Kings’ Keegan Murray and Thunder’s Chet Holmgren square off in Summer League.
After 75 games in 11 days in Las Vegas, the NBA 2K23 Summer League is officially in the books for 2022.
The event gave us a first look at this year’s rookie class, as all of the top picks suited up for their new teams. It also provided an opportunity for second-year players looking to make the jump to their second seasons, while serving as a showcase for prospects still trying to make an NBA roster or earn a two-way contract.
As we look at some of the best performances, we’ll highlight the best games from each of the top five picks in this year’s draft, the players who made the two All-Summer League teams, as well as the top-scoring games and best all-arounders performances.
Editor’s Note: Only one game per player will be highlighted, even if they qualify for multiple groups.
Best results
Moses Moody (Golden State vs. New York, July 8)
– 34 PTS– 8-13 FG– 3-6 3 FG– 15-17 FT– 5 REB– 2 BLK
Moody had the NBA 2K23 Summer League game high with 34 points on just 13 shots in Golden State’s 101-98 loss to New York. Second-year players often shine in Summer League because they have a full year of experience behind them. For Moody, he already has an NBA title from his rookie season and will look to play a bigger role for the Warriors in year two.
Moses Moody RELEASED in @warriors first game of #NBA2K23SummerLeague 🔥@mosesmoody: 34 PTS (61.5% FG), 5 REB, 2 BLK pic.twitter.com/edP0R7ZJ2p
— NBA (@NBA) July 9, 2022
Cam Thomas (Brooklyn vs. Milwaukee, July 8)
– 31 PTS– 11-23 FG– 1-6 3FG– 8-12 FT– 2 REB– 2 AST
While Moody finished as the Summer League’s leading scorer (27.5 points over two games), Brooklyn’s Cam Thomas was right behind him with 27.4 points over five games. Thomas was a consistent threat on offense, eclipsing 25 points in each of his five games; no other player in the Summer League had more than two such games. In that game against Milwaukee, Thomas scored 17 of his 31 points in the fourth quarter, but the Nets fell short 94-90.
Cam Thomas drops 31 points against the Bucks.
Santi Aldama (Memphis vs. Brooklyn, July 12)
– 31 PTS,– 12-14 FG– 4-5 3FG– 3-3 FT– 9 REB– 3 BLK
It’s hard to find a more efficient and impactful game than Aldama’s 31-point performance in Memphis’ 120-84 victory over Brooklyn. The 6-foot forward/center from Spain shot 85.7 percent from the field and missed just one of his five 3-point attempts. His productive 27 minutes helped Memphis tie the Summer League record for most points in a game (120).
Santi Aldama masterclass in Vegas tonight for @memgrizz 😤
– 31 PTS– 9 REBS– 3 BLKS– 12/14 FG pic.twitter.com/eKtRQc1CD7
— NBA TV (@NBATV) July 13, 2022
Trey Murphy III (New Orleans vs. Atlanta, July 11)
– 30 PTS– 10-18 FG– 3-6 3FG– 7-9 FT– 6 REB
The final 30-point game of the summer goes to Murphy III, who caught fire during his two performances in Las Vegas. In the win against Atlanta, the Pelicans outscored the Hawks by 19 points while he was on the court. Murphy could be one of the sophomores to watch heading into the 2022-23 campaign.
Trey Murphy III lit up the Hawks with 30 points.
Top 5 selected projects for 2022
No. 1 pick Paolo Banchero (Orlando vs. Sacramento, July 9)
– 23 PTS– 6-15 FG– 11-15 FT– 6 REB– 6 AST– 4 STL– 2 BLK
The top pick in this year’s Draft may have only played two games in Las Vegas before the Magic decided to shut him down, but he made a good impression. In that double-overtime thriller against the Kings, Banchero delivered on both ends of the court with a pair of plays when the game suddenly died. First, there was his save block on a Kings alley-oop attempt. He then followed it up on the next possession, drawing the attention of the defense and dishing out the game-winning assist as the Magic prevailed 94-92.
🔊 #1 overall pick Paolo Banchero ( @Pp_doesit ) connected for the sound during his 23-point performance in the Magic’s double-OT thriller #NBASummer !
Watch @OrlandoMagic in #NBA2K23SummerLeague action TODAY at 7:30pm ET on NBA TV 🏀 pic.twitter.com/rKX2emYV1L
— NBA (@NBA) July 14, 2022
Pick #2 Chet Holmgren (Oklahoma City vs. Orlando, July 11)
– 16 PTS– 7-10 FG– 2-4 3FG– 10 REB– 2 AST– 2 BLK
Holmgren’s first taste of summer action came in the Utah Summer League before the Thunder headed to Las Vegas. In his first start at Utah, Holmgren had 23 points, seven rebounds, four assists, six blocks and four 3-pointers in 24 minutes. While he fell short of those numbers in Las Vegas, he did record a strong double-double in Oklahoma City’s 84-81 win over Orlando. The Thunder outscored the Magic by 15 points in his 27 minutes on the court.
