NBA’s Las Vegas Summer League is almost in the books. The nearly two-week event has showcased some of the top rookies from the 2025 draft class, second-year players and NBA hopefuls looking to crack a rotation during the 2025-26 season. The biggest storyline heading into Sin City was the debut of No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg facing off against Bronny James and the Los Angeles Lakers. Flagg struggled in his summer league debut, shooting just 6 for 21 from the floor in a dramatic win over Los Angeles. Flagg responded the next game with a 31-point outburst against the San Antonio Spurs. He was shut down for the remainder of the summer league after that performance.
While summer league overreactions are extremely common, it’s safe to say there wasn’t a player from the lottery portion of the draft who struggled like last year when Washington Wizards forward Alex Sarr averaged just 5.5 points per game — the lowest total of any first-round pick who played.
That said, let’s jump right into report cards for all the lottery picks from the 2025 NBA Draft.
No. 1 pick: Cooper Flagg, Dallas Mavericks
Flagg entered the summer league with a tremendous amount of hype as one of four players in college basketball history to win National Player of the Year during his freshman season. It’s not surprising that Dallas decided to shut down the No. 1 overall pick after two games. He doesn’t have much to prove.
In his debut vs. the Lakers, Flagg shot 5 for 21 from the floor. He couldn’t buy a bucket, failing to record a field goal after halftime. However, one positive was that he consistently got to his spots. The second game was a different story. Flagg had one of the best showings of any player at the event against the Spurs. He flashed what he was capable of doing on both ends of the floor and how he would fit in as the point guard/primary initiator. Overall, his first game was a “C” performance, while his second game was a solid “A.” If he had played in more games, he would’ve had a chance to improve his grade. Grade: A-
No. 2 pick: Dylan Harper, San Antonio Spurs
The Spurs similarly shut down Harper after just two games in Las Vegas. He didn’t participate in the California Classic but had an overall strong showing in his short stint. One of his greatest strengths at Rutgers was his ability to finish at the rim. On shots at the rim in two games, Harper shot 7 for 16 (43.8%), which isn’t amazing, but a positive that he was able to attack the basket.
I’m very curious to see how San Antonio uses him during his rookie year. I would be surprised if Harper didn’t come off the bench for a majority of the season, as the Spurs already have De’Aaron Fox and reigning Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle on the roster. In his limited minutes, Harper showed why the Spurs made the right decision to prioritize talent over fit. Grade: A-
No. 3 pick: VJ Edgecombe, Philadelphia 76ers
It’s unfortunate that Edgecombe didn’t play in more summer league games. He made his debut at the Salt Lake City Summer League and had an incredible performance, flashing exactly what made him such a hyped prospect. Edgecombe is the most athletic player in this draft class and had numerous highlight-reel plays in the summer league — including a powerful dunk in transition.
He only played in one game each in Salt Lake City and Las Vegas thanks to a wrist/thumb injury. You could tell watching him play that it was still bothering him. Still, the first game, in which he set the tone by recording 28 points, 10 rebounds and four assists, was everything the 76ers hoped for when they drafted him at No. 3. He did shoot 4 for 14 in his second game against Washington, but he finished with 15 points, six rebounds and four assists. Philadelphia should be thrilled with this selection. I’m excited to see how he fits next to Tyrese Maxey in the backcourt. His ability to play off the ball and be a pest on defense is exactly what the 76ers need. Grade: A-
No. 4 pick: Kon Knueppel, Charlotte Hornets
Knueppel’s summer league debut was somewhat uncharacteristic. He had an off shooting night, which happens, but it was unusual to see him go just 3 for 6 from the free-throw line. For context, Knueppel was one of the best 3-point and free throw shooters in college basketball last season, going 117 for 128 (91.4%) from the charity stripe.
After his lackluster opening performance, Knueppel played incredibly. He showcased how he can be the perfect connective piece next to LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller in Charlotte. He finished with 16 points and 10 rebounds against Dallas and then recorded 19 points, six assists and five rebounds the following game. In those two games, he shot 6 for 13 from the 3-point line and only missed one free throw. Grade: A
