The Salt Lake City Summer League is in the books, and the first real look at this rookie class gave us a clear pecking order at the top. Before the full 30-team field heads to Las Vegas, a handful of recently drafted players made their case in Utah - and a few of them wasted no time looking comfortable.
No one separated himself more than Darryn Peterson. The No. 2 overall pick was the best rookie in Salt Lake City, and really one of the best players there, period.
Through two games with the Jazz, he piled up 53 points while showing plenty of work both on the ball and away from it. Peterson looked calm throughout, kept the shot-making humming, and helped lead Utah to two wins.
His second game may have been the loudest statement of all. Peterson finished with 12 assists, blowing past his previous college high of four. The on-ball creation people had been pointing to before Kansas showed up in full view on Monday, and he backed it up with a performance that felt every bit as advanced as advertised.
Cameron Boozer, the No. 3 pick, didn’t have quite the same flash with Memphis, but the production kept coming. That’s been the story for him for a while now, dating back to his National Player of the Year season at Duke. In his first NBA game, Boozer posted 15 points, four rebounds and four assists, then followed it with 18 points, seven rebounds and four assists.
What makes that even more notable is how the Grizzlies have used him. They haven’t exactly centered the offense around Boozer, instead leaning on Cedric Coward and Javon Small to handle the ball. Even with that setup, Boozer kept putting up numbers.
Kingston Flemings also left a strong impression. The Hawks guard did what he’s built to do: pass, defend and play with feel.
Across two games, he totaled 26 points, 14 assists and five steals, using his speed and quick processing to stay involved everywhere. That’s the same kind of all-around profile that pushed his stock up before the draft, and he looked the part in SLC.
There’s still work to do on his scoring process, but Flemings was clearly one of the most talented players on the floor.
Aday Mara gave the Thunder another big body to add to an already crowded front line. The No. 12 pick joined Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein, and at 7-foot-3, he’s now the biggest player on the roster.
In his debut, Mara’s passing stood out immediately as he found cutters and shooters from spots you don’t often see a 7-footer operating. His second game brought more turnovers, but he was elite protecting the rim.
That kind of versatility gives Oklahoma City plenty to work with heading into the season.
Zuby Ejiofor, the former St. John’s big, also turned in a strong showing after being made a first-rounder at the ’26 draft.
He had a quieter scoring night in his first game, but still managed eight points, 11 rebounds and three steals. Then he broke out in a major way in his second appearance, finishing with 19 points, 15 rebounds, three assists and a block.
That performance helped power the Hawks to a win over the Thunder, and Ejiofor had success battling Aday Mara along the way.
In Other News...
Thunder May Be Denying Cason Wallace The Role He Wants
Cason Wallace already looks like one of Oklahoma Citys most important young pieces, and last seasons All-Defensive Second Team nod only reinforced how quickly he has earned trust on that end of the floor. He is also eligible for a rookie extension, which makes his next step more than just a development question for the Thunder. Wallace has made it clear he wants a bigger on-court role, and there is a real case for him to push for more than the steady reserve minutes he has handled so far.
The problem for Wallace is that the roster seems to be tilting in a direction that keeps him in the same lane for now. Oklahoma Citys recent moves point toward continuity in the backcourt, even as the depth chart around him changes, and that could leave him as a key scoring option off the bench rather than a starter. For the Thunder, that arrangement may still make sense, since a larger reserve role could help Wallace sharpen his game, boost his value, and set up a more interesting negotiation down the road. [Read more 🡒]
Jalen Williams Offers Thunder Fans A Brutal Warning In Brunson Situation
Jalen Brunsons wrist injury has put a familiar kind of cautionary tale back in the spotlight for Thunder fans, because Jalen Williams went through a similar ordeal and learned how tricky the road back can be. Williams played through a dominant shooting wrist issue during Oklahoma Citys title run, and his experience showed that even when a player is able to stay on the floor, the injury can linger in ways that affect everything from shot-making to overall rhythm.
Williams recovery also served as a reminder that the first games after a return do not always look like a clean reset. The broader point for Oklahoma City is simple enough: wrist injuries can be unpredictable, timelines can stretch, and getting back into the lineup is not the same thing as immediately getting back to peak form. [Read more 🡒]
Thunder Face Another Huge Cason Wallace Decision This Offseason
The July moratorium has passed, but there still has not been any public update on a rookie extension for Cason Wallace, leaving one of Oklahoma Citys quieter offseason questions unresolved. The Thunder have shown a willingness to move deliberately after the moratorium before, and with the front office signaling a desire to keep the core together, Wallace remains part of a roster puzzle that is still being sorted out.
Wallace has given the Thunder plenty to think about after a career-best season that included All-Defensive Second Team recognition, and he is now heading into the final year of his rookie deal with bigger responsibilities in mind. He wants a full-time starting role, but the path to that kind of jump is not simple, and the next few decisions around the backcourt could say a lot about how Oklahoma City sees his place in the long term. [Read more 🡒]