The first portion of the NBA Summer League is over, even though it just started. The two-day California Classic concluded its fifth annual event on Wednesday night. The Sacramento Kings and San Antonio Spurs finished with 2-0 records. San Antonio outscored their opponents by 31 points, defeating the Charlotte Hornets 98-77 and the Los Angeles Lakers 109-99. Meanwhile, Sacramento picked up wins over the Golden State Warriors (100-94) and the Miami Heat (95-83).
California Classic: Superlatives, Top Performers, and Biggest Disappointments
Golden State and Miami each had 1-1 records. The Warriors defeated the Hornets on Wednesday, and the Heat beat the Lakers on opening night. The Lakers and Hornets went winless.
There were several big-time performances and some disappointing performances. The following are the superlatives for the 2023 California Classic.
Most Outstanding Player: Keegan Murray
Keegan Murray is an easy choice for the top player. Murray, the 2022 Summer League MVP, was fabulous in both games in Sacramento. Murray easily finished as the Classic’s top scorer with 70 points over 62 minutes as he pumped in 41 points Wednesday night against the Heat. The 41 points are the third most in Summer League history. Anthony Morrow dumped in 49 in 2009, while Marcus Banks (2008) and Von Wafer (2007) tossed in 42.
Keegan Murray did NUMBERS in his last Summer League game ⤵️
🔥 41 PTS
🔥 11/20 FG
🔥 6/11 3PT
🔥 4 BLOCKS#CaliforniaClassic | @Ticketmaster pic.twitter.com/hyKpsVcvo4— Sacramento Kings (@SacramentoKings) July 6, 2023
While Murray is primarily known as a scorer and three-point marksman, he showed a renewed ability to get to the foul and some defensive moxey. The 22-year-old forward knocked down 19 of 37 shots, including 9 of 20 from the three-point line and 23 of 26 from the charity stripe.
Murray only grabbed six rebounds, but he did come up with two steals (vs. the Warriors) and swatted away four shots against the Heat. He did commit eight turnovers, although he also was charged with just four fouls. Plus, Murray finished with a +3 plus/minus.
“The great thing about a guy like Keegan is that he wants to be in the gym.”
🎙 Coach Loucks explains what Keegan’s role will be as the team heads to Vegas for Summer League.#CaliforniaClassic | @Ticketmaster pic.twitter.com/7TlAEle0gV
— Sacramento Kings (@SacramentoKings) July 6, 2023
California Classic: Top Scorers
The following are the event’s top scorers other than Murray.
Malaki Branham
Malaki Branham had an up-and-down rookie campaign, not unexpectedly. The 19-year-old, a product of Ohio State, averaged 10.2 points in 24 minutes though he did struggle from the three-point line. He scored in double-figures on 29 occasions, topping the 20-point mark ten times.
Branham demonstrated that scoring ability in his lone California Classic contest. In 26 minutes against the Lakers, Branham tossed in 32 points on 12 of 24 shooting, including three of six from the three-point line. He got the Spurs off on the right foot by scoring eight of the team’s first 13 points and then tallied 17 points in the final stanza when the game was still relatively in doubt.
Julian Champaignie
Julian Champagnie, who recently signed a four-year deal with San Antonio, would have likely been the Classic’s MOP if not for Murray. Champagnie put on quite a show versus the Hornets, posting 30 points and eight rebounds, and had a strong follow-up performance against the Lakers. He was all over the court on both nights.
Champagnie averaged 29 points on 17 of 37 shooting from the field and 10 of 22 from the three-point line. The 22-year-old forward was also 14 of 16. He also grabbed 13 rebounds, blocked two shots, and registered four steals while posting a +35 plus/minus rating.
Lester Quinones
Lester Quinones, who spent most of this past season with the Santa Clara Warriors, showed he is a big-time scorer. Quinones topped the 20-points in both games and totaled 47 overall. The 25-year-old connected on 18 of 31 from the field and 10 of 17 from deep. Perhaps the most amazing thing is that he only attempted two free throws.
