Aside from offering a glimpse into this year’s talented rookie class, the 2023 Summer League allowed fans to witness some rising NBA sophomore’s development heading into the next season.
Although plenty of players from the class of 2022 are looking to make the jump, four sophomores could make waves on their respective teams next year.
Four Rising NBA Sophomores to Watch Next Season
Keegan Murray
Although his Summer League stint ended after two games in the California Classic, that did not stop fans from noticing how far Sacramento Kings wing Keegan Murray has come.
Sacramento’s fourth pick last year put up solid numbers in his rookie campaign—12.2 points and 4.6 rebounds while shooting 45% from the field and 41% from deep. However, his transformation in Las Vegas has been remarkable, with many pointing out that he’s “too good for Summer League.” After a blistering California Classic run that included a 41-point outburst (11/20 FG, 6/11 3PT, 13/15 FT) against the Miami Heat, Murray was shut down by Summer League head coach Luke Loucks.
The Kings made some noise in the West last year, silencing doubters by ending their 16-year-long playoff drought. Despite losing in seven games to the defending-champion Golden State Warriors, Sacramento has plenty to be proud of, and watching Murray develop into a star-calibre sophomore is one of them.
The six-foot-eight forward’s growth on both sides of the ball will be pivotal towards his success, but his knack for scoring is even more evident after his stellar July run. It’s a great sign for Kings fans as the team continues to build on recent success with the goal of a deeper run in the future.
Jabari Smith Jr.
After his miraculous game-winning three in the Houston Rockets Summer League opener, forward Jabari Smith Jr. outlined his reasons for playing in the contests.
“My rookie year wasn’t perfect — it wasn’t great,” Smith said. “Why not come out here and get reps, play with refs, play with my new teammates, play with my coaches, and get a feel? I feel like any second-year guy should be open to play just because of the opportunity.”
Drafted third overall last year, Smith averaged 12.8 points and 7.2 rebounds per game, shooting 41% from the field, 31% from three, and 79% from the free-throw line. Despite only playing two games, Smith made his presence known in a major way. He averaged a league-most 35.5 points, seven rebounds, four assists, and one block per game on 49-33-85 splits. Those marks were good enough to give him All-Summer League Second Team honors.
With the recent additions of Fred VanVleet, Dillon Brooks, and head coach Ime Udoka, Smith has an opportunity to elevate his game next year, and he knows it, too.
“Their minds [will make his job easier],” he said. “Fred VanVleet is a champion. Dillon Brooks has been deep in the playoffs—he’s won a lot of games. Their experience with winning at the highest level and what they’ve seen—who wouldn’t want that on their team?”
Smith also touched on the advice Udoka has given him.
“Out here in Summer League, he’s just telling me to lead,” he said. “It’s good to learn how to lead earlier than later. He’s always telling me to lead, use my voice, focus on defense, and focus on ways to improve and help this team.”
It’s clear that Smith’s development as a player and, more importantly, as a leader will serve him well among a young core of Rockets.
Jaden Ivey
The third rising NBA sophomore to watch is Detroit Pistons guard Jaden Ivey. The fifth overall pick made a good impression during his rookie year, averaging 16.3 points and 5.2 assists per game on 42/34/75 splits. The Athletic’s James L. Edwards III recently broke down how Ivey and teammate Jalen Duren have improved throughout their rookie seasons. He pointed out how Ivey excelled in various facets on the offensive end, from his change of speed to his shooting:
“Ivey’s 3-point shooting jumped 5 percent — from an underwhelming 31.4 percent (4.1 attempts per game) to a respectable 36.5 percent (5.3 attempts per game) — from his first 37 games to his final 37 games. To start his career, Ivey had no midrange game… By the end of his rookie season, Ivey’s midrange uptick may have been the most impressive thing about him, especially given how far he came.”
Some of Ivey’s highlights even stunned former head coach Dwayne Casey, who told Edwards III, “He makes something out of nothing. He gets stuck in certain situations and I’m like, ‘Whoa, what is he doing?’ and then all at once he comes out of it like Houdini and makes a play or a shot. That’s a gift and skill he has.”
Ivey was limited in Summer League reps due to an ankle injury. Still, he made a statement, posting 22 points and ten assists in a loss to the Rockets—one game before going down. Through two games, he averaged 18 points, seven assists and 3.5 steals on 41/27/80 splits.
If Ivey can continue to make strides with his shot-making and do a better job of taking care of the ball, he’ll put the league on notice in no time.
Jaden Hardy
Finally, though he may not have been a first-round pick last year, Dallas Mavericks guard Jaden Hardy is quickly reminding them he’s on their level.
Taken 37th overall, Hardy played his way into the Mavs’ rotation, averaging 8.8 points per game on 44% shooting from the field and 40% from deep in 15 minutes a night. Summer League has proven to be a different story, one that Hardy is having fun writing. The 21-year-old played three games and averaged 23 points (fourth in Vegas), 5.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and one steal. Though it came on less-than-desired shooting splits (35/24/73), Hardy’s teammates quickly caught onto his standout scoring.
“I don’t think he should even be playing [in Summer League],” two-way rookie Mike Miles Jr. said. “[Hardy]’s that good. He’s a scorer. He is a great teammate and always puts confidence in everybody… He’s the best player on the team. We go as he goes.”
Despite his struggles, Mavs assistant and Summer League head coach Jared Dudley praised Hardy for stepping up as the team’s best player.
“He’s not shooting the ball well. (But) we’re winning games,” Dudley said. A lot’s going on. We’re having him guard some of the best players. Offensively, they’re having the best player guard him. They’re sinking. They know his game.”
With Dallas’s rotation largely set (though it could change depending on the status of Tim Hardaway Jr.’s future), Hardy will have a more difficult path earning rotational minutes than his counterparts, likely competing with Seth Curry and Josh Green. However, he isn’t going down without a fight. Observing how Hardy plays in training camp will give viewers a better idea of whether he can step up when it matters the most.
The Last Word on the Four Rising NBA Sophomores
Though these four players are all on different teams and in different situations, one thing is clear: they are all stars in their roles which their coaches, teammates and fans respect. Murray, Smith, Ivey and Hardy are just a few names to look out for as the 2022 draft class continues to make their mark, but these four have burst onto the scene this summer, and they aren’t stopping anytime soon.
