Starting 5: Rookies shine in Las Vegs

Trevon Brazile lights up Thunder with 32 points, Grizzlies hit 17 3s to beat Warriors and more from Summer League action on July 14.

Bank it from 37 feet.

Drop 32.

Denver’s Trevon Brazile

was one of several rookies who lit up Las Vegas Tuesday, as the 2026 Draft class continues to shine.

5 STORIES IN TODAY’S EDITION 🏀

Tuesday Heat:

Caleb Wilson ignites Bulls, Cameron Carr lifts Lakers to 3-0

More Rooks Cook:

Trevon Brazile dominates, Brooklyn duo overcomes Darius Acuff Jr.

Roundup:

Cam Boozer & Grizzlies win big, Bruce Thornton helps boost Rockets

Second-Round Spark:

Cleveland’s Meleek Thomas has become Vegas’ hottest scorer

Sky’s The Limit:

LaMelo Ball embraces his new home in Minnesota

BUT FIRST … ⏰

Eight games

tip off today in Vegas, starting with Pacers-Wolves at

3:30 ET (Prime)

, before No. 2 pick Darryn Peterson leads the Jazz against the Spurs (

9:30 ET, Prime

).

NBA Summer League Hub:

The Semifinals in Las Vegas are just three days away. Track the Playoff race, stat leaders, schedule and more

right here

.

1. TUESDAY HEAT: WILSON SPARKS BULLS, LAKERS MOVE TO 3-0

One night

after throwing down perhaps the

slam of the summer

, Caleb Wilson continued to soar.

Bulls 99, Wizards 87:

The No. 4 pick was everywhere early, finishing with

19 points, 8 boards, 3 assists and 1 block

, while fellow rookies Jaylin Sellers (24 pts) and Donovan Atwell (19 pts) combined for 43 to lift the Bulls past the Wizards, who were without No. 1 pick AJ Dybantsa. |

Recap

Fast Start:

Wilson scored 13 points in his first 15 minutes. By the end of the 3rd, he had 16 – capped by a

stepback 3 to beat the buzzer

Inside & Out:

He finished 7-of-15 from the floor with a pair of treys and five buckets at the rim, including

another thunderous jam

“Every time I attack the rim

I’m trying to dunk,” said Wilson postgame. “That’s what I’ve been raised to do. That’s what my dad told me – so I’m trying to do it.”

Wilson wasn’t the only Bull

in attack mode. After falling behind by 10 in the 1st quarter, Atwell sparked Chicago with 10 points in the 2nd to help the Bulls take the lead.

Following Wilson’s buzzer-beater

to close the 3rd, Sellers finished the job with 10 points in the 4th, moving Chicago to 2-1.

“Jaylin Sellers and Donovan Atwell

saved my life, that’s what they did – they saved my life,” said Wilson. “We won. That’s all we wanted to do. I’m excited, bro –

go Bulls!

”

Summer Surge:

Wilson is averaging 24.3 ppg in Vegas, trailing only Cleveland’s Meleek Thomas (28.3) among players with at least three games played (more on Thomas in Sec. 4)

As Wilson stayed sizzling,

the Lakers stayed perfect – thanks to another standout rook.

Lakers 99, Clippers 85:

After shining in the California Classic, No. 24 overall pick Cameron Carr took over, dropping a game-high 23 points as the Lakers improved to 3-0. |

Full Throttle:

Carr had 19 points through three quarters, helping the Lakers build a 23-point lead entering the 4th

Temps Rising:

After averaging 16.7 ppg in the Cali Classic, Carr has raised his game in Vegas, posting 20.5 ppg

Wagler Work:

Following a 23-point outing on Monday, the Clippers’ No. 5 overall pick, Keaton Wagler, looked sharp again (16 pts, 6 reb, 4 ast)

Only Unbeatens:

The Lakers join the Hawks as the only 3-0 teams in Vegas. Los Angeles can punch its ticket to the Semifinals with a win over Chicago on Thursday (6 ET, Prime) |

Full NBA Summer League Standings

2. MORE ROOKS COOK: BRAZILE DOMINATES, NETS OVERCOME ACUFF JR.

The rookie takeovers

kept coming.

