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Which players had the best NBA Summer League?
- Updated: July 18, 2017
Lonzo was terrific, but did he really deserve the Summer League MVP?
Lonzo Ball for Summer League MVP? Who voted on this award, his dad?
Just kidding. Lonzo was terrific–putting up 16.3 points, a Vegas-best 9.3 assists, 7.7 boards and 2.5 steals in six games. His Lakers took home the “championship,” even though he didn’t play in the final game.
Ball even gave us some incredible highlights (like the punch-assist, and the casual lob to Brandon Ingram on his second touch as a Laker), and recorded two triple-doubles, including the first in Vegas since 2008.
But there were some other guys who deserved mention as well.
Where’s the love for Spurs guard Bryn Forbes, who averaged a ridiculous 28 points in six games, after leading the Utah summer league in scoring at 21.3? He was out-of-his-mind good.
How about Blazers big man Caleb Swanigan, who went from averaging a double-double at Purdue to doing the same thing in Vegas (16.1 ppg, 10.6 rpg)?
Jazz rookie Donovan Mitchell was impressive as well, averaging 28 points and an absurd 6 steals per in two games.
Dennis Smith Jr. was almost as hyped up as Ball, averaging 17.3 points on 45.7% shooting and also dishing out 4.8 assists, grabbing 4.2 boards, and swiping 2.2 steals per game. If not for a three-point clunker against Boston, his numbers would have been much higher.
Kyle Kuzma (also a Lakers rookie) was fantastic as well, averaging 21.9 points, 6.4 boards, 2.7 assists, 1.4 blocks and 1.1 steals per. He won the Summer League’s title game MVP (who knew that existed) after hanging 30 on the Blazers on Monday night.
