Former Oregon Duck Nate Bittle just wrapped up his 2026 NBA Summer League run in Las Vegas, and while it was a bit of a rollercoaster, he showed enough to potentially keep his NBA dream alive after signing an Exhibit-10 deal with the Toronto Raptors. Bittle, who was a third-team All-Big Ten selection two seasons ago, was clearly the headliner among the former Ducks in Vegas, especially since he went undrafted. The pressure was on, and honestly, the kid delivered a mixed but mostly encouraging bag of results.
Bittle’s Big Blocks and Big Turnovers
In his four games played, Bittle put up some solid numbers across the board, proving he’s more than just a big body. He averaged 9.8 points and 6.8 rebounds per game. That’s nearly a double-double, which is exactly what you want to see from a guy trying to make an impression. But he wasn’t just focused on scoring and boards. He flashed some serious defensive chops, racking up an impressive 2.8 blocks per game, showing off that rim protection. Plus, he dished out 2.3 assists, proving he’s got some passing vision too. What really stood out, though? His three-point shooting. This big man knocked down 43.8% of his deep shots on 16 attempts! That’s legit range, and it’s a skill that makes him incredibly valuable in today’s NBA.
However, it wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows. We’ve all seen those moments where one play can haunt you. Bittle had one of those, a late turnover in the Raptors’ first game that ended up costing them the contest against the Boston Celtics. Talk about a gut punch! But to his credit, the kid bounced back quickly. Just a few days later, he contributed nine points and six boards in a one-point Raptors victory. That’s the kind of resilience that coaches love to see.
Limited Looks for Angel and Bamba
While Bittle was making his case, his fellow former Duck, Brandon Angel, and TJ Bamba had a much tougher time getting on the court. Angel, also with the Toronto squad, barely got a sniff of action. He averaged just 2.7 points and 3.0 rebounds in three appearances, logging a grand total of just 34 minutes. It’s tough to showcase your skills when you’re mostly glued to the bench. Before this, Angel was tearing it up overseas, scoring 16.9 points and 7.9 rebounds per game in the Israel Winner League last season. It looks like he might be headed back abroad for another season, which is a shame, but you gotta play where you can make an impact.
TJ Bamba was in pretty much the same boat with the Denver Nuggets. He saw even less action, with just 26 minutes across the entire summer league. With only seven total points and three total rebounds, he really didn’t get the chance to show what he could do. Bamba played in Germany’s easyCredit BBL League last year, where he put up 12.3 points and 3.5 rebounds per game. He even played for the Brooklyn Nets’ summer league team in 2025, but again, saw little time. For both Angel and Bamba, this 10-day summer league event just wasn’t favorable.
The good news for Bittle, though? After those four solid games, there’s a very good chance we could see him in the G League next season with the Raptors 905, Toronto’s G League affiliate. That Exhibit-10 deal means there’s a clear path. For Angel and Bamba, it’s likely back to dominating overseas.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
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