The Summer League allows for the young rookies to showcase their talent while experiencing a taste of the NBA competition. It also helps returning veterans to test what they have worked during the off-season against other players.
Throughout this Summer League stint, I will be ranking the players following every game. There are three categories: Who’s hot, who’s not and in the desert.
After the games each player will be placed into one of the three categories based on their performance.
Let’s get into it.
WHO’S HOT
Jeremiah Robinson-Earl
Showing off more than just his role player tendencies, Jeremiah Robinson-Earl made a bigger impact offensively.
Utilizing backdoor cuts, Robinson-Earl got on the right end of many passes. He scored 12 points on an ultra-efficient 83 percent clip from the floor. He even indulged the crowd with a dunk.
The Robinson-Earl affect on defense was much more palpable. Not only did Robinson-Earl force a steal, but he also recorded two blocks.
Robinson-Earl’s presence was far more noticeable against Orlando.
Aaron Wiggins
Making his second appearance in this category, Aaron Wiggins has clearly taken a big step in his development.
Wiggins began this contest much like the last one: on a hot start. Scoring two smooth lay-ups and following it with a triple, Wiggins was much more active offensively. Refining his skill set, he has become a solid offensive player for OKC.
Defensively, Wiggins held his ground and contributed solid contests on every play. Recording one steal, Wiggins positioning was key.
Adding spark and versatility to the court made Wiggins a key part of Oklahoma City’s win.
Chet Holmgren
Clearly Holmgren was on a mission to make up for his lackluster performance against Houston. Much more focused, Holmgren made waves on both sides of the court.
Stretching the floor, Holmgren shot two-of-four from the perimeter. Shooting a whopping 70 percent clip from the flied, he led the Thunder with 16 points
Snagging ten rebounds, Holmgren ended the night recording a double-double. The Next step for Holmgren will be dominating the offensive glass, seeing that he only grabbed one offensive board.
He showed room for improvement though, specifically in maintaining ball security. Holmgren is not considered a ball-handler, yet he racked up four turnovers in the first half.
On controversial officiating a few of Holmgren’s blocks were called as fouls. This resulted in Holmgren only recording two blocks. For most players this would be an amazing stat line, but for Holmgren two blocks is no where near his capabilities.
Overall, Holmgren did a little bit of everything. The next step is doing a little bit of everything at a higher volume.
WHO’S NOT
Tre Mann
Not bouncing back after his last game, Tre Mann has not looked like himself in Las Vegas.
Unable to find his rhythm, Mann shot a tragic 21 percent clip from the floor and finished one-of-six from behind the arc. Adding insult to injury, Mann committed four turnovers.
On the bright side, he stayed locked in defensively.
But this is not the Mann the Thunder know and love. Hopefully, he can get his shot to fall when the next opportunity arises.
IN THE DESERT
Jaylin Williams
Jaylin Williams made his Las Vegas debut tonight and had a solid performance. The kid just hustles everywhere and exerts immense effort into every play. Offensively, J-Will was always looking to pass. While this trait can be admirable, it does not give much to analyze.
The few times he did attack, J-Will muscled his way down low to finish a lay-in. He also scored a reverse layup, flashing some promise.
Josh Giddey
Josh Giddey finessed multiple passes throughout the game. Distributing the ball extremely well, Giddey totaled eight assists.
While his passing expertise is impressive, its also an expected part of his skill set.
Giddey had a rough scoring night however going 3-of-11 from the floor. Despite scoring 12 points, half of his output came from the charity stripe where he finished six-of-seven.
Although the creation he produces is vital to the offensive flow, Giddey’s inefficient shooting cannot be overlooked.
Jalen Williams
Providing the Thunder with excellent defense, Jalen Williams was a strong option in OKC’s lineup.
The difference-maker in many defensive possessions, J.Dub was essential to the team’s victory. He expertly blocked a shot from behind and pushed the pace in transition. Always in the right position to make a big play, J. Dub’s defensive abilities were much appreciated.
Outside from two classic dunks, J. Dub’s offensive output was silent. Unfortunately, J. Dub has raised his own bar and expectations are higher for the Santa Clara alum. Therefore, shooting a 28.6 percent clip from the field is unacceptable.
Vit Krejci
Given under 14 minutes to prove his worth, Vit Krejci had an inconsistent performance. Outside of missing a buzzer beater triple to end the first quarter, Krejci’s first minutes were uneventful.
Yet after settling into the flow of the offense, Krejci finished the night on three-of-five shooting from the floor. Making a nice reverse lay-up, he displayed some skill.
Oklahoma City faces Sacramento next on Wednesday, July 13.
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