Day 2 of the 2024 NBA Summer
League saw the sophomores dominate the games for their respective
teams, showing their improvement from last season. Here are some
players who stood out on the 2nd day of action in Las
Vegas.
Stephon Castle, San Antonio Spurs
Castle looked every bit of the
point guard he was billing himself into after a strong first
showing for the Spurs. Castle looked comfortable attacking in the
pick-and-roll, making reads and playmaking. The rookie from UConn
was putting defenders in jail, doing the rocker step to get by
opponents, and dishing it out to corner guys. In the end, Castle
put up 22 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists as the Spurs beat the
Blazers.
Brandon Miller, Charlotte Hornets
The No. 2 overall pick from last
year’s draft looked stronger than ever, benefiting from a Team USA
Select Team just a week ago. Miller has been steadily improving his
shot, decision-making, and playmaking, en route to scoring 23
points and 8 rebounds for the Hornets in their win vs the
Knicks.
Jaime Jaquez Jr., Miami Heat
Jaquez looked like he did not
belong in the summer league, not because he was bad or struggled,
but because he was too good to be playing in the tournament. Jaquez
churned in 29 points, 11 rebounds, and 4 assists as the Heat won a
nailbiter over the Celtics.
Cody Williams, Utah Jazz
The younger brother of OKC’s
Jalen Williams, Cody impressed in his Las Vegas Summer League debut
with an efficient night of scoring from the field. In a win by the
Jazz vs the Mavs, Williams scored 21 points on 9-15 FG and 3-6 from
the field, making his case early as one of the best rookies in this
draft class.
