NBA Las Vegas Summer League takeaways: No. 4 pick Kon Knueppel struggles, Ron Holland primed for a breakout

The opening day of NBA Las Vegas Summer League Provided fireworks and the beginnings of choice n ° 1 Cooper Flagg, which had trouble finding its shot in a dramatic victory on the Los Angeles Lakers. Friday, day 2 of the event of several weeks of Sin City provided an additional examination of more prospects for the draft last month by making its debut in the summer league, as well as return players who seek to improve their stock during their second and perhaps even the third passage to participation in this event.

The match with the most intrigue came on Friday, and he also had the most players likely to contribute to their respective NBA teams this season: the match between Utah Jazz and the Charlotte Hornets. Utah was starless Ace Bailey, but this game still had a lot of star power. The overall choice n ° 4, Kon Knueppel, only scored his first goal in the field until halfway through the fourth quarter and finished with five points against jazz.

Cooper Flagg against Bronny James TakeaWays: choice n ° 1 is struggling to find his shot in the early days of the summer league

Cameron Salerne

It did not take long for the leader of Miami Heat Kasparas Jakučionis, the overall choice n ° 20 in the draft of the NBA 2025, to bounce back by a dull demonstration in California Classic – which serves as a prelime for the main event in Las Vegas. The former Illinois star made only one basket in three games, but replied on Friday by scoring a 24 -point summit. He added four rebounds, four assists and two interceptions in a defeat of 105-98 against the Hawks of Atlanta.

Detroit striker Ron Holland, who finished with a double-double (28 points, 11 points) and also had an impact on the defensive by recording three interceptions. Holland, the former global choice n ° 5 last summer, seems to be ready for a campaign in small groups before its second campaign.

Here are the biggest dishes to remember from day 2 of the Las Vegas summer league.

KNUPPEL cannot find his shot, another former Duke star shines

Less than 24 hours after his former Duke teammate had trouble finding his shot against the Lakers, Kueppel also had trouble doing the same. He recorded his first goal on the field of the summer league with 6:45 remaining next to a break -in dunk and finished 1 for 8 on the ground. Although his shooting difficulties are not alarming in the long term and could be reduced simply because of the draft trend in the first match, it was unusual to see him go 3 out of 6 of the free throw line. For the context, Kueppel was one of the best shooters of 3 points and free throws in university basketball last season. In total, it went 117 for 128 (91.4%) of the charity.

In short, there is no reason to panic about Knunpeppel. He was elite in Duke by creating his shot in the flow of the offense. In a framework of the NBA, he will find his shot.

While Kueppel started slowly in the summer league, another old Duke product (Kyle Filipowski) shone. The second year striker was the best floor player for Utah. He finished with 32 points, six rebounds and five assists. On the other side, the former UCONN off competition, Liam McNeeley, the choice n ° 29 last month, provided a spark on the bench for Charlotte. He finished with a double-double (22 points and 12 rebounds) and killed three 3 points.

Yang Hansen makes an electric pass in the last match of day 2

It didn’t take long for the great portland man to go the crowd of Las Vegas. During the first possession of Portland, Hansen launched a sweet rebound, which led to a lay-up of Sidy Cissoko. Hansen, choice n ° 16 of last month’s draft, was one of the most shocking choices of the first round. There was a choice planned in the second round in the draft evening, but Portland decided to be daring and condemned and selecting a player with a unique skills in the middle of the first round.

Jakučionis rebounds from his first release of the summer league

During California Classic last weekend, Jakučionis did not play his best basketball. The former Illinois star missed the 11 of his attempts beyond the arc, committed 12 reversals and could not find a rhythm. When he started in the summer league in Las Vegas, he looked like a completely different player. He overturned three 3 consecutive points in the first quarter, played in control and played as someone who was a choice of lottery projected before he finally fell to choice n ° 20.

The turnover part was the most impressive part of its rebound performance. In Illinois, turnover was its greatest weakness. Jakučionis overthrew the ball more than 3.7 times per game during his only university basketball season. If he can clean this area of his game, it will do wonders for his global stock. This performance against Atlanta is the reason why it was so surprising that it fell in the 1920s in the evening of the evening.

Holland seems to be a candidate in small groups for Detroit

The old overall choice n ° 5 of the NBA 2024 draft seems ready for a second year campaign and, in the process, looked like someone who is already too good for the summer league. Holland scored 18 of his 28 points in total in the third quarter in a 104-86 victory against the New York Knicks. The most impressive part of his performance may have been his shooting beyond the arc. Holland finished 4 out of 5 on the 3 -point line.

Overall, it is a positive development because the Holland shooting was one of its weaknesses as a recruit and as a prospect with Ignite G League. He pulled 23.9% of the 3 -point line (1.9 attempts per game last season. There is no doubt what Holland provides outside of his shoot. He is an elite athlete with a high engine, capable of being an out -of -competition defender for the years to come. If he can develop his summer league, but he looks like a year 2 jump to a game of Destroit (BAD).

Koby Brea could be a second round flight for Phoenix

The Phoenix Suns undergo by changes during the offseason. The franchise exchanged Kevin during the Houston Rockets, and he It seems that goalkeeper Bradley Beal could approach a takeover with the team. The Suns acquired the choice n ° 10 in the trade of during – used the Duke Big Man Khaman Maluach – but Phoenix was also aggressive in the second round. The Suns exchanged to write Rasheer Fleming and Koby Brea in the second round.

Brea was undoubtedly the best Phoenix player during his rash victory on Washington Wizards. The old product Dayton and Kentucky showed its shooting capacity with an effective 19 points in 24 minutes. Brea overthrew four 3 points out of only five attempts and showed how he can have an impact on victory at the next level. Brea was one of the best university basketball shooters throughout her career. This competence seems to have been translated by (at least) the summer league.

Flagg vs Dylan Harper Titles of Day 3 in Las Vegas

The headliner for day 3 of the Las Vegas summer league will be a confrontation of choices n ° 1 and 2 of the draft last month. Harper did not participate in California Classic due to an injury and missed the opening of San Antonio against the Philadelphia 76ers because of this. Harper is expected to come back on Saturday and make his summer league debut. Traditionally, the renowned match of the first day of the summer league is the game between the best choices of the draft. Instead, the League decided to spice it and plan Flagg against Bronny James’ Lakers as a prime time match.

It is no secret that Flagg had trouble in his first summer League match. He did not make a basket in the second half and pulled a dull 5 for 21 on the field. A positive about Flagg’s performance was that he regularly went to his places in the mid -range area but simply could not convert. Flagg proposed a clutch game in the last two minutes of action by recording a block of highlighting which led to a 3 points of green light from Ryan Nembhard to guarantee the victory. All eyes will be on Flagg and Harper.