A few teams began their 2024 NBA Summer League action this past Saturday. The Las Vegas Summer League MVP began being handed out in 2006. There wasn’t a winner in 2011 (lockout) or 2020 (COVID-19). In 2012 and 2021, co-MVPs were named.
All in all, 18 players have been named Summer League MVP. Here are the players who have been named Summer League MVP and have gone on to have the best NBA careers. Cam Whitmore is the most recent winner, and he could eventually be included after a productive rookie season.
Summer League MVPs Who Have Had The Best NBA Careers
From Summer League MVP To Great NBA Career
Selected sixth overall in the 2012 NBA Draft, Lillard has been an eight-time All-Star and seven-time All-NBA in his 12 seasons. Getting ready for his second season with the Milwaukee Bucks, he is currently 41st all-time with 21,151 career points.
The first overall pick in 2009, Griffin has a case to be seen as the best player in Los Angeles Clippers history. Playing 13 seasons in the NBA, he was named an All-Star six times and posted career averages of 19.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 4.0 assists.
- 3. John Wall
Wall was the first overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft. He was named to five straight All-Star teams from 2013-24 until 2017-18 and finished as high as seventh in MVP voting (2016-17).
Not Quite Stars, But Very Good Players
The 6-11 Valanciunas was taken with the fifth overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft. He averaged double figures in rebounding four consecutive seasons spanning from 2019-20 to 2022-23. Through 12 seasons, Valanciunas has averages of 13.4 points and 9.5 rebounds.
- 5. Josh Hart
In the 2017 NBA Draft, Hart was selected with the 30th overall pick. He has become an outstanding rebounder for his size (listed at six-foot-four) averaging between 7.2 and 8.3 boards over each of the last four seasons.
- 6. Tyus Jones
Taken with the 24th pick in the 2015 NBA Draft, Jones is nine seasons deep into his NBA career. He does a wonderful job taking care of the basketball as evidenced by his career 5.6 assist-to-turnover ratio.
Murray was the fourth overall selection in the 2023 NBA Draft. While he’s just played two seasons, he’s already included here and has the potential to move up the list. Murray set a rookie record with 206 made three-pointers in 2022-23.
Anderson heard his name called with the 30th overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft. Known as ‘Slo-Mo’, Anderson has been a great defender in his career and has solid averages of 6.9 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 2.8 assists.
Not Every Summer League MVP Was Productive At The NBA Level
Glen Rice Jr. was named Summer League MVP in 2014. The son of 1990s sharpshooter Glen Rice, Rice Jr. was selected 35th overall in the 2013 NBA Draft. He played just 16 games total at the NBA level for the Washington Wizards in 2013-14 and 2014-15.
Much like Rice Jr., Josh Shelby also didn’t have much of a playing career in the NBA. Taken with the 49th overall pick in 2011, Selby was co-MVP along with Lillard in 2012. He played just 38 games over two seasons with the Memphis Grizzlies in 2011-12 and 2012-13.
