While several top picks like Zaccharie Risacher and Stephon Castle weren’t in action Friday for various reasons, other exciting rookies like Jared McCain and Ron Holland II showed off their skills on Day 8 of NBA Summer League in Las Vegas.
The end of Summer League is fast approaching, and the rookies are hoping to make a good impression on fans in the coming days.
After Friday’s action, here’s a look at the results and a recap of some notable performances.
Results of day 8
New York Knicks 91, Detroit Pistons 90
Chicago Bulls 103, Atlanta Hawks 99
Dallas Mavericks 101, Boston Celtics 90
Phoenix Suns 115, Milwaukee Bucks 90
Philadelphia 76ers 96, San Antonio Spurs 80
Toronto Raptors 109, Miami Heat 73
Golden State Warriors vs. Oklahoma City Thunder, 10:30 p.m. ET
Portland Trail Blazers vs. Charlotte Hornets, 11 p.m. ET
Ron Holland II continues to show promise for Detroit
Ron Holland II has been somewhat of a sideline compared to some of the bigger names in the draft, but the 5th overall pick has quietly impressed throughout Summer League.
He added to a string of impressive performances Friday in the Pistons’ loss to the New York Knicks.
Holland scored 20 points, had six rebounds and two blocks, continuing to show his two-way ability early on. The biggest issue with Holland so far has been his efficiency, as he has struggled to make shots at a consistent rate, but that should improve once he gets comfortable in the league.
After another solid outing, fans praised Holland as he looks to help a struggling Pistons team.
Jared McCain calms down after strong start to Summer League
Jared McCain has been solid overall so far at Summer League, but the Duke product struggled a bit against the San Antonio Spurs on Friday.
McCain finished with eight points and five rebounds on a mediocre 3-of-13 shooting. The 16th overall pick also committed two turnovers.
After McCain’s struggles Friday, fans are wondering if he’ll need to spend some time in the G League before playing in the NBA.
Kel’el Ware continues to show defensive promise
The Miami Heat selected Kel’el Ware in hopes of gaining additional support on defense. So far, it appears he’ll be ready to provide just that in Miami.
The former Indiana star scored 17 points, grabbed 10 rebounds and added four steals and a block, once again showcasing his defensive capabilities in Summer League.
The Heat probably won’t expect Ware to be a star right away, nor will he be a huge offensive threat, but throughout Summer League he’s proven he’s capable of being a solid option off the bench.
After the Heat’s dominant win over the Raptors, fans once again praised Ware’s defense.
Ware and the Heat have played their final regular Summer League game and will now begin preparing for the tournament, which begins Sunday.
