NBA 2K25 Summer League in Las Vegas: Young Stars Shine and Struggle as Competition Heats Up
The NBA 2K25 Summer League kicked off in Las Vegas Friday July 12th. All 30 teams will have an opportunity to showcase their young talent and compete for the NBA 2k25 Summer League Championship.
Notable players competing in this year’s summer league include Zaccharie Risacher. Drafted #1 in the draft by Atlanta, the 6’8” Frenchman will look to make an immediate impact on a transitioning Hawks team.
Through two games in Las Vegas Risacher is off to a productive and assertive start. After shaking off some early nerves, he has demonstrated his shot making versatility. His feel for the game and all-around skill level are ultimately why he was the top pick.
The Spurs #4 overall pick Stephon Castle also saw action over the weekend. Castle had a game high 22 points on 8-20 shooting from the field in Friday’s Victory over former UConn teammate Donovan Clingan and the Portland Trailblazers. Castle will miss the remainder of the Summer League due to a sprained wrist.
The son of the King, Bronny James also made his Summer League debut this weekend for the Lakers. The #55 pick has struggled thus far amid questions over his ability to play in the league. Through his first two summer league games, the young Prince is 4-19 from the field and 0-11 from beyond the arc, and has tallied only ten total points. This includes an 0-8 performance from beyond the arc and eight points in a 99-80 loss Friday to #3 pick Reed Sheppard and the Houston Rockets. Sheppard had 23 points in the win.
NBA Summer League in Las Vegas has a rich history of showcasing future NBA stars. Former participants include 2024 NBA Finals MVP Jaylen Brown (who played at NBA Summer League in 2016 and 2017) and Kia NBA Most Valuable Player Award recipients Kevin Durant (2007), Stephen Curry (2009), James Harden (2009), Russell Westbrook (2009), Giannis Antetokounmpo (2014) and Nikola Jokić (2015).
