The first weekend of the NBA 2K24 Summer League in Las Vegas is in the books.
The event has given fans a look at the San Antonio Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama, the Charlotte Hornets’ Brandon Miller and the Portland Trail Blazers’ Scoot Henderson, the top three picks in the 2023 NBA draft, in their first NBA action. Eight of the top 10 picks from the 2022 class also have participated in summer league.
Oklahoma City Thunder forward Chet Holmgren, who missed his entire rookie season due to a right foot injury, has proved he made the most of his time rehabilitating the injury, averaging 12.5 points, 10 rebounds and 3.5 blocks through three summer league games in Salt Lake City and Las Vegas.
Off the court, NBA commissioner Adam Silver officially launched the new in-season tournament in high fashion.
What else are players, coaches and front office personnel buzzing about in the desert? Here’s what our NBA insiders are hearing.
ESPYS 2023: Vote for your favorite here
Holmgren sprinted the length of the court as Dallas Mavericks guard Brandon Randolph pushed the pace in transition, staying a couple of his long strides behind the ball. Randolph’s Eurostep in the lane allowed Holmgren to close that gap at the last split-second before elevating off the floor and swatting the layup attempt off the glass, a block that elicited loud gasps from the crowd at the Thomas & Mack Center.
That sort of play from Holmgren, who is gifted with a 7-foot-5¼ wingspan and rare mobility for his size, is no surprise. Those who aren’t that familiar with Holmgren’s game, or who make assumptions based on his frame that beefed up to 208 pounds since he was selected second overall in the 2022 draft, might have been taken aback by what he did a moment later.
As a corner 3 was launched after the Mavs chased down the loose ball, Holmgren aggressively fought for rebounding position. He was at a disadvantage, standing under the basket with his back to the baseline, before he put his shoulder into the chest of 234-pound rookie big man Dereck Lively II like a tight end blocking on a run play. That allowed Holmgren the leverage and room to execute a fundamental boxout, although the shot was good.
“You don’t have to take a second look at me to know that I’m not the biggest dude width-wise, so I’ve got to be physical,” Holmgren said after the Thunder’s win Saturday. “Otherwise, the game’s not going to go in my favor when it gets physical, so I’ve got to hit first.”