The 2026 NBA draft class was purported to be one of the best in history. Which meant this Las Vegas summer league was always going to be a test: Could this class really live up to the overwhelming hype?
Shockingly, it appears the answer is yes. Unlike most seasons, in which one or two rookies stand head and shoulders above the rest, in this Vegas summer league there were elite performances from rookies throughout the lottery, at the least, with the promise that there probably will be rookies from later in the draft -- or even undrafted -- who will end up contributing significantly in their first season.
I saw firsthand what the next generation of NBA superstars looked like in their first professional steps. I saw their size, speed, athleticism, and maybe most importantly, their energy as they moved around the court.
Also, being in Vegas, I heard and was part of conversations with other scouts, analysts and NBA front office members as they watched the action. I was able to get the perspective of others on these players, and how they believe what they were seeing in Vegas would translate to the NBA for the upcoming season.
And, it being Vegas, I serendipitously got to witness some truly behind-the-scenes stuff. Like walking through the airport next to a representative for one of the rookies, listening to them talk about the player's motivation level to really prove something at this summer league.
Or, maybe the most fun was that I got to play blackjack with the father of one of the players -- sharing our stories even while enjoying ourselves at the casino. Only in Vegas!
As always, I find attending the summer league to be invaluable in evaluating young players and projecting what we might expect from them in the near future. Here are some of my thoughts on how some of the most intriguing lottery rookies performed, and whether their summer league exploits changed my outlook on what I project for their rookie season numbers.
More: NBA Draft analysis | Offseason moves The top four AJ Dybantsa , SF, Washington Wizards : Steady Before Vegas, I projected Dybantsa as a tall wing. But my first in-person impression was that he looked less like a tall wing and more like a mobile big.
More like a Jaren Jackson Jr . with a strong handle than a Tracy McGrady type.
This makes him more of a physical mismatch than I realized, because it will be difficult for wings to challenge him vertically but almost impossible for most bigs to defend him horizontally. Dybantsa also showed himself to be a relentless scorer off the dribble.
He handled the ball often in Las Vegas, bringing it up the court like a point guard, but for the most part he wasn't acting as a floor general to run the offense and create looks for teammates. No, when he had the ball in his hands within 30 feet of the rim, Dybantsa was working to create a shot for himself.
He would change directions on the dribble, working to get an angle and a step on his defender, then get to his spots from midrange in and either finish or get to the line. In two games, Dybantsa went 12-for-22 on 2-point attempts and 12-for-14 from the free throw line.
Keep in mind, the summer league was exploring the shoot-one-free-throw for two or three points scoring mechanism, so Dybantsa's 12 made free throws were worth 23 points. In other words, he was getting to the line often, and showed the ability to throw his head backward on any defensive contact to draw fouls the way Shai Gilgeous-Alexander does, which bodes well for his scoring prowess as a rookie.
The downside of Dybantsa's performance in Las Vegas was his 3-point shooting and lack of playmaking. Dybantsa shot 1-for-11 from 3-point range and notched only four assists versus four turnovers.
Looking forward to the regular season, when he will be playing on a team led by two All-Stars in Trae Young and Anthony Davis , Dybantsa will need to consistently knock down 3-pointers to maximize his scoring opportunities. He will need to be more than a finisher, but someone who can create looks for teammates.
I believe he'll develop in both of these areas based on his talent and college history, but he didn't show a lot in those traits in his brief Vegas showing. Dybantsa did, however, show some of his defensive upside.
In 50 minutes played, he notched five steals and three blocked shots. With his length and athleticism, playing on a frontline featuring stalwart defenders such as Davis and Alex Sarr , Dybantsa has the upside to post strong-to-elite defensive