The Las Vegas Summer League delivered this year. With exceptional NBA talent and a loud crowd, the Las Vegas Summer League outshined both the Orlando and Utah Summer League. While many NBA draft picks and current players that are on a roster played well in Las Vegas, there were many free agents or fringe roster guys that showed they may belong on a NBA team.
Las Vegas Summer League Standouts
Spencer Dinwiddie- Chicago Bulls
It has been a hectic offseason for Spencer Dinwiddie. Dinwiddie started the offseason on the Detroit Pistons. Then, Dinwiddie was traded to a depleted Chicago Bulls team. With Dinwiddie now on the Bulls he had the chance to be the backup point guard behind Derrick Rose. That opportunity did not last long. The Bulls went on to trade Rose to the New York Knicks, which brought Jerian Grant, a young and athletic point guard to the roster. Fastforward to the NBA Draft and the Bulls selected the versatile MSU star Denzel Valentine. One of the positions Valentine was projected to be able to play in the NBA was point guard. The Bulls were not done adding point guards either. In free agency the Bulls signed Rajon Rondo. They also signed Isiah Canaan who while is a shooting guard, can play point guard. In order to sign Dwyane Wade, the Bulls had to cut cap space. The Bulls waived Dinwiddie before Summer League began but ultimately re-signed him.
With all those factors not in Dinwiddie’s favor, that didn’t stop him from having a fantastic Summer League. Dinwiddie played with the Bulls in Summer League, and impressed. In seven games with the Bulls, Dinwiddie averaged 24.6 minutes per game. In those minutes he averaged 10.6 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game. He did a great job as the Bulls sixth man, helping lead them to a D-League Championship. Dinwiddie played solid defense and was effective on offense throughout the entire 10 days. With a strong Summer League behind him, Dinwiddie could find himself in the Bulls rotation, battling for point guard minutes with Jerian Grant.
Brandon Ashley- Atlanta Hawks
While Brandon Ashley did not stuff that stat sheet in the Las Vegas Summer Leauge, Ashley had a very effective stint in Sin City. After last year having a great Summer League and then going on to have a good year in the NBA D-League, Ashley needed to have another good showing in Summer League to show he can play in the NBA. He did just that. He averaged 11.2 points and 5.7 rebounds in only 23.2 minutes per game. Ashley shot 50% from the field, a good percentage for a forward. He started all six games he played in for Atlanta. Ashley’s best game in Summer League came against the Memphis Grizzlies. He finished with 17 points and 7 rebounds in only 20 minutes that game. Ashley showed growth in his game compared to last year. He has decent passing skills for a 6’9 power forward, averaging over an assist per game. He also showed an improving three-point shot. Ashley only had one game where he did not score in double figures. With another good Summer League behind them, Ashley should be close to scoring a NBA contract.
Jimmer Fredette- Denver Nuggets
Still fighting to make and stay on a NBA roster, Jimmer Fredette was back in Summer League, this year with the Denver Nuggets. Fredette controlled the crowd throughout Summer League, as every time he made a basket the crowd erupted. He had a good showing in Las Vegas, averaging 15.2 points, 3.2 assists, and 2.4 rebounds per game. He also averaged a steal per game. Fredette was outstanding from the free throw line, shooting 94.4% from the charity stripe. He also shot 36% from the three-point line. His best game came against the Memphis Grizzlies, in which he torched Memphis for 26 points. He also had three assists, two rebounds, and two steals. He shot a very efficient 9-18 from the field, including 4-8 from the three-point line. Fredette has been on the brink of making a NBA roster for years now, and his time seems to be coming after a good showing in Las Vegas.
Jonathan Gibson- Dallas Mavericks
Out of nowhere Jonathan Gibson was one of the best players in Las Vegas Summer League through July 8th to the 18th. A name many people never heard of, Jonathan Gibson was Dallas’ Summer League star. A 6’2 guard out of New Mexico State, Gibson went undrafted in the 2010 NBA Draft. He started all six games for Dallas in Las Vegas, performing greatly in all of them. His first game in Summer League was a 30 point outburst against the Miami Heat. He finished the game with 30 points, three rebounds, two steals, and an assist. He also had a 26 point, four rebound performance against the Milwaukee Bucks. Gibson finished the Las Vegas Summer League averaging 17 points, three bounds, 1.7 assists, and 1.5 steals per game. Gibson was extremely effective while shooting the ball. He shot over 50% from the field, 45.9% from the three-point line, and 81.8% from the free throw line.
Gibson went on to score a deal with the Dallas Mavericks, as he hopes to end up making the roster, come start time of next season.
