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Top 5 underperforming rookies in 2024 NBA Summer League so far

The NBA summer league is underway, and some of the league's newest players have yet to live up to expectations. Teams are playing now in the Las Vegas tournament, the biggest summer league event, with some teams having played a couple of games earlier in July as well.

Here are the top five rookies - who have played at least three games - who are underperforming in the NBA Summer League.


#5 Bronny James

He has certainly had the most pressure out of any rookie, nevermind any No. 55 pick in recent memory, but he really has struggled on the floor for the Lakers.

In five summer league games for the Lakers, he's averaging just 3.4 points and 3.0 rebounds per game. He has committed seven turnovers and has yet to make a three over all five games the Lakers have played this summer.

He had one strong defensive performance in the summer league, totaling three blocks and two steals against the Miami Heat, but that has been the only bright spot for him so far in his NBA career.

However, how many No. 55 overall picks are expected to do much better than this?


#4 Rob Dillingham

The No. 8 overall pick out of Kentucky has been solid as a playmaker, averaging 6.3 assists per game, which is good for the fourth best mark this summer. But the dynamic shot-maker has only scored 9.3 points game and has shot just 28 percent to start his NBA career.

He has been outpaced by fellow rookie Terrance Shannon Jr., who's five years of college basketball has translated into a 60 percent shooting performance in the summer league.


#3 Jared McCain

The No. 16 overall pick to the Philadelphia 76ers, McCain is one of the few rookies to have appeared in six games this summer. That means he has had plenty of time to shake off some rust and get comfortable with his team, but his numbers don't quite indicate that.

The point guard is averaging 2.0 assists per game, while also committing 1.8 turnovers. He has scored 12 per game but shooting just 28 percent.

He looked shaky in a critical play against the Portland Trail Blazers on July 14, failing to inboud a pass and committed a rare five-second violation with the game on the line.


#2 Kyle Filipowski

The seven-footer from Duke slipped to the second round of the draft before being taken 32nd overall by the Utah Jazz.

He has suited up for five games this summer, playing 19 minutes per game. But that has translated to just 5.8 points, 5.0 rebounds and 0.6 blocks per outing for the center. He has also only converted 36 percent of his shots.

Add in 1.8 turnovers per game, and it appears that Filipowski is doing a few things consistenly in the summer league.


#1 Alex Sarr

The No. 2 overall pick from France has not found his shot yet in the summer league. The seven-foot-one G-League prospect is shooting just 20 percent overall, averaging 6.7 points and 6.7 rebounds per game.

He has been solid defensively — his nine blocks are the fifth-most amongst players this summer — but his offensive woes have been eye-opening.

Sarr put up what is probably the worst statline of the summer — and maybe ever — Tuesday, scoring 0 points on 0-15 shooting, including 0-7 from 3, in a 82-80 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers.

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