NBA SUMMER LEAGUE TAKEOVER: Cooper Flagg, Kon Knueppel & Duke’s Young Guns DOMINATE Vegas – The Brotherhood Is Rising Again
They didn’t just show up — they showed out. From the moment the ball tipped in Las Vegas, it became clear: Duke basketball’s future is in elite hands. Headlined by No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg and Summer League MVP Kon Knueppel, the Blue Devils didn’t just represent — they ran the show. With jaw-dropping performances, clutch buckets, and breakout moments from both stars and sleepers, the Brotherhood stamped its presence all over the NBA Summer League. If Vegas was a preview, the league better get ready — Duke’s takeover has only just begun.
Duke basketball had 11 of its former players participate in the NBA Summer League, which tipped off in San Francisco and Salt Lake City before concluding in Las Vegas.
Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, was among the Blue Devils to see action in Sin City. In addition to Flagg, each of Duke’s five draft picks in 2025 got time on the court in Vegas. Kon Knueppel (Charlotte Hornets) and Khaman Maluach (Phoenix Suns) were top-10 picks, with Sion James (Charlotte Hornets) and Tyrese Proctor (Cleveland Cavaliers) being selected in the second round.
Here are the stats for the 11 Blue Devils following the completion of the NBA Summer League.
Cooper Flagg, Dallas Mavericks
Following a shaky shooting start in his debut with the Mavericks, Flagg bounced back with 31 points on 21 shots, with four rebounds in his second and final game of the summer before Dallas decided it had seen enough from the top pick in the draft. Flagg averaged 20.5 points through two games, giving the Mavs a glimpse of his greatness against the Lakers and Spurs.
Kon Knueppel, Charlotte Hornets
The No. 4 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, Knueppel helped the Hornets win the summer league championship as MVP of the final. Following a 1-for-8 shooting start in his debut, Knueppel averaged 17.3 points, 4.3 assists and 6 rebounds across the next three games. With his all-around game, the former Blue Devil showed why Charlotte made him a top-five pick. In the final game, Knueppel had 21 points, five rebounds and two assists in an 83-78 win against the Kings.
Jack White, Atlanta Hawks
A two-way player with the Denver Nuggets during their 2023 championship run, White has since played in Australia and Germany before joining the Hawks for the summer league. After not playing in the first of five games for Atlanta, White averaged 5.7 points and 21.7 minutes in the final four games. In his best game, White had 10 points, three blocks and two steals against the Suns.
Sion James, Charlotte Hornets
Selected by the Hornets early in the second round of the 2025 draft, James also played a part in getting the Hornets to the final of the summer league. James has been sidelined for the last three games with a hip injury, but he had eight points, three assists and three rebounds in his debut. He followed with three points, four rebounds and three assists.
Tyrese Proctor, Cleveland Cavaliers
Selected by the Cavaliers early in the second round of the 2025 draft, Proctor has given the early impression that he could be the steal of the draft. The former Duke guard had 35 points, four assists and three rebounds against Sacramento in one of the highest-scoring games for a single player in Vegas. In the other three games, Proctor averaged 11.3 points. He also had multiple rebounds and assists in each game.
Marques Bolden, Golden State Warriors
Bolden last played in the NBA during the 2023-24 season when he was with the Milwaukee Bucks and Charlotte Hornets. He appeared in three of five games with the Golden State Warriors in Vegas, averaging 5 points and 2.6 rebounds. The former Duke center had nine points and five rebounds in 16 minutes against Memphis.
DJ Steward, Los Angeles Lakers
Steward has played well across the last four seasons in the G League, averaging 19.1 points, 4.2 rebounds and 4.8 assists last season with the Memphis Hustle. The former Duke guard averaged XX points in Vegas with the Los Angeles Lakers. He opened with 14 points, seven rebounds and five assists against the Mavericks. Overall, Steward averaged 9.6 points, 3.8 rebounds and 4.4 assists in five games.
Wendell Moore, Orlando Magic
Moore was one of the Magic’s most consistent contributors across five games, averaging 13.8 points and 6.8 rebounds. He had 22 points and six rebounds against Toronto before logging a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds against Oklahoma City.
Khaman Maluach, Phoenix Suns
Selected with the No. 10 pick in the 2025 draft, Maluach is a pick that was involved in the trade that sent Kevin Durant to the Houston Rockets. The 7-foot-2 center struggled to defend without fouling, but debuted with 14 points and five rebounds in the first of his three games with the Suns. He averaged 10 points and 5.6 rebounds.
Kyle Filipowski, Utah Jazz
A second-round pick in 2024, Filipowski averaged 9.6 points, 6.1 rebounds and 1.9 assists in his first NBA season. If his Summer League showing is any indication, Filipowski will be leveling up in his second season. Like Proctor, Filipowski dropped 35 points in one of Vegas’ best scoring performances. He also had 11 rebounds that night against the Spurs, averaging a league-best 29.3 points to go with 7.6 rebounds across three games.
Trevor Keels, Detroit Pistons
A second-round pick by the New York Knicks in 2022, Keels averaged 6.5 points in four games with the Pistons in Vegas. In Detroit’s Summer League finale, Keels had 10 points and four rebounds against the Spurs.
