Brandon Williams, an undrafted guard from Arizona, helped power the Portland Trail Blazers to the championship, scoring 22 points in a victory over the New York Knicks.
Basketball
The Portland Trail Blazers won their second NBA Summer League title with a victory over the New York Knicks to earn the first iteration of championship rings.
The Las Vegas Valley was the only location that the Ignite, a team of top NBA prospects considered amid the decision to relocate from Walnut Creek, California.
The NBA and WNBA announced Thursday morning that Las Vegas will be one of 11 markets to host its junior NBA leagues this fall.
The Aces are 15-7 at the All-Star break and talented enough to win the WNBA title, but their defense needs to improve and they are selfish at times on offense.
Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga, the No. 7 overall pick in the 2021 NBA draft, scored 28 points against the San Antonio Spurs at the NBA Summer League.
Daishen Nix, who played high school basketball in Las Vegas, hopes his play in the NBA Summer League leads to more playing time for the Houston Rockets next season.
Orlando Robinson was a varsity backup at Centennial High School. He returns this week to Las Vegas for NBA Summer League as a member of the Miami Heat.
Neemias Queta had 23 points and eight rebounds while converting 8 of 12 field goals in the Sacramento Kings’ 94-92 loss to the Orlando Magic.
Paolo Banchero scored 13 of his 17 points in the first half and played to a team-best plus-minus rating of plus-20 in his first taste of professional basketball.
Several local players, from Bryce Hamilton to Daishen Nix, Orlando Robinson, Jaden Hardy, Tyler Bey and Donovan Williams, will be on display this week at NBA Summer League.
The NBA’s annual Summer League begins Thursday at UNLV — and with it, the 11-day audition that most of its players are preparing for. Get ready for 75 games in 11 days.
Ignite is comprised of prospects who elect to bypass college basketball, such as Daishen Nix and Jaden Hardy of Las Vegas, and veterans who use the league to aid in their development.
The NBA Summer League, which takes place Thursday through July 17 at UNLV, isn’t just a proving ground for rookies and other young players vying for rosters spots.
The rumors that began Thursday morning were confirmed before the sun set Thursday night. UCLA and USC are leaving the Pac-12 in 2024, they announced via Twitter — and thereby leaving Las Vegas, too.