Nuggets 106, Thunder 103:

No. 16 overall pick Bennett Stirtz dropped 22 points and 6 dimes for OKC, but Denver’s Trevon Brazile

couldn’t be contained

(32 pts, 6 reb, 6 3s) as the 2nd-rounder powered the Nuggets to a late win. |

Party Starter:

Brazile, the No. 35 overall pick out of Arkansas, got things going with a

big-time windmill slam

in the 1st quarter

Buzzer-Beater:

In the 2nd, the 6-foot-10 forward showed off his range, banking in a 3

at the buzzer from 37 feet out

Clutch Finish:

He finished the night 6-of-12 from deep, capped by a key triple with 3:34 left to restore a double-digit lead, as Denver ultimately moved to 2-1

Young Thunder:

No. 12 overall pick Aday Mara (14 pts, 7 reb, 6 ast, 6-6 FG) combined for 36 points alongside Stirtz

Meanwhile,

Brooklyn’s last two top-10 picks put on a two-way clinic.

Nets 115, Kings 83:

Egor Dëmin (22 pts, 8 ast, 4 stl), the Nets’ No. 8 pick in 2025, and rookie Mikel Brown Jr. (16 pts, 5 ast, 2 stl, 1 blk) were a problem on both ends, leading the Nets past the Kings, despite a monster showing from Darius Acuff Jr. (26 pts, 5 ast). |

Pick, Push, Points:

Brown Jr., the No. 6 overall pick, turned defense into offense with this

steal and dish

to Danny Wolf (14 pts), before Wolf finished another break

with authority

Acuff Erupts:

Acuff Jr., taken one pick after Brown Jr., scored 16 of his 26 points in the 3rd, including this smooth

hanging finish

Royal Rooks:

Emanuel Sharp, Sacramento’s No. 45 overall pick, added 23 points, as he and Acuff

combined for 49

3. ROUNDUP: BOOZER & SMALL LEAD GRIZZ, ROCKETS WIN

Grizzlies 106, Warriors 85:

Cam Boozer made his presence felt on both ends (12 pts, 7 reb, 3 ast, 3 stl), while 2nd-year guard Javon Small went off (26 pts, 7 ast, 5 3s), punctuating a Grizzlies win with an

epic two-handed jam

– moving both teams to 2-1. |

Hot Hand:

Small, a 2nd-round pick in 2025, poured in 19 in the 1st half while going 4-of-6 from 3

Winning Impact:

Despite finishing 4-of-12 from the field, Boozer found other ways to impact the game, finishing with a game-high +35 plus-minus

Bright Spot:

Yaxel Lendeborg, the No. 11 pick, led the Dubs with 15 points and 9 boards

Rockets 90, 76ers 64:

This year’s No. 22 pick, Labaron Philon Jr., stayed hot for Philly (

17 pts, 4 ast, 7-11 FG

), but Houston’s trio of Isaiah Crawford (19 pts), Bruce Thornton (18 pts) and Tristen Newton (17 pts) was too much, combining for 54 points in a wire-to-wire win. |

New Red, Same Buckets:

Thornton, the No. 31 pick and Ohio State’s all-time leading scorer, is averaging 20.7 points through three Summer League games

Philon Fire:

Philon Jr. showed off his bag with this

shifty stepback trey

, but the Sixers shot just 5-of-30 from deep as a team

4. TODAY IN VEGAS: THOMAS LEADS CAVS VS. PELS, PLUS 7 MORE MATCHUPS

Meleek Thomas

entered the Draft believing he belonged in the first round. But the 19-year-old guard out of Arkansas had to wait until Round 2 to hear his name called.

Three Summer League games

later – entering today’s matchup vs. the Pelicans (5:30 ET, Prime) – he’s showing where that belief comes from.

Scorching Start:

Thomas opened Summer League with 20 points vs. the Pacers, including 14 in the 2nd half. One game later, he dropped a game-high 30 points and 7 dimes against Detroit

To Follow It Up?