.@ChetHolmgren leads in OKC win over Orlando 💪#NBASummer
16 PTS, 10 REB, 2 BLK pic.twitter.com/KfTSB1htsa
— NBA TV (@NBATV) July 12, 2022
Pick #3 Jabari Smith (Houston vs. San Antonio, July 11)
– 19 PTS– 6-12 FG– 3-5 3FG– 4-5 FT– 9 REB– 2 STL
Smith had two 19-point games in Las Vegas. In that game, he finished one game shy of a double-double and had another in Houston’s 97-84 win over San Antonio. The Rockets outscored the Spurs by 23 points in Smith’s 29 minutes.
Jabari Smith Jr. has his best game of the #NBASummer so far against the Spurs 👀 pic.twitter.com/pGAJ5OM4xZ
— NBA TV (@NBATV) July 12, 2022
Pick #4 Keegan Murray (Sacramento vs. Oklahoma City, July 13)
– 29 PTS– 9-17 FG– 9-11 FT– 7 REB– 2 AST– 4 STL
There were plenty of games to choose from, as the Summer League MVP scored 20 or more points in each of his four contests in Las Vegas. In that game against No. 2 pick Chet Holmgren and the Thunder, the Kings didn’t win, but Murray continued to stand out with his all-around game. He recorded his Summer League game high with 29 points, giving Sacramento fans glimpses of what they hope is to come.
Keegan Murray stuffed the stats tonight against the Thunder 👑
▪️29 PTS▪️7 REB▪️4 STL▪️52.9% FG pic.twitter.com/2S7DjFFYLc
— Sacramento Kings (@SacramentoKings) July 14, 2022
Pick #5 Jaden Ivey (Detroit vs. Portland, July 8)
– 20 PTS– 6-14 FG– 2-5 3P– 6-6 FT– 6 REB– 6 AST
It was Ivey’s only full game of the Summer League as he suffered an ankle injury just five minutes into his second game. In his Las Vegas debut, Ivey completed the scoring. In his second game, he was on track for another big outing before his injury. In just five minutes against the Wizards, he scored 11 points on perfect shooting (2-for-2 FG, 1-for-1 3P, 6-of-6 FT) and dished out two assists.
Check out some of @IveyJaden’s insane highlights 🔥 pic.twitter.com/SCrTJx3Ta1
— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) July 8, 2022
First Team All Summer League
Tarry Eason (Houston vs. San Antonio, July 11)
– 22 PTS– 9-16 FG– 2-3 3FG– 2-3 FT– 11 REB– 3 AST– 2 STL– 2 BLK
While many eyes were on No. 3 pick Jabari Smith Jr., No. 17 pick Taree Eason also made a strong first impression for Houston in Las Vegas. Eason finished with four double-doubles in five games, including 22 and 11 in Houston’s win over San Antonio.
Quentin Grimes (New York vs. Golden State, July 8)
– 24 PTS– 8-21 FG– 4-6 FT– 4 REB– 8 AST– 2 STL
It wasn’t Grimes’ best shooting since Las Vegas, but his combination of scoring (24 points) and playing (eight assists with just one turnover) was on full display in New York’s 101-98 win over Golden State. Between the points he scored himself (24) or created with his assists (18), Grimes was responsible for 42 of New York’s 101 points – 41.6% shooting – against the Warriors.
Sandro Mamukelashvili (Milwaukee vs. Boston, July 11)
– 28 PTS– 9-19 FG– 3-5 3FG– 7-10 FT– 9 REB– 2 AST– 3 STL– 2 BLK
Another player with many games to choose from was Milwaukee’s Sandro Mamukelashvili. We could have gone with his 18-point, 15-rebound double-double in a win over Minnesota on July 13, but instead we’re highlighting his most productive game of the summer. In Milwaukee’s 111-109 loss to Boston, Mamukelashvili dominated on both sides of the ball in his 31 minutes.
Keegan Murray (SAC): See above
Cam Thomas (BKN): See above
Second Team All-Summer League
Benedict Maturin (Indiana vs. Detroit, July 12)
– 20 PTS– 5-9 FG– 1-3 3FG– 9-10 FT– 5 REB– 3 AST– 3 STL
The No. 6 pick in this year’s draft made the most of his limited minutes in the Pacers’ 101-87 victory over the Pistons. Maturin scored 20 points on just nine shots in 19 minutes while also grabbing three steals and dishing out three assists as Indiana outscored Detroit by 23 points in his 19 minutes.
Marko Simonovic (Chicago vs. Dallas, July 8)
– 27 PTS– 10-19 FG– 7-8 FT– 13 REB– 3 BLK
Had eight 20+ point, 10+ rebound double-doubles posted during the NBA 2K23 Summer League. No one posted bigger numbers than Simonovic’s 27 and 13 to lead Chicago to a 100-99 overtime victory over Dallas. Simonovic struck as his header leveled the game late in regulation time to force extra time before sinking the winning free kick in the extra session.
Trendon Watford (Portland vs. New York, July 17)
– 19 PTS– 7-15 FG– 3-6 3FG– 2-4 FT– 7 REB– 2 AST– 3 STL– 1 BLK
We have to highlight Watford’s championship game MVP performance as he led the Blazers to their second Summer League title. He scored 12 of his 19 points in the first half as the Blazers built an 11-point lead at the break and never looked back.
Lyndell Wigginton (Milwaukee vs. Brooklyn, July 8)
– 17 PTS– 4-6 FG– 2-3 3FG– 7-9 FT– 7 AST
Although Wigginton had two 20-plus point games in Las Vegas – 24 vs. Boston on July 11, 25…
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