We’ll be tracking the top performers each day from the 2K26 NBA Summer League, beginning July 10 in Las Vegas.
Thursday, July 10
Nae’Qwan Tomlin, Cleveland Cavaliers
The 24-year-old Memphis/Kansas State product by way of Harlem, N.Y. was Thursday’s leading scorer, making all 12 of his 2-point field goal attempts en route to a 30-point performance on 12 of 16 shooting overall. Tomlin’s Cavaliers fell one point short in a 116-115 loss to the Indiana Pacers, however, relinquishing a 13-point halftime lead.
RayJ Dennis, Indiana Pacers
Dennis was Indiana’s leading scorer in its thrilling win over the Cavaliers, scoring 26 points on 8 of 16 shooting. Dennis, who went undrafted out of Baylor in 2024 and made 11 regular-season appearances with the Indiana Pacers while playing on a two-way contract, also tallied nine assists and grabbed four rebounds.
Terrance Shannon Jr., Minnesota Timberwolves
Shannon had arguably the most well-rounded performance on Thursday. The Illinois alum tallied 20 points, nine assists and six rebounds in Minnesota’s 98-91 win over the New Orleans Pelicans. Shannon made 6 of 14 attempts from the field, although seven of his eight misses came thanks to an inefficient 2-of-9 performance from beyond the arc. Still, Shannon was +10 in the seven-point win.
Friday, July 11
Ron Holland II, Detroit Pistons
Holland is coming off a pedestrian rookie season with Detroit, but the 20-year-old arguably put together the best performance of Summer League thus far on Friday. The G-League Ignite product by the way of Duncanville (Texas) scored 28 points, making 8 of 12 attempts from the field overall and 4 of 5 from 3-point range. Holland also tallied 11 rebounds and snagged three steals in the Pistons’ 104-86 win over the New York Knicks.
Kyle Filipowski, Utah Jazz
Amid a 2025 rookie class that’s largely been defined by the three Duke rookies (Cooper Flagg, Kon Knueppel, Khaman Malauch) selected in the top 10, but it was 2024 alum Kyle Filipowski who put together the most impressive performance through the first two days of NBA Summer League. The 6’11 center was efficient in his performance too, making 12 of 17 attempts from the field (3 of 7 from 3-point range), good for 32 points, while grabbing six rebounds and dishing out five assists.
Reed Sheppard, Houston Rockets
Houston Rockets sharpshooter and 2024 No. 3 overall pick was one of the top performers at Summer League in 2024 and he picked up right where he left off on Friday, torching the Clippers for 28 points on 10-of-24 shooting, making 6 of 15 attempts from beyond the arc. Sheppard also grabbed seven rebounds and tallied three assists while plucking four steals on the defensive end.
Kobe Bufkin and Jacob Toppin, Atlanta Hawks
Bufkin, a Michigan product with 27 NBA appearances across two seasons, scored 29 points in Atlanta’s 105-98 win over the Miami Heat on Friday, making 6 of 16 attempts from the field while shooting a perfect 15-of-15 from the free throw line. Toppin, Obi’s younger brother, scored 19 points on a more efficient 7-of-13 from the field and grabbed 10 rebounds while finishing a game-high +21.
Kasparas Jakuciunas and Vladislav Goldin, Miami Heat
Jakuciunas, the 20th overall pick out of the University of Illinois, was the most impressive player in Friday’s bout between the Heat and the Hawks. Unfortunately, his lights-out 24-point performance on 7-of-12 shooting (5 of 9 from 3-point range) wasn’t enough to lead Miami to an opening game win. Goldin’s 11-point performance looks pedestrian at first glance, but the former Michigan and FAU center made all five of his field goal attempts and was a team-high +14 in 11 minutes despite his team losing by eight points.
Editor’s Pick
NBA Summer League Primer
The post Summer League Standouts: Day 1 and Day 2 appeared first on Ballislife.com.
