Top 5 most impressive rookies in 2024 NBA Summer League so far
The 2024 NBA Summer League is underway and putting the league's youngest talent to the test in Las Vegas. Here are the top five rookies so far in July, with only rookies that have appeared in all three summer league games being considered.
No. 5: Terrence Shannon Jr
The lowest draft pick on the list, Shannon Jr. comes into the league as one of the most NBA-ready players following five seasons of college basketball.
The No. 27 overall pick is part of an exciting Minnesota Timberwolves draft class that includes No. 8 overall pick Rob Dillingham. Shannon Jr. has outplayed Dillingham so far, scoring 17.7 points per game at the Las Vegas Summer League on 60 percent shooting.
No. 4: Dalton Knecht
The No. 17 overall pick to the LA Lakers, Knecht has been one of the only bright spots on a Lakers team that's dropped every Las Vegas game they've played this summer.
Knecht is scoring 17.6 points per game and has hit 11 threes through three matches with the Lakers. He's also grabbed eight steals over those games.
The rookie out of Tennessee has been the go-to option for LA this summer, so perhaps his 35 percent shooting mark so far isn't unexpected.
No. 3: Reed Sheppard
The No. 3 overall pick from Kentucky was electric from behind the 3-point line in college. In one season at Kentucky, he scored 12.5 points per game while shooting 52 percent from three.
In three summer league games for the Houston Rockets, Sheppard is averaging 20 points and 4.7 assists while hitting 5-of-13 shots from behind the arc.
They've also easily won each matchup by at least 14 points — in their last win against the LA Lakers and Bronny James, Sheppard had 23 points, four rebounds and five assists.
No. 2: Matas Buzelis
The Lithuanian No. 11 overall pick has been all over the floor for the Chicago Bulls this summer. Buzelis has scored 20 points and five rebounds per game while showing out on the other end of the floor with six blocks in three games.
He got off to a slow start in his first game against the Milwaukee Bucks, but exploded in his second game against the Golden State Warriors, shooting 4-8 from three and finishing with 28 points. He's been the Bulls leader this summer and has outshone fellow G-league alums No. 1 overall pick Zaccharie Risacher and No. 2 overall pick Alex Sarr.
No. 1: Bub Carrington
Carrington, the No. 14 overall pick out of Pittsburgh, has been the most dynamic rookie in the summer league. He has averaged 19 points, six assists and 5.7 rebounds in three games for the Washington Wizards.
In addition to his all-around play, he's been one of the best shooters this summer, hitting 11 threes at a 42 percent clip.
The 6-foot-5 guard has a 6-foot-8 wingspan that has made him versatile and reliable for the Wizards, scoring 20 points in their two-point loss against the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday.