NFL
By: Chris Jordan
Another NBA Summer League is in the books and it’s time to hand out another round of honors, recognizing the top performers of the 2021 draft class.
Coming into Summer League all the attention was going to be the top two picks in the NBA draft. Cade Cunningham and Jalen Green.
Cunningham was drafted first by the Detriot Pistons and Green was drafted second by the Houston Rockets.
The Pistons and the Rockets both are in desperate need of a face for their franchise. Especially since the Pistons have not had a face for their franchise in quite some time now.
The Houston Rockets drafted Green believing that he could be the new face of the franchise since the James Harden era was officially over when he was traded to the Brooklyn Nets last season.
After a shaky start in his Summer League debut, Cade Cunningham certainly passed the eye test. Cunningham averaged 18.7 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 1.7 steals on 42.9% shooting in the three games he played.
Cunningham is someone who can do multiple things on the court. He’s someone that makes everyone better around him. When you think about it there are only a hand full of players in the NBA that make everyone better around them.
Cunningham is headed in the right direction and he’s gonna be a star in the NBA for a long time.
Before the Rockets opted to hold out Green due to hamstring soreness. Green had played three games and he looked like a rising star in this league from the start.
Green averaged 20. 3 points on 51.4% from the field, a scalding 52.6% from 3-point range, and 92.9% from the line.
Green looks ready to make a big impact as a rookie, his ability to make shots from the perimeter, and his ability to play above the rim caught the eyes of a lot of people around the NBA.
Although, Cunningham and Green had all the attention coming into Summer League because they were the top two picks in the draft.
Players such as Chris Duarte, Davion Mitchell, and Cam Thomas came into Summer League with a chip on their shoulder, and they did what they needed to do for themselves.
Duarte was the oldest player drafted, he made a contribution for himself in the four games he played and he seems like someone who wants to make a name for himself as one of the best rookies in this draft class.
Duarte averaged 18.3 points while shooting 48% from the three. He would also fill up the box score with his effort. He averaged four rebounds, 3.8assists, 2.5 blocks, and 1.8 steals in four games.
Mitchell’s stats weren’t the most flashy but he still made a big impact because of his notorious on-ball defense. He plays with a lot of grit and toughness. Mitchell is a pretty good three-pointer shooter. Every team needs that one player that does the dirty work for the team.
Another player that made a name for himself was Cam Thomas who was drafted by the Brooklyn Nets. Thomas averaged 27 points in four games on a 42% shooting percentage. Thomas put up a 36-point game against the Spurs and he nailed some clutch shots down the stretch against the Wizards, hit a step-back to force overtime followed by a difficult, one-legged game-winner.
Thomas is gonna be someone who can play a big role on the Nets because the Nets lacked a consistent player off the bench. Thomas can be the missing piece they need to win a championship.
The future is bright for the NBA. The players in today’s game are so skilled and talented.
Who will be the best player in the draft when it’s all said and done?
