA Summer League has officially come to a close in Vegas, it's time we take a look at all of the latest developments around the league over the last two weeks. Whether it be 2nd-year players taking encouraging strides in their development or rookies showing lots of upside, leaving their teams' fans excited, Summer League was quite the success for many.

With the excitement the last two weeks have brought for under-the-radar teams fans, we must take a look at the development of two sophomores, Jabari Smith Jr. and Ousmane Dieng, in addition to each of their respective cores and what to make of the teams with successful Summer League campaigns as a whole.

Without further adieu, let's take a look at the Top Standouts, Cores, and Teams from the 2023 NBA Summer League:

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Top Standouts

Jabari Smith Jr. - Houston Rockets - F

The 2nd year man out of Auburn put on quite the display in his two games in Vegas, putting on breathtaking displays for those in attendance, with a game-winner included. Smith averaged 30.5 points over two games in Vegas alongside frontcourt mate Tari Eason who played fabulously as well. With these performances, they were both shut down after two games, but if you're a Rockets fan, you've seen all you needed to see. Growth. With the growth these two showed over the last two weeks, you've got to be excited for a season where the Rockets hope to be building toward the postseason.

Obviously, this will all have to be taken with a grain of salt, but the promise that Smith Jr. displayed will leave many expecting quite a leap from a player who might not be ready for that, and that's ok. The Rockets have lots of players that can score at the moment, so for Jabari Smith Jr., figuring out his role early on in the season will factor heavily into what type of season he can have.

Ousmane Dieng - Oklahoma City Thunder - F

Dieng got rolling after a shaky first game in SLC and showed why he deserves a role this upcoming season on a deep OKC team. The similarities to Dieng's idol Paul George run deep. Whether it be breaking down his man of the dribble to get to the cup or pulling off effortlessly fluid stepbacks that leave teams' scratching their heads, Dieng has shown so much promise as to why he can take a leap this year. Dieng averaged 14.1 points with 6.1 rebounds and 4.0 assists over Summer League on encouraging 50/35/77 shooting splits.

With OKC finally in a position to compete, Dieng may still have an inconsistent role going into training camp, but that is where he can solidify that he belongs in the rotation especially considering Mark Daigneault isn't afraid to go 10 players deep. Look for Dieng to take a step in the right direction this year, playing more decisively after a rookie year with plenty of ups and downs.

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Top Cores

Houston Rockets

There were so many positives to take away from Summer League that people started to say ridiculous things on Twitter about some of the potential of their young guys. On a serious note, Amen's early injury could've derailed the progress this summer. But, for the Rockets, it helped further display the talent that Jabari and Tari have while giving Cam Whitmore a chance to absolutely show out en route to winning Summer League MVP after a couple of dominant performances showing off his bag in the process.

When you add all of the guys mentioned above that played this year in Summer League to Alperen Şengün, Jalen Green, KPJ, and the rest of their young guys, the Houston Rockets easily have one of the brightest futures in the association. With the addition of Coach Ime Udoka, look for some of their guys' to take leaps as they rise from being bottom dwellers of the NBA.

Oklahoma City Thunder

It's no surprise that the young OKC Thunder are on this list, as their Summer League roster oozes with talent that is easily pairable with the more proven young talents on their roster. Despite a 2-3 campaign over their time in Vegas (2-1 in SLC), the young Thunder got Chet Holmgren fully back on his feet, displayed in a dominant 25-point performance in a W against the Pacers. The development of Ousmane Dieng was widely welcomed, while Cason Wallace showed the steadiness and readiness to contribute to this OKC squad from Day 1 with his defensive intensity and 3-point shooting.

To think that OKC will add all of this talent to an already talented squad with guys like SGA, Giddey, and J-Dub, makes you wonder if OKC can make a Sacramento Kings-like leap this year and push for a playoff seed. Time will tell, as it always does, but there is no doubt that the OKC Thunder's future is brighter than arguably every team in the league. Look out for the Thunder this year, as this is their first year in contention in the post-Westbrook era, excluding the 2020 year.

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The Winners

Lastly, your 2023 NBA Summer League champions, the Cleveland Cavaliers. Despite not having any prospects that WOW you, the Cavs managed to get it done, thanks to Isaiah Mobley and Emoni Bates. Bates is the one player on the roster with some intrigue, although he has a ways to go defensively and efficiency-wise, despite a positive Summer League showing. Shoutout to Sharife Cooper as well — fun passer who should land a two-way contract somewhere. That's it, though; Summer League doesn't matter that much team-wise, so take this Championship with a grain of salt as it doesn't really carry much weight.

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Wrap-Up

As 2023 NBA Summer League came to a close in Vegas, many basketball enthusiasts left buzzing with excitement. During the past two weeks, young rookies, sophomores, and others showcased their potential, hinting at a bright future for the league. For fans of under-the-radar teams, there were plenty of reasons to be optimistic as some 2nd-year players displayed remarkable growth while rookies left their mark on the court.

The standout performances included players like Jabari Smith Jr. (Houston Rockets) and Ousmane Dieng (Oklahoma City Thunder), who caught the attention of their respective teams' supporters. They demonstrated immense promise, providing a glimpse of what lies ahead for their franchises. Meanwhile, teams like the Rockets and Thunder displayed promising cores, setting the stage for exciting basketball in the upcoming season.

As the Summer League wrapped up, basketball enthusiasts were left with a sense of anticipation for what the future holds. While the outcomes of the games may not directly translate to the regular season, the passion and talent displayed during the summer showcase bode well for the league's future. With young players stepping up and under-the-radar teams making their mark, the NBA's growth appears to be in capable hands, promising a thrilling and captivating season ahead.

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