The 2026 NBA Las Vegas Summer League ended the way the Warriors wanted it to, with Golden State beating Memphis in Sunday night’s championship game and closing the book on an 11-day run that had plenty of buzz from the opening tip. But the real story in Vegas was the rookie class. The top four picks all delivered, and a few names outside that group made sure they were part of the conversation, too.
No player left a louder impression than Bucks guard Brayden Burries, who turned a strong showing into CBS Sports’ pick for MVP. The No. 10 overall selection looked like a guard who can fill every lane on the floor, and that versatility mattered.
He averaged 23.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 4.3 assists in four games, while keeping the turnovers low in an environment that usually gets messy fast. For a Bucks team heading into a rebuild with Giannis Antetokounmpo heading to the Miami Heat, Burries looked like the kind of piece you can actually build around.
He wasn’t the only rookie who came away looking like a long-term answer.
Meleek Thomas, the Cavaliers’ No. 34 overall pick, was one of the biggest scoring stories in the event. He put up 27.3 points per game over four games and shot 43.8% from 3-point range.
At Arkansas, he often played in the shadow of Darius Acuff Jr., but Vegas gave Cleveland a much clearer look at what Thomas can do when the ball is in his hands. He looked like a microwave scorer, and that matters for a Cavs roster that needs cost-controlled talent.
Caleb Wilson, the No. 4 overall pick, wasted no time making noise for the Bulls. In his first summer league game, he buried seven 3-pointers against Memphis.
That number jumps off the page even more because Wilson made seven threes total during his entire freshman season at North Carolina. If that shot holds, his ceiling changes in a big way.
He was already known as one of college basketball’s best dunkers, but Chicago clearly wanted to see him stretch the floor as more of a wing. He did that, and his motor and defensive upside stood out, too.
Cameron Boozer, the No. 3 overall pick, kept showing why he was so steady in college basketball last season. He was one of the most consistent players in the event, and his passing and basketball IQ were on display throughout.
Boozer also didn’t shut it down at the end like some of the other top rookies. He should be the favorite for NBA Rookie of the Year.
AJ Dybantsa, the No. 1 overall pick, only played two games for the Wizards, but that was enough to justify the early shutdown. He drew contact relentlessly, got to the line 14 times and scored 50 points across those two games. Washington had seen enough.
Darryn Peterson, the No. 2 overall pick, also backed up the hype even if the turnovers and fouls still need work. Between Salt Lake City and Las Vegas, he showed more pressure at the rim and more playmaking than he had in college. That’s a big reason he still looks like one of the best guard prospects in recent memory.
The depth of this class showed up beyond the headline names, too.
Egor Dёmin, the Nets’ No. 8 overall pick from 2025, gave Brooklyn a reason to feel good about its backcourt future alongside Mikel Brown Jr., the No. 6 overall pick in last month’s draft. Dёmin showed progress finishing at the rim and inside the arc, and after already proving he could shoot it from deep as a rookie, he added another layer to his game in Vegas.
Allen Graves, the Raptors’ No. 19 overall pick, also made his case. Toronto’s wing group was already crowded, which made the pick seem a little odd at the time, but Graves showed why he was such an analytics favorite. He averaged 16.8 points in four games and looked capable of pushing for real minutes as a rookie on both ends.
Khaman Maluach, the Suns’ No. 10 overall pick in 2025, was one of the best sophomores in the building. After limited minutes as a rookie, he looked ready for a major Year 2 leap by stretching the floor on offense and protecting the rim on defense.
And then there was Yaxel Lendeborg, the Warriors’ No. 11 overall pick in 2026, who put together enough strong moments to suggest Golden State may have nailed the selection. His size, strength and athleticism stood out all tournament, and he closed the run with 21 points and 10 rebounds in the title-clinching win over Memphis. That performance helped deliver the franchise’s second summer league championship.
All-Las Vegas Summer League first team
Brayden Burries, Bucks (No. 10 overall pick in 2026)
Meleek Thomas, Cavaliers (No. 34 overall pick in 2026)
Caleb Wilson, Bulls (No. 4 overall pick in 2026)
Khaman Maluach, Suns (No. 10 overall pick in 2025)
Cameron Boozer, Grizzlies (No. 3 overall pick in 2026)
All-Las Vegas Summer League second team
Egor Dёmin, Nets (No. 8 overall pick in 2025)
Allen Graves, Raptors (No. 19 overall pick in 2026)
Darryn Peterson, Jazz (No. 2 overall pick in 2026)
Yaxel Lendeborg, Warriors (No. 11 overall pick in 2026)
AJ Dybantsa, Wizards (No. 1 overall pick in 2026)
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