Bummer League?
Photo Credit: Peachtree Hoops
In light of the recent conclusion of the summer league, I must admit that I was slightly disappointed with this year’s tournament. Here’s why:
Traditionally, the summer league has served as a showcase for the league’s most promising young stars. NBA prospects regularly battle it out, competing for final roster spots and proving their value. However, basketball fans were not granted the pleasure of truly witnessing the highly touted lottery picks from the 2023 draft.
Unfortunately, the prevalence of injuries undermined this year’s summer league. Scoot Henderson, the explosive guard drafted by the Trailblazers with the No. three overall pick, could not complete his summer league debut due to a shoulder injury. In the minimal time he played, Scoot certainly lived up to the hype. Similarly, Amen Thompson, the crafty guard selected by the Rockets with the No. four overall pick left the same game with an ankle injury. It was later determined that he had sprained his ankle and was subsequently ruled out for the remainder of the summer league. Neither Henderson nor Thompson played an entire game in the tournament, preventing fans from fully evaluating the two. While a team can not prepare for injuries, Victor Wembenyaba’s early exit from the summer league was voluntary. The most hyped prospect since LeBron James was “shut down” after just two games of the summer league. Unlike his peers, his premature departure was not a result of injuries but merely the team’s preference. Wemby faced intense scrutiny following his lackluster debut. Nevertheless, he amassed 27 points and 12 rebounds in his redemption game. This performance teased the NBA world, with fans eager to witness more of Wemby’s greatness. Unfortunately, the Spurs decided that two games were sufficient and told Wemby to sit out the remainder of the tournament.
The lack of star power and sample size from this year’s lottery picks left me dissatisfied with the summer league. Optimistically, I look forward to watching these exciting young stars take the league by storm in October.
