Six NBA Sophomores Who Stood Out in Vegas

Three lottery picks and three other first-round picks showed summer league isn't just for rookies

The 2021 NBA draft class ranks as one of the best in recent memory. Cade Cunningham, Jalen Green, Evan Mobley and Scottie Barnes are emerging franchise cornerstones while Josh Giddey, Jonathan Kuminga and Franz Wagner also have the potential to be regular participants in future All-Star Weekends.

Barnes narrowly won the 2021-22 NBA Rookie of the Year award over Mobley by 15 points, the tightest margin of the past 20 years. And many still believe Cunningham and Green have the brightest futures of the group.

Meanwhile, several of their draft classmates were in Las Vegas this month to play in summer league and gain valuable experience with the hopes of making a sophomore leap for the 2022-23 season.

Here are some of the key second-year players who appeared in Vegas and are due to take on bigger roles this season, including my evaluation of each player. 

And after talking to half a dozen NBA scouts following summer league, I’ve added their comments on each player:

Chemistry class: OKC’s lottery pick from 2021, Josh Giddey (right), got right to work with this year’s No. 2 pick, Chet Holmgren. (Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)

---