The 2026 NBA Summer League wrapped up Sunday night with the Golden State Warriors, led by Yaxel Lendeborg, taking down the Memphis Grizzlies to claim the tournament title. With the action finished, the former Michigan Wolverines who were scattered across the league left behind a mixed but revealing summer.
Lendeborg was the headliner. Golden State used him in every game, and he delivered enough across the board to walk away with MVP honors. He scored, he rebounded, and he kept teammates involved - the same kind of all-around impact Michigan fans got used to seeing this past season.
Another former Wolverine who made a strong impression was Danny Wolf. The Nets’ first-round pick from a year ago chose to get more run in Summer League this summer, and he had his share of uneven stretches. Even so, he reached 20 points once and spent plenty of time cleaning the glass.
The Thunder also got a useful look at a former Michigan big man in Vlad Goldin. After limited action with the Miami Heat last season, Goldin showed off the parts of his game that can travel: rebounding and shot-blocking. He scored in double figures once and could end up giving Oklahoma City a defensive option off the bench, or somewhere else.
There was also a strong finish from the former Michigan center who opened his Summer League with a rough shooting start before turning things around in his last two games. In those final outings, Mara showed why he drew attention as a prospect by piling up rebounds and assists, giving the Thunder a playmaking center look for next season.
Hunter Dickinson, who played at Michigan before transferring to Kansas, had a shorter Summer League sample but made it count. He scored 21 points in one of his three games, a reminder that his offensive game still shows up when he gets the chance.
Tre Donaldson, who spent one season at Michigan before finishing at Miami, had one of the more eye-catching scoring runs among the former Wolverines. He posted two games over 20 points, though turnovers were part of the package at times. Even so, he showed the playmaking and scoring pop that made him worth watching.
Nimari Burnett, who signed an Exhibit-10 contract with the Raptors, is likely headed for the G-League to start his NBA path. But his first Summer League went well enough to stand out. He scored in double figures in four of five games, attacked the boards, and created for others.
Roddy Gayle Jr. came off the bench for the Detroit Pistons and put up 10 points in each of his first two games. He had a few solid moments and, like Burnett, is likely to begin his journey in the G-League this fall.
Kobe Bufkin’s summer also mattered. The former first-round pick has dealt with injury problems since entering the NBA, and after signing with the Los Angeles Lakers last season, he was waived after the year. Looking for a new landing spot, he helped himself in Summer League by scoring 15 or more points in all three games for the Pelicans and contributing in multiple ways.
Morez Johnson Jr., whom Dusty May and the Mavericks drafted with their first pick, appeared in two of Dallas’ five games. He made his biggest splash right away, pouring in 27 points in the opener before following with 10 in his second outing.
Tarris Reed Jr. started his college career at Michigan under Juwan Howard before finishing at UConn, and he opened Summer League on a high note with a double-double. The scoring dried up in his next two games, but the early production still gave him a solid start.
Will Tschetter, who lit up the Australian pro league and then signed with the Trailblazers, did not get into a Summer League game.
The former Wolverine group was deep, and the results were all over the map. Some players flashed scoring, some made their mark on the glass, and others showed enough in smaller roles to keep their NBA hopes alive.
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