thelesterlee
I recently said I was done talking about the league for a while but 2024 NBA Summer League has come to an end and I have some thoughts.
Here are the biggest winners from 2024 NBA Summer League:
1. Houston Rockets
It’s safe to say, Reed Shepard very obviously should’ve been drafted no. 1, right? Shout out to the Atlanta Hawks for trading Luka Doncic on draft night and then drafting Zaccharie Risacher first this year despite Sheppard being the superior player. The best draft spot to land is directly after Atlanta because you know some top-tier talent will be left on the board.
1 minute and 14 seconds of reed sheppard making the right play 💡 pic.twitter.com/0jxm03ERbc
— rm (@rholt22) July 22, 2024
Reed Sheppard averaged 20 points on 50% shooting with 4.8 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 2.8 steals. He looks like he’s capable of running an NBA offense and although Houston already has Fred VanVleet, Jalen Green and Alperen Sengun on the roster and all hypothetically, need the offense to run through them, having too many playmakers is a great problem to have.
Plus, their first-round pick last year, Cam Whitmore, looks like he’s ready for more minutes. He may be the best athlete in the NBA.
oh my god this Reed Sheppard to Cam Whitmore alley-oop pic.twitter.com/8VnfsjKu2M
— Lucas Kaplan (@LucasKaplan_) July 14, 2024
Reed Sheppard and Cam Whitmore will put opposing bench units through HELL.
2. Ja Morant
Ja being an injury-prone, alcoholic clout chaser is the best thing that could’ve happened to the Memphis Grizzlies. All that missed time last season allowed Memphis to discover the brilliance of their second-round pick, GG Jackson.
This combo by GG Jackson 😳 pic.twitter.com/rNGdizlMou
— Brett Usher (@UsherNBA) July 23, 2024
Averaging 22 points and 8.5 rebounds while shooting 37% from 3, Jackson may be the wing scorer this team has always searched for.
But Ja missing a full season rewarded Memphis with the perfect big man to compliment Morant.
Memphis Grizzlies C Zach Edey quieted some of the critics in his NBA Summer League Debut against the Jazz.
14 PTS | 15 REB | 4 BLK | 7-12 FG | 33 MIN
Edey played some very good minutes tonight, doing much of his work against a very good defender in Walker Kessler. pic.twitter.com/DxmdbBbXVN
— Hitmen Hoops (@HitmenHoops) July 9, 2024
Not only is he a rim protector who cannot be stopped from taking any rebound he wants but he’s a huge asshole on the court, getting in people’s faces and celebrating dunks like they’re walk-off grand slams in the World Series.
Edey is the perfect player to add to a Memphis Grizzlies team built on Ja Morant’s shit-talking. Ja and Zach will put guys through tables like the Dudley Boyz.
3. Bronny James
There’s a ton of talk about nepotism and Bronny not earning his spot and while all of that may be true, it’s cool to see LeBron’s son wearing a Lakers jersey and getting an opportunity to develop into an NBA player in a way that wouldn’t have been possible if he returned to USC. He gets to be a full-time professional basketball player instead of having practice in the morning followed by a day full of classes that won’t matter to him.
It’s up to Bronny to get better because all that sentimental shit is out the window if the Lakers need a bucket and this silver spooned nepo baby can’t hit an open 3.
And now, onto the Losers…
1. The French
I said it on draft day and I’ll say it again, Zaccharie Risacher and Alex Sarr are ruining all of the good will Victor Wembanyama brought to France. NBA scouts thought France was a hotbed of hidden, unlocked potential but instead, Risacher and Sarr look like bums out there.
Risacher averaged 14.5 points. Cool. He also took 14 shots a game. Don’t know how much playing time you’re getting in the NBA scoring 14 points on 14 shots.
Especially playing next to Trae Young who isn’t going to sit in the corner and watch you iso. Risacher was a non-factor defensively and was -13 out there.
Alex Sarr, well, just flat out sucked.
7’1 Alex Sarr 4 on 1 fast break pull up 3.. pic.twitter.com/ivHNQ9HJ2f
— nick (@_nickvillalobos) July 15, 2024
My man went out there and had an 0-for-15 game. He averaged 5.5 points on 19.1% shooting. While he averaged 2.3 blocks, 7.8 rebounds, and 3.3 assists, he made it loud and clear he had no business being drafted 2nd overall.
My guy was putting up Bronny numbers.
2. Deandre Ayton
Get ready to learn Chinese, buddy.
Donovan Clingan has already been such a presence at the rim defensively.
By far his best offensive half in Vegas, too. 11-8-4blk pic.twitter.com/hduBi5aUmY
— Keandre Ashley (@HoopIntelllect) July 20, 2024
DeAndre Ayton has been an underachieving weirdo and a crybaby for his entire NBA career and now he’s about to be replaced by rookie, Donovan Clingan who looks like a potential defensive player of the year candidate while Ayton no-shows games because he doesn’t know how to shovel his driveway.
But that Jimmer Fredette/DeAndre Ayton pick and roll will go CRAZY in Shanghai.
3. Jaylen Brown
Jaylen Brown was minding his own business, sitting courtside for the Lakers game next to his girl, Kysre Gondrezick and her former teammate, Angel Reese—when all of a sudden his candid convo about Bronny was caught on camera.
Jaylen Brown said “I don’t think Bronny is a pro” 😳 pic.twitter.com/ywavJ4mzMU
— BricksCenter (@BricksCenter) July 16, 2024
Shout out to Angel Reese on her phone setting up after-party plans, ignoring whatever nonsense Jaylen Brown was saying.
Brown isn’t even necessarily wrong but after being clearly bitter about not making the Team USA roster, Jaylen was being a little too chatty in public.
We all know Bronny isn’t good enough yet. Jaylen didn’t say anything controversial but maybe it’s time to go inside for a while. Get ready for the next season and stop being so yappy.
Jaylen Brown, you do not have to have a Brat summer. Go sit down.
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Who do you think are the winners and losers of 2024 NBA Summer League? Leave a comment below. Respond on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram. Or shoot me an email at Deadseriousmailbag@gmail.com. Let’s chat, bay-beeeee.
