The NBA Summer Leagues in San Francisco, Sacramento, Salt Lake City, and Vegas just wrapped up, giving us our first real look at one of the most hyped draft classes we’ve seen in forever. We got highlights, big numbers, and some serious head-to-head matchups, but the biggest takeaway? While some players absolutely balled out, others raised some major red flags that could haunt them as the regular season gets closer.
Dybantsa and Wilson Are Certified Problem-Starters
First up, let’s talk about **AJ Dybantsa**. The dude only played two games in Las Vegas, but seriously, he showed enough to get everyone hyped for his regular campaign. Yeah, his efficiency from deep was rough, going just 1-of-11 from three-point range. But forget about those misses for a second, because he was drawing fouls like a young Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. He averaged 25.0 points on 16.5 field-goal attempts in those two appearances, which is solid, but what truly blew my mind was the defensive intensity he brought. Everyone knows about his Tracy McGrady-esque scoring repertoire, but seeing him lock in on the less glamorous end of the floor? That should open some serious eyes. Dybantsa ratcheted up his intensity and tallied 14 defensive rebounds, five steals, and three blocks in just under 51 minutes of action. That’s just wild!
And then there’s **Caleb Wilson**, who came into Summer League determined to prove he’s a wing, not just a big man. And guess what? Mission accomplished. Wilson had the ball in his hands on the perimeter a ton, breaking down one-on-one matchups and launching pull-up jumpers, including some deep threes. He finished his run averaging 23.5 points in 27.7 minutes, shooting a blistering 50.0 percent from the field and 41.9 percent from deep. He was also active defensively, showing that his offensive evolution wouldn’t mess with his rim protection, averaging 2.5 blocks and landing him near the top of the leaders in Vegas. Sure, the ball-handling led to 5.2 turnovers, and we’ll need more than four games to fully trust that long ball, but among the top 10-15 picks, Wilson probably boosted his stock the most.
Darius Acuff Jr. and the Defense That Could Kill His Career
Now, let’s flip the script. **Darius Acuff Jr.** arrived at Summer League with a ton of hype, especially after leading the SEC in scoring (23.5 points per game) and assists (6.4) as a freshman. But things did *not* look easy for him across two different summer leagues. He put up decent raw averages for points (20.8) and assists (4.6), but his shooting numbers were tough to watch: just 25-of-63 on two-point attempts and a dismal 10-of-37 from deep. And get this: he had almost as many turnovers (19) as assists (23). Oof. Shooting can come and go, but Acuff wasn’t able to create the separation he usually did at Arkansas, making it tougher to make the right reads as a passer against NBA-caliber athletes. His offensive talent should eventually work itself out, but the real concern? He often looked “spacey” on defense, a problem that even showed up in college. You can’t combine a lack of focus with a lack of size (he’s 6’2″) and expect to stick around long in this league. His defense is where he needs to put in the most work. And while the details are scarce, fellow rookies **Ace Bailey and Cody Williams** also landed in the “losers” column, a reminder that Summer League can be a brutal reality check.
So, as we gear up for the regular season, keep an eye on Dybantsa and Wilson to see if they can maintain that early momentum. For Acuff, though, it’s crunch time. That defensive effort and focus needs to get dialed in, or that SEC hype might just fade.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
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