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Who Made Baylor Proud in NBA Summer League?

Where the guys project after a full run in Vegas

Author

Michael Nichols
August 02, 2024

With Summer League wrapped up, let’s see how our Bears finished up, categorizing them by where you can expect to find them playing next season.

NBA Locks

Keynote George. No notes.

Yves Missi and Ja’Kobe Walter both showed they belong in Summer League even if they weren’t standouts. Missi produced decently where it counted (only 4.8 rebounds/game in 20+ minutes); while Walter’s still-gorgeous shot didn’t go down (20% on threes on 5.8 attempts). It’s still the early stages for these two, and there’s no doubt that they will put in the work to earn themselves NBA rotation minutes, at the least.

G-League Two-Way

All four of these guys have something that makes them enticing prospects, but enough holes that they won’t be given guaranteed contracts. Adam Flagler was outstanding in multiple summer leagues from deep (55.6% in Vegas, the biggest of the three events), but his defensive size and lack of point guard ability make it difficult to find him a place in the NBA.

Kendall Brown and Jalen Bridges both have prototypical size as wing players, but Brown still isn’t able make a shot from the outside, while Bridges doesn’t have the athletic pop, though he is solid both offensively and defensively.

To me, the really intriguing guy in this bunch is RayJ Dennis, who, despite having an inefficient five games shooting (39% FG), obviously made his team better when on the floor (+9 with a 2/1 assist/turnover ratio).

All four of these guys have a chance to play in the NBA next year, though I wouldn’t call it a good chance.

Abroad

Freddie Gillespie, unfortunately, wasn’t invited. Jared Butler and Jo Lual-Acuil were both on rosters, but were released before Summer League ended. James Akinjo only appeared in two games, and then only in garbage time. Lual-Acuil is already on a contract to play in the NBL in Australia next season. For Butler and Akinjo, the most likely path seems to be abroad. International play isn’t for everyone; though, guys like Tweety Carter and LaceDarius Dunn made good long careers out of it.