A few days before the 2021-22 NBA season begins, we look back to remember what we experienced in the summer with the Las Vegas Summer League, a tournament that every year brings together young newcomers to the competition (rookies), to others who are still looking for a contract and also those who still need to grow in their game to settle down.
At the conclusion of the summer tournament, which ended with a victory for the Sacramento Kings, various journalists voted to choose the best players in the contest. The vote was close; so much so thatDavion Mitchell and Cameron Thomas tied when choosing the MVP.
Beyond choosing the best player, today we stop at the best quintets of a tournament that have been gaining weight over the years, and that in the same way can be a kind of thermometer in the face of what is about to be done. to start, the regular season.
First quintet
Davion Mitchell, Cameron Thomas,Payton Pritchard, Obi Toppin, Jalen Smith, Jalen Johnson, and Trey Murphy. Yes, your accounts do not fail you. The first quintet is made up of up to seven players, something caused by the tie on points of the last three. Mitchell, a player for the Kings, averaged 10.8 points and 5.8 assists. They seem somewhat weak numbers to be MVP, but his great defense elevated him to such an award. Regarding Thomas, the Nets player was the top scorer of the competition, going up to 27 points per night.
The rest of the award-winning players are a mix of players with a short NBA experience and rookies. Thus, in the first group we have Pritchard from Boston, Toppin from the Knicks and Jalen Smith from Phoenix. About to start their careers after being selected in the 2021 draft are Jalen Johnson of Atlanta and Trey Murphy of New Orleans.
second quintet
Cade Cunningham, Luka Garza, Jalen Green, Paul Reed, and Patrick Williams. Here we find the numbers ‘1’ and ‘2’ of the 2021 draft. Both Cunningham (Detroit) and Green (Houston) shone with their own light during the Las Vegas summer league. They both seem ready for professionalism and are expected to be leaders of their respective teams. Another who will debut this year is Luka Garza, a center who will also be with the Pistons after completing his four-year college stint in Iowa. Already with NBA experience we have Paul Reed from Philadelphia and Patrick Williams from Chicago.