Another offensive explosion –

hanging 35 points

on 14-of-23 shooting and five 3s to lead Cleveland past Miami

Record Rook:

Thomas’ 85 total points are the most by a rookie through three NBA Summer League games since 2007, breaking the previous mark of 83 shared by Nickeil Alexander-Walker (2019), Damian Lillard (2012) and Jerryd Bayless (2008).

And the chip

on his shoulder from Draft night hasn’t gone anywhere.

“I’m gonna forever feel

some type of way about that,” said Thomas, the No. 34 overall pick, on not being taken in the first round. “I just know my value and worth. I know the work I put in. I demand that respect.”

Thomas’ confidence

has been built over years of proving himself.

A two-time

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review High School Basketball Player of the Year, Thomas spent a fifth prep year at Overtime Elite, averaging 31.9 ppg as he rose to ESPN’s No. 3 point guard in the class.

Despite having his own

five-star pedigree, Thomas chose to join ESPN’s No. 1 point guard, Darius Acuff Jr., at Arkansas under head coach John Calipari.

That’s exactly the mentality

Calipari said separates Thomas.

“You absolutely love competing,

especially against guys you think are a little bit better than you,” Calipari said Sunday of what he looks for in recruits. “And that’s the superpower Meleek has — he just believes.”

“This kid right here,

people missed on him,” added Calipari of Thomas. “He can’t believe he wasn’t picked in the top four.”

Now,

Thomas is backing up that belief, leading Summer League in scoring at 28.3 ppg while shooting 45.8% from 3 and adding 4.3 assists and 2.3 steals per game.

And he’s confident

he can bring that same spark to Cleveland this season.

“My energy. My defense.

My offense. My leadership,” said Thomas on what he’ll bring to the Cavs. “I’m going to come in as a rookie, but

nobody’s going to take me to be a rookie

just because of how I play and how I carry myself.”

Seven more games

tip off today, beginning with Wolves-Pacers at 3:30 ET (Prime).

Later,

this year’s No. 10 overall pick, Brayden Burries, leads the Bucks against the Hornets (7:30 ET, Prime), before Darryn Peterson and the Jazz face the Spurs (9:30 ET, Prime).

Magic vs. 76ers

(4 ET, ESPNU)

Suns vs. Pistons

(6 ET, ESPNU)

Celtics vs. Kings

(8 ET, ESPN2)

Wizards vs. Clippers

(10:30 ET, ESPN)

5. LAMELO BALL OFFICIALLY INTRODUCED IN MINNESOTA

LaMelo Ball

didn’t have to think much when asked Tuesday how far his game could take him in Minnesota – his new home since being traded on July 10.

His response

was bold and left plenty of room for imagination.

“

Sky’s the limit

.”

Ball sat

on the stage at Target Center alongside Josh Green, coach Chris Finch and president of basketball operations Tim Connelly for his

formal introduction to the Timberwolves

With it,

he officially turned the page on six seasons spent with the Hornets and began a new chapter in the Twin Cities.

New Duo:

He’ll team up with Anthony Edwards in the backcourt. Both of them were selected in the 2020 NBA Draft – Edwards at No. 1, Ball at No. 3

Young Stars:

Ball beat out Edwards to win Kia Rookie of the Year that season. Since then, both have become All-Stars (Edwards 4x, Ball 1x) and both are 24 years old

“Mindset,”

Ball said, when asked what he admires about Edwards. “He doesn’t let anyone affect him. He just goes after it, and I love that.”

Alongside Ant,

Ball joins four-time Kia Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert, along with Jaden McDaniels and Ayo Dosunmu.

Minnesota sees Ball,

a dynamic 6-foot-7 talent, as its point guard of the future.

The Resume:

Ball followed his Kia Rookie of the Year campaign with an All-Star sophomore effort. He’s averaged 20.8 points, 5.7 rebounds and 7.3 assists for his career

On The Rise:

Last season, he played 72 games – his most since 2021-22. He posted 20.1 ppg with a career-best 89.9% free-throw percentage

Match Made?

He’s seeking his first Playoff appearance and joins a team that reached the West Finals in 2024 and 2025 before falling in the 2026 West Semis

“I’m just coming here ready to play,”

Ball said. “I’m ready to learn and give it my all.”