The final day of the 2026 NBA Summer League in Salt Lake City gave a handful of rookies a chance to make a clean first impression before the action shifts to Las Vegas. With just two games on Tuesday, July 7, the slate was small, but several first-year players still found ways to stand out.
Some of the debuts came with the usual rookie inefficiency, which is part of the deal this early in the process. But a few players put together encouraging lines that showed exactly why teams wanted them in the first place.
Cooper was one of the more productive bigs on the day, finishing with 12 points, 5 rebounds, an assist and a block. He went 4-of-8 from the field, 1-of-2 from 3-point range and 2-of-2 at the line. After a four-year run at Michigan State, the big man joined Memphis as an undrafted free agent.
Dix also made his presence felt, scoring 16 points with 4 rebounds, 2 assists and a block. He shot 6-of-10 overall, 4-of-7 from beyond the arc and 0-of-1 from the charity stripe. The sharpshooting wing spent three years at Iowa, then finished his college career with a year at Creighton before signing a two-way contract with OKC after going undrafted.
Hausen led his team with 21 points, adding 2 assists and a rebound. He shot 5-of-13 from the field, 5-of-11 from deep and 3-of-3 from the free throw line. The Grizzlies' guard went undrafted after two seasons at Villanova, a year at Kansas State and then a final college season at Iowa in 2025-26.
McKneely turned in a clean all-around showing in a 96-82 win against Memphis, posting 12 points, 5 assists, a rebound, a steal and zero turnovers. He shot 4-of-8 from the field, with every attempt coming from beyond the arc. The Hawks' guard went undrafted after a four-year college career that included three seasons at Virginia and a final year at Louisville.
Porter added another strong frontcourt performance, finishing with 12 points, 10 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals. He shot 4-of-9 from the field, 2-of-6 from deep and 1-of-2 from the free throw line. Porter spent two seasons at Pepperdine, one at Loyola Marymount and then appeared in 12 games at Missouri in 2025-26 before signing with the Grizzlies as an undrafted free agent.
Veesaar rounded out the standout rookie group with 11 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, a steal and a block. He went 4-of-9 from the field, 2-of-5 from 3-point range and 1-of-2 from the line. After three seasons at Arizona and a final college year at North Carolina, the big man was selected No. 52 overall in the 2026 NBA Draft.
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 🡒]