The Denver Nuggets wrapped up their 2026 NBA Summer League run at 3-2, and the record mattered less than the performances they got from a handful of young players trying to carve out a future in Denver.
At the top of the list was 35th-overall pick Trevon Brazile, who looked like the kind of rookie who can walk into a gym and change the tone of a game. His best showing came against the OKC Thunder, when he poured in 32 points and grabbed six rebounds while going 6-for-12 from three.
He was 11-for-19 overall in that game and gave Denver a night to remember. Over three games, Brazile averaged 18.7 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 2.0 stocks while shooting 45.5% from the field and 47.4% from deep.
What stood out with Brazile was how complete the production looked. He brought athleticism, length, defense, rebounding, and a smooth shooting stroke, and he did it in a way that made him look far more polished than a typical Summer League rookie. Denver clearly believed those tools could translate right away, and his Vegas run backed that up.
Bryce Hopkins was right there with him. The Nuggets’ other 2026 second-round pick didn’t have a single 30-point explosion, but he was steady and effective throughout the event. In four games, he averaged 18.0 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 2.3 stocks while shooting 52.9% from the floor and 35.7% from three.
Hopkins showed real versatility on both ends, but his offense was the loudest part of his game. He came into the draft with some questions about how his skill set would hold up at the NBA level, and he answered plenty of them in Las Vegas.
For the 49th pick, it was an impressive showing, and he made a strong case for a longer-term role in Denver. He has not been officially signed to a contract yet, but he appears to have at least earned a two-way deal and possibly more.
KJ Simpson had a different kind of Summer League. Still on a two-way contract, he was trying to show he could help Denver with ball-handling off the bench, and the numbers were a mixed bag. In two games, he averaged 18.0 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 6.5 assists, but he also shot just 35.7% from the field and 25% from three while committing 4.5 turnovers per game.
The efficiency wasn’t pretty, but Simpson wasn’t empty calories either. He handled the point guard duties, created offense, and flashed enough to suggest there’s still something there. Heading into his third NBA season, though, it would have been nice to see cleaner execution.
Then there was Aaron Nkrumah, whose Summer League usage felt oddly limited. He played only 13.1 minutes per game across three contests and averaged 5.7 points and 2.3 rebounds. That was a surprising setup for one of the more intriguing undrafted prospects in the class.
Even with the small sample, Nkrumah did show some of the defensive ability and ball-handling that made him worth watching in the first place. But with so few chances, it was hard to get a full read on him.
Mark Sears made a much stronger push for one of Denver’s two-way openings. The 24-year-old guard broke out against the Portland Trail Blazers with 26 points, four assists, and two steals while hitting 4-of-8 from beyond the arc. He followed that up in the Summer League finale with 17 points and six assists, making it clear the big game wasn’t a one-off.
Sears brings a crafty, veteran feel at point guard, and he shot 41.8% from three in the G League last season. At six feet tall, he’s undersized, but he looks like the kind of guard who can help a team if given the chance. Denver should absolutely keep him in the conversation for a two-way spot.
Mark Mitchell Jr. was another undrafted name who entered Vegas with some buzz, but his run never really got going. In three appearances, he averaged 3.7 points, 1.3 rebounds, and one block in 16.8 minutes per game while shooting 22.2% from the field.
That was a rough outcome for a player many viewed as an undrafted gem. Whether it was a lack of opportunity or simply a poor stretch, the Summer League didn’t give Mitchell Jr. much of a boost in Denver’s two-way race.
A few other Nuggets also left a mark in Las Vegas. Erik Stevenson was Denver’s fifth-leading scorer in the event, putting up 11.4 points, 4.4 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 1.6 steals per game.
Jahmi’us Ramsey finished strong in the finale with 20 points, eight rebounds, and two steals while going a perfect 9-for-9 from the field and 2-for-2 from deep. Osayi Osifo also deserves a mention after averaging 10.7 points and 3.0 rebounds in his first three games while shooting 90% from the field, though his finish was not as strong as his start.
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