Cooper Flagg had his long-awaited debut in the NBA Summer League. The ticket prices for his debut were soaring. With as much hype, Flagg didn’t disappoint. While he finished with only 10 points on 5-21 shooting, Cooper showed an ability to make winning plays. Today, however, we will look at something different. These are the best summer league performances by No.1 overall picks.
The Best Summer League Performances By No.1 Picks
The NBA introduced the Summer League in 2004, and since then, it has been a platform for rookies and young players to get a taste of what is ahead. Sometimes, teams use the Summer League to also use second or and third-year players to help them further develop. With that in mind, through the years, we have had some great performances. Some players, however, didn’t get the chance to show off their skills. For example, Anthony Edwards was drafted during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, and there was no Summer League. With that in mind, here are some of the best Summer League performances by No.1 overall draft picks.
Zion Williamson
The hype around Zion Williamson was real during the Summer League. Fans knew that an athletic phenomenon was coming to the league. And he didn’t disappoint. Averaging 21 points per game, Zion put on a show with his athletic ability.
Victor Wembanyama
The San Antonio Spurs needed only two games of Victor Wembanyama in the Summer League. They saw enough and shut him down. During those two games, Wembanyama played 54 minutes and posted 36 points, 20 rebounds, eight blocks, and three assists. His defensive impact was visible from Day 1.
Cade Cunningham
Cade Cunningham was viewed by some as a smaller version of LeBron James. He was seen as a point guard with an athletic ability to drive to the basket at will and make winning plays. In three games, he showed every part of his game. Cade was money from behind the arc, shooting 50% (13-26). At the same time, he averaged 5.7 rebounds.
Paolo Banchero
Like Wembanyama, Paolo Banchero needed only two games in the Summer League to show he is the real deal. The Orlando Magic forward averaged 20 points, six assists, and five rebounds. Having a 20/5/5 season is amazing, and Paolo did it the moment he stepped onto the floor for the Las Vegas Summer League. He posted those averages only once in his career, during the 2023-24 season.
Markelle Fultz
The Philadelphia 76ers selected Markelle Fultz over Jayson Tatum. Nowadays, that decision seems strange. But at the time, Fultz was one of the best scorers in college basketball. His shot was pure, and in the summer league, he showed how easily he can put the ball in the basket. Fultz averaged 20 points, 3.5 rebounds, and three assists during his summer league play.
The Future for Cooper Flagg
Even the best Summer League performances have no real correlation to being a good NBA player. Trae Young struggled during his summer league play. Kevin Knox had one of the best performances ever in the Summer League, and he is nothing more than a role player. Anthony Edwards didn’t even participate in the summer league due to COVID-19 restrictions. We need to give players time to develop before we judge them. Looking at some of the No.1 picks that performed well in the summer league, Williamson (due to injuries) and Fultz have had disappointing NBA careers to date. We will see how Flagg continues his NBA journey.
Photo credit: © Candice Ward-Imagn Images
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