NBA action is back in the form of Summer League hoops. The league’s annual event opened today with three games played in California while Salt Lake City hosted another two games. Here are each of the notable performances on Day 1 of Summer League Action.
Notable Performances On Day 1 Of The NBA Summer League Action
Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Nikola Jovic, Miami Heat
Miami’s two recent draft picks balled out today at the Golden 1 Center as the Heat beat the Lakers, 107-90. Nikola Jovic, who was the Heat’s first-round pick in 2022, showed improvement after a year in the NBA. Jovic scored 21 points with 2 threes and 7/12 overall shooting from the field. He also had eight rebounds (4 offensive) and 3 assists while shooting 5/7 FTs in now his second tenure in the Summer League. Jovic showed tremendous upside as a stretch 4 with an improved body which also helped his rebounding game.
On the other hand, 2023 18th pick Jaime Jaquez Jr. proved why he was picked so early by Miami. Jaquez scored an impressive 22 points built on 3 threes (8/15 shooting overall). He was everywhere on the court — shooting off the dribble and off the catch, tough on defense, and creating for others. Jaquez also displayed flashes of maneuvering in the pick and roll, showcasing his versatility.
Julian Champagnie and Dominick Barlow, San Antonio Spurs
With the much-anticipated debut of number one overall pick Victor Wembanyama held off, two undrafted guys stole the show for the Spurs today. Julian Champagnie, an undrafted guard/forward out of St.John’s, scored a Summer League day-best 30 points on 9/20 shooting. He shot 5/12 from three and made 7/9 free throws. Champagnie, who just recently signed a 4-year, 12 million-dollar deal with the Spurs, also hauled down eight rebounds, two assists, and four steals. He showcased a variety of moves including stop-and-pop jumpers, catch-and-shoot threes, and off-ball movement.
Dominick Barlow also had himself a game by contributing 24 points on an efficient 77% from the field (10/13). The undrafted big out of Overtime Elite also grabbed 11 rebounds and blocked two shots in just 23 minutes of action. The two combined for 54 big points as San Antonio wins their first Summer League game against Charlotte, 98-77.
Kenneth Lofton Jr., Memphis Grizzlies
Another undrafted big has played well in today’s Summer League slate of games. Kenneth Lofton Jr., the 6’7 sophomore out of Louisiana Tech, tallied 21 points and 13 rebounds in a superb effort. He also had two steals in 30 minutes of playing time as the Grizzlies come back to defeat the Philadelphia 76ers, 94-92. Lofton showed an improved overall game, having crisp footwork and better shooting mechanics (2/4 from three). The 2022-2023 G-League Rookie of the Year also flashed his playmaking chops, dishing out four assists and executing live dribble handoffs to teammates.
