I just got back from an exciting opening weekend at the 2K25 Summer League in Las Vegas. Let’s jump right into the five players who stood out and made waves. Stay tuned next week for a full rundown of all the standout and disappointing players from Summer League, but for now, here are my top players from the opening weekend.
The third overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft was one of the most impressive players I witnessed in Las Vegas last weekend.
At just 19 years old, the rookie has the poise of a veteran and clearly has a bright future in fantasy basketball. Sheppard put in a masterclass, averaging 20.2 points, 4.7 rebounds, 4.7 assists, 1.7 triples, 3.0 steals and 1.3 blocks per game in three games in Las Vegas.
The counting stats were stellar, but given his usage rate (25%) and his responsibilities as a floor general, it was great to see him maintain his efficiency, shooting 49% from the field (16 att/g), 38.5% on threes (4.3 att/g) and 78% from the free throw line.
Sheppard scores in a variety of ways — penetrating defenders for crafty layups, catch-and-shoots, and transition 3s — but his mid-range jumper game, off the pick-and-roll, really stood out. He gave me Mark Price/Steve Nash vibes. Mark Price even signed it..
Sheppard possesses the ideal skills of a fantasy point guard: he scores, rebounds, assists, shoots threes and steals, all with efficiency. He has star potential, but with so much talent on the Rockets, we’ll have to see how Rockets head coach Ime Udoka plans to get his rookie valuable court time. He should be the No. 1 pick if a rookie dynasty draft is being done in 2024.
You can tell what kind of momentum Jaquez Jr. had after he left the U.S. Select Team to join the Heat in the Summer League. He played the fifth-most minutes as a rookie in the league last year, so seeing him on Miami’s Summer League roster was surprising, but he did precisely what he intended: He dominated.
The Heat are 2-0 with Jaquez Jr. in the lineup, and he averaged 26.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.5 3-pointers and 1.5 steals in 28 minutes per game. He was nearly automatic from the field, converting 58% of his field goal attempts, 43% of his 3-pointers and 81% from the line. Jaquez Jr. will be a late-round fantasy pick next year and is projected to have a larger role in Miami’s system.
The second-year forward appeared in 50 games for the Nuggets last season, but after receiving just 10 minutes of play per night, it made sense for him to return to the Las Vegas Summer League with a larger role on offense.
In two appearances so far, Strawther is tied for second in Summer League scoring, averaging 28.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 4.5 3-pointers and 1.5 rebounds in 33.8 minutes per game. He’s hitting 41 percent of his 3-point attempts, making at least 10 in every game. That’s exactly what the Nuggets will need from him after losing Kentavious Caldwell-Pope to the Magic this offseason.
Though he’s slated for a backup role, the first two games in Vegas showed his growth beyond being a 3-point specialist. He used his range to attack defenders off the dribble, leading to him going to the line 20 times in two games. In Strawther’s second game against the Raptors, he was more involved as a point guard (five assists), so it’s nice to see some contributions to the scoreboard beyond scoring and 3s.
Based on Strawther’s first two outings, he has officially graduated from the Las Vegas Summer League. Let’s see if he can use this momentum to expand his role with the Nuggets heading into next season.
Few players imposed their will over the weekend as much as Whitmore. He legitimately played at a level above the competition and was one of the players who most clearly said “he doesn’t need to be here.” That said, I like that he’s back to get valuable minutes and reps. With a logjam on the wing and Whitmore playing the majority of his minutes behind Dillon Brooks and Jabari Smith Jr., developing chemistry with Reed Sheppard was important. They’re electric together, and there’s a good chance we’ll see them operate off the bench with a glimpse of “what could be” if the Rockets move forward with their youth movement in the coming years.
Whitmore was constantly in attack mode, showcasing his elite athleticism and ability to finish with contact near the rim. He struggled almost as badly as Bronny James from 3-point range, hitting just 1 of 14 attempts. Despite the 3-point struggles, he stepped up defensively, racking up at least four steals in two of his three games. Whitmore’s Vegas experience is likely over after averaging 16.7 points, 7.0 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 3.3 steals in 29 minutes per game.
Monday’s failure aside: His production would have been near the top of the list. He’ll be a fantasy asset again next season, either as a late-round pick or as a waiver wire player.
A sprained right wrist kept Castle out of the remainder of Summer League, but he showed enough at the California Classic and Las Vegas Summer League to know he’ll be in the Spurs’ rotation from the start. And Spurs head coach Greg Popovich agrees:
I watched Castle’s lone appearance in Las Vegas, where he scored 22 points with five rebounds, four assists, two 3-pointers, one steal and five turnovers in 29 minutes of action. Across all leagues, Castle averaged 17-6-4 with one 3-pointer and one steal and a 35-27-67 shooting percentage. He definitely needs to improve his shot, but he has a pace and veteran feel to his game. You can’t rush him, and Castle uses his size and IQ to pick his spots and effortlessly create for others.
The arrival of Chris Paul initially suppresses his value, but he’s the prospect who will stand out as the season progresses. I mentioned earlier that his defense is the most refined aspect of his game, but Castle is also an underrated rebounder, especially on the offensive rebound. He’s grabbed at least two offensive rebounds in every game this summer.
The 19-year-old has a profile that fills the stats, and with the tutelage of CP3 and playing with Victor Wembanyama, this kid is My bet for Rookie of the Year.
