Full Breakdown
2026 NBA Summer League: Rookies Shine and Warriors Capture Title
7/22/2026, 1:18:48 AM
Tournament Overview
The 2026 NBA Summer League took place in Las Vegas from July 9 to 19. The Golden State Warriors beat the Memphis Grizzlies 94-90 to claim their first Summer League title since 2013.
Draft-Class Hype and Early Matchups
The opening game featured No. 1 pick AJ Dybantsa (Wizards) against No. 2 pick Darryn Peterson (Jazz). The “Big Four” – Dybantsa, Peterson, Cameron Boozer (Grizzlies) and Caleb Wilson (Bulls) – led a deep rookie field.
Standout Performances
| Player | Team | Games | Pts | Reb | Ast | Shooting % (FG/3P/FT) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yaxel Lendeborg | Warriors | 6 | 14.8 | 6.8 | 4.0 | 45.9 / 35.7 / 80.0 |
| Brayden Burries | Bucks | 4 | 23.5 | 4.5 | 4.3 | 50.0 / 36.4 / 66.7 |
| Meleek Thomas | Cavaliers | 4 | 27.3 | 3.5 | 3.8 | 50.0 / 44.0 / 100.0 |
| Caleb Wilson | Bulls | 4 | 23.5 | 7.2 | 3.7 | 41.9 / 41.9 / — |
| Cameron Boozer | Grizzlies | 6 | 18.5 | 8.0 | 3.7 | 45.2 / 33.3 / 77.3 |
Lendeborg’s 21-point, 10-rebound double-double in the final earned him MVP honors. Burries posted a 5-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio and hit a game-winner against Philadelphia. Thomas led the league in scoring, shooting 50 % overall and 44 % from three.
Team Implications
- Golden State Warriors – Lendeborg’s all-around play fits Steve Kerr’s “win-and-develop” approach.
- Milwaukee Bucks – Burries is seen as a key piece for the post-Giannis roster.
- Memphis Grizzlies – Boozer’s decision-making and rebounding put him in Rookie-of-the-Year conversation.
- Chicago Bulls – Wilson’s seven three-pointers in his debut boost his wing-scorer profile.
- Brooklyn Nets – Egor Demin’s 21 points and 3.7 assists earned second-team All-Summer League honors.
Official Statements & Responses
> “We want to develop our guys and help them get ready for preseason and next season, but we want to win,” — Khalid Robinson, Warriors assistant coach
> “I live for this moment right here,” — Yaxel Lendeborg, Warriors forward
Winners and Losers
Winners – Lendeborg (MVP), Burries (All-League First Team), Thomas (leading scorer), Wilson (All-League First Team), Boozer (All-League First Team).
Losers – The experimental “one-free-throw” rule, which drew mixed reactions, and Drake Powell (Nets), who finished 1-for-28 before an 18-point burst.
What’s Next
All 30 teams begin training camps in September. The highlighted rookies will compete for roster spots, two-way contracts, or G-League assignments. The Warriors expect Lendeborg to vie for forward minutes; the Bucks anticipate Burries earning a regular-season rotation.
Verbatim Quotes
- “We want to develop our guys and help them get ready for preseason and next season, but we want to win,” — Khalid Robinson, Warriors assistant coach (q7)
- “I live for this moment right here,” — Yaxel Lendeborg, Warriors forward (q8)