Max Christie
Known as a defensive ace, Max Christie showed off a scoring dimension that hadn’t been unearthed before. Christie, who hit over 41% from the three-point line in 41 contests this past season, showed off a nice mid-range game and the ability to finish at the rim over the two games.
After scoring 17 on day 1, Christie tallied 25 versus the Spurs. He made 13 of 24 shots, five of eight from the three-point line. and 11 of 12 from the charity stripe.
Nikola Jovic
Nikola Jovic didn’t play much this past season though he did get some early run with the Heat. Jovic scored 21 points in both contests and did it in various ways. He scored the ball well on all three levels, although the most impressive was his effectiveness in transition and finishing through contact. Jovic was 13 of 25 from the field, five of nine from the three-point line, and 12 of 15 from the charity stripe.
Top Shooter: Cole Swider
Naming the top shooter was the hardest, as Champagnie and Quinones each canned ten treys at solid clips. But it came down to Cole Swider and Alex O’Connell, best known for their ability “to pull it.” However, O’Connell played just one game.
Swider averaged 15.5 points, 3.5 triples, and 3.0 free throws a game. He shot it well at all three levels, posting a shot line of .474/.538/1.000.
Top Rookie: Brandin Podziemski
This award invariably came down to Brandin Podziemski and Colin Castleton. But Podziemski gets the nod due to his versatility and defensive impact.
Podziemski had a huge game in the Warriors’ victory over the Hornets, totaling 17 points, four caroms, and five thefts. He averaged 14.5 points, 5.0 boards, 3.5 assists, and 2.5 steals over 28 minutes a game. The 6-5 guard, who had a +8 plus/minus rating, produced a shooting slash line of .478/.333/.500.
Top Point Guard: Jamaree Bouyea
The top point guard destination came down to Blake Wesley and Jamaree Bouyea. Bouyea gets the nod due to his superior ball handling and quality defense.
Wesley is more of a scorer than Bouyea, who spent most of the past year in the G-League. But the 20-year-old Notre Dame product demonstrated that he could get others involved over the last two games. While both players recorded 13 assists, Wesley turned the ball over seven more times than Bouyea.
Top Big Man: Dominick Barlow
The top big award came down to Dominick Barlow, Neemias Queta, and Castleton. Barrow took the cake, and it wasn’t close despite the other two players receiving consideration.
Barlow, on a two-way contract, was dominant in the Spurs’ opening victory. While the 20-year-old struggled offensively on day two, he didn’t let that hurt his production in other categories. Barlow finished with three points, six rebounds, six assists, one steal, and three blocks against the Lakers. He also led the Spurs with a +13 plus/minus rating.
Barlow finished nicely around the rim and showed off a nice midrange game in game one. Overall, he averaged 13.5 points on 57.5% shooting, 8.0 rebounds (4.0 offensive), 3.5 assists, and 2.5 blocks.
California Classic’s Biggest Disappointments
While I don’t want to make a big deal about this topic, the only truly poor performances were by the Hornets.
Brandon Miller
Specifically, I don’t want to beleaguer Brandon Miller‘s struggles as it is his first pro experience, and it is only the summer. The 2023 No. 2 overall selection, who is just 19, showed some flashes of brilliance — particularly in the fourth of the game against the Spurs. But he struggled defensively, finishing through contact, and with turnovers.
Bryce McGowens and James Bouknight
While Miller’s struggles were somewhat expected, Bryce McGowens and James Bouknight‘s performers are more concerning.
Known as a scorer in college, McGowens struggled in 41 appearances with the Hornets this past season. Granted, that was not unexpected, but the 20-year-old shot just 27.3% during the Classic and missed all five from the three-point line. He was 8-12 from the charity stripe. However, McGowens posted a -25 plus/minus rating, which was the worst of the event.
Meanwhile, Bouknight’s performance is perhaps the most concerning. Bouknight, who didn’t really grow in year two, averaged 9.0 points while shooting 35.8% from the field over the two games. The 22-year-old also made just one of his ten tries from the three-point line. If the former No. 11 overall selection wants to remain in the NBA, he must step up his game over this next year.
