Jaden Akins gave the Knicks enough to keep him in the conversation, but maybe not enough to lock down the kind of deal he’s chasing.
After a breakout run with the Motor City Cruise in the G-League, Akins came into Summer League looking to push past two-way territory and earn a real roster spot. Instead, he ended up with New York’s Summer League group, a move that caught plenty of fans off guard since many expected to see him back in Pistons colors.
The early returns were uneven. Akins opened with a rough outing, finishing with just two points on 0-for-5 shooting.
He looked uncomfortable, and the adjustment to a new group may have played a part. But he bounced back fast in his second game, pouring in 21 points while hitting 9-of-20 shots.
That performance showed the range of what he can do: knock down threes, attack the rim, and bring energy on defense. It also fit the profile Tom Izzo always appreciated - a player who stays engaged on both ends.
That 21-point game put him right back on the radar for a two-way contract after his first game had left him on shaky ground.
In his final Summer League appearance, Akins scored 11 points off the bench and logged more than 20 minutes, more than any other reserve. Across three games, he averaged 11.3 points per game and gave New York enough production on both ends to make a case.
Still, the bigger question is how much Summer League really changes the picture. Akins was a G-League All-Star last season with the Cruise, and that larger body of work may matter more than a short stretch in Las Vegas. One strong game can grab attention, but it doesn’t erase the sample that already exists.
The most likely outcome, at least from this view, is that Akins’ next step comes through the G-League again, where his 2025-26 season is expected to be the thing that earns him a two-way contract. The Knicks would seem like the early favorite if that deal comes from New York, since he essentially auditioned for them this month. But even if it isn’t the Knicks, at least one team should be willing to make the offer.
And yes, there’s a real chance he shows up in the NBA next season. If he lands that two-way contract, he should get at least a game or two at the league level.
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The challenge now is less about dreaming big than proving the foundation is real, and that starts with simply getting back to respectability this fall. Even with the Big Ten title still viewed as a longer-range goal, the more pressing question is whether Michigan State can take a meaningful step forward soon enough to make the rebuild feel like progress instead of another reset. [Read more 🡒]