Top 5 NBA Summer League Performances of All Time
The NBA Summer League, established in 2004, gives a range of players and young stars a chance to showcase their talent every year. This time around, the tournament tips off on July 8, and is set to feature a total of 76 games that will give fans an insight into the kind of upcoming and young talent that may enter the league in the coming time.
The stage has been used by a range of incredible talents over the years to showcase their skills, and the upcoming tournament is set to be no different. Here, we look at five of the most memorable performances that have been seen in the NBA Summer League thus far.
5 Best NBA Summer League Performances
1) Anthony Morrow, Golden State Warriors (2009)
First and foremost, we have Anthony Morrow, who last played in the NBA for the Chicago Bulls and was arrested in February 2023 due to multiple concerning charges, including kidnapping. Regardless, the player showcased arguably the best NBA Summer League performance that has been seen thus far.
Playing for the Golden State Warriors, Morrow produced a commanding 47 points in a 102-84 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans, back in 2009. Going 18-26 from the field, the then-youngster quickly became earmarked as a potential star, despite going undrafted at the 2008 NBA draft.
2) Lonzo Ball, Los Angeles Lakers (2017)
Unlike Morrow, Lonzo Ball has indeed gone on to prove his talents in the NBA as well. Back in 2017, Lonzo Ball showcased his talent in the Summer League, leading the LA Lakers to a 103-102 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers.
The now 26-year-old star produced 36 points, 11 assists, and eight rebounds, effectively doing away with any doubt that naysayers had for how his talent might translate in the NBA. He also produced two blocks and was an utter menace on both ends of the court.
3) Donovan Mitchell, Utah Jazz (2017)
The Cleveland Cavaliers superstar was once the hope of the Utah Jazz, picked as the 13th overall pick of the 2017 NBA draft. He showcased his potential almost immediately in the NBA Summer League, and in a game against Memphis Grizzlies, produced a whopping 37-point display.
Since then, Donovan Mitchell has established himself as one of the brightest young offensive superstars in the league. However, in this particular game, Mitchell was also a beast on the other end of the court, as he returned with 8 steals.
4) Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs (2023)
Wembanyama’s debut game as the 2023 NBA Summer League did not get off to the best of starts. However, his talent was never under doubt, and it became all too obvious in what was his second appearance in the tournament.
Playing against the Portland Trail Blazers, Victor Wembanyama produced a whopping 27 points, 12 rebounds, and three blocks. This, as it happened over only 27 minutes, showcased not just his immediate talent, but also the potential to become one of the biggest players of all time, perhaps even literally.
5) Josh Hart, Los Angeles Lakers (2018)
Josh Hart, currently plying his trade at the New York Knicks, came to the LA Lakers as the 30th overall pick of the 2017 NBA draft. Regardless, his subsequent Summer League performances generated considerable hype, as in a 112-109 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers, he produced 37 points and had nine rebounds.
Of course, after spending two seasons with the Lakers, Hart has been a bit of an NBA journeyman. The Knicks are his fourth team in the NBA, but fans should not forget that he was able to return with the 2018 Summer League MVP award as well.
Those, in a nutshell, are some of the best performances that have been seen in the NBA Summer League, thus far. Fans will expect plenty new to become evident as we enter the 2024 NBA Summer League.