This year’s NBA Summer League has ended with the Miami Heat coming out on top. However, there were many stand-out performances from the rookies.

Matas Buzelis 

The first rookie on this list who has had an impressive performance in the summer league is Matas Buzelis. The 19-year-old scored 28 points, made 5 rebounds and stole the ball twice in a display which dazzled fans and pundits. 

He demonstrated his exceptional ability from range with four three-pointers which has given the Chicago Bulls something to think about as we approach the highly anticipated 2024/25 season. 

Buzelis was chosen as the eleventh pick in this year’s NBA Draft and has had multiple solid performances, aiming to cement his place in the roster. In his best performance so far, the forward put up great numbers against the Golden State Warriors and proved that he could be a versatile threat when attacking the rim. 

The Lithuanian-American possesses impressive mobility for his size, working his way through heavy traffic in the paint and on the perimeter. He can also be explosive when leaping towards the basket which makes it difficult for defenders to block a layup or dunk attempt. 

His good ball handling means that Buzelis can create space and opportunities for himself to shoot in difficult positions. This, combined with his shooting from range, makes him a dangerous opponent who can cause problems in multiple areas. 

His height and reach help him hold his own in the paint and he utilises footwork whilst tightly guarded. This will be crucial in the NBA as most forwards and centres are tall and physically dominant. 

Jaylon Tyson 

Another rookie who has impressed fans and pundits is Jaylon Tyson, achieving a near triple-double in his recent matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers. He scored 21 points, gathered 11 rebounds and assisted nine times to demonstrate his potential in every part of his game. 

As the twentieth overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, most Cleveland Cavaliers fans expected some solid performances, but this stunned a high number of viewers on the day.  

The 21-year-old is a six-foot-six wing who can be a facilitator for others to flourish on the team like Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley. This could make him a potentially perfect fit as he will make the players around him better and work as a determined team player which is needed on the team’s roster. 

Tyson also demonstrates great creativity and uses subtle passes to catch the opposition off guard and generate an opportunity for teammates. As an all-round solid player, he would work well coming off the bench to help players who need support going forward. 

Dalton Knecht 

The final name on the list is Dalton Knecht who scored twenty points and collected seven rebounds for the Lakers, demonstrating his shooting ability and attacking threat. He was chosen as the 17th pick in this year’s NBA Draft and named as a steal due to being predicted as an earlier pick. 

The 23-year-old won the SEC Player of the Year Award in his final season, grabbing the attention of the Lakers and he is beginning to live up to the high expectations.  

Knecht has an astounding six-foot-ten reach which gives him a high release on shots which makes him extremely difficult to stop, even when tightly guarded. He is also a great threat from range, adjusting his body in a split second on the perimeter to get a shot off before defenders can close him down. 

The American is a handul to deal with in transition due to his explosive dribbles towards the hoop. This means the opposition must be on high alert or face the young talent will capitalise on any slight opportunity. 

With his great athleticism, Knecht can also score consistently in the paint, making him a threat from close range and distance. This means that defenders will find him unpredictable and dangerous with or without the ball.