The NBA 2K Summer League from Las Vegas is winding into its final stretch, with every team having played three games so far. With the playoffs coming up this Saturday, let’s check in on all the Vols who are playing in the Summer League this year:
Keon Johnson – Nets
The former Vol standout and first-round pick Johnson has shown why he was highly touted at this year’s Summer League. Originally drafted by the Clippers 21st overall, he is averaging 17.7 points, 4.7 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game, with an impressive game-winner to boot. Johnson faded away for the Nets’ 97-95 overtime win vs Indiana and was met with celebrations from his teammates.
GAME. SET. MATCH. @iamkeonjohnson pic.twitter.com/CSeeSAPRv7
— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) July 13, 2024
Johnson’s freak athleticism has him flying all over the court with acrobatic maneuvers, and a smooth jumper on the backend reminds everyone why he was a first-round pick. He broke out against his former team last Sunday with a 27-point, six rebounds and four steals in the loss. Brooklyn has looked to him often for big-time baskets and he has delivered. He is also averaging two steals and one block per game in his time in Vegas. Johnson’s Nets look to move to 3-1 in league play with a win on Thursday against Orlando at 7:30 p.m. ET.
Julian Phillips – Bulls
Phillips, a rising second-year wing and former five-star Rick Barnes recruit, has had an up-and-down Summer League so far. The 2023 second-round pick started off very strong in his first game vs the Bucks. In a 96-89 win, Phillips had 17 points and 10 rebounds in 31 minutes, flashing his ability to play both inside and outside. At just 6-foot-6, Phillips has had to adjust to larger NBA forwards in his development process. Phillips has struggled since this first game, scoring just 5 points on one-of-nine shooting in their second contest and 12 points on five-of-13 shooting in their third game. Phillips is still just 20-years old, so his development will continue to be at the forefront of Bulls fan’s minds. The flashes of that five-star potential are still there, and he hopes to finish his Summer League on a strong note Friday vs Atlanta at 5 p.m. ET.
Dalton Knecht – Lakers
You can’t mention Vols in the summer league without looking at “Knecht 4” himself. In his first two Las Vegas Summer League games, Knecht averaged 22 points, four rebounds and three assists on 41% shooting from both the field and from three-range. The 17th pick in this year’s draft broke out in his first game scoring 25 points in a multitude of ways. Knecht continued to play his way into Lakers fans’ favor with an array of tough finishes around the basket and an impressive fadeaway jumper late in Monday’s contest with Boston. His aggressive cutting and off-ball movement are another big reason why he is one of 14 players averaging 20-plus points per game in Vegas. He has seen a majority of the touches as the Lakers have built their offense around him so far. Knecht did not play in LA’s third summer league game vs Atlanta, citing rest. He is set to return for Thursday night’s game against the Cavs.
Josiah Jordan James – Pacers
Josiah Jordan-James is still hoping to get his feet wet during his time in the Summer League. He went undrafted in the 2024 NBA Draft but signed an Exhibit 10 contract with Indiana. The Pacers guard has only seen three minutes over the first 3 games, with two DNPs. James grabbed 1 rebound in the 98-94 win over Phoenix on Tuesday. Seeing the court in Indiana’s last win should give James more of an opportunity moving forward. The former McDonald’s All-American hopes to have an impact on Indiana’s game vs the Nuggets today at 3:30 p.m. ET.
Santiago Vescovi – Warriors
Vescovi went undrafted in this year’s draft but quickly signed to the Warriors Summer League roster after a few pre-draft workouts with the team. Vescovi has appeared in two of the three Warriors games so far, contributing in multiple ways other than scoring. Vescovi only has three shot attempts in 30 minutes of action, but stuffed the stat sheet and advanced numbers. In 17 minutes in last Sunday’s game against the Bulls, Vescovi had three assists, one rebound and one steal all with a +18 plus-minus, the highest on the team. The Warriors have started their summer league 3-0, and seem to have found a groove of playing time for Vescovi. He is able to impact the game on many levels, and he will look to get his three-point shot going shortly. The Warriors take on the Thunder tonight at 9:30 p.m. ET.
Kennedy Chandler – Trail Blazers
The former Vol fan favorite finds himself in the summer league for the 3rd year in a row, looking for some consistency and the chance to make an NBA roster. Chandler is a former second-round pick to Memphis but has bounced around the G-League and a few teams since. Portland signed him for the summer this year, and in 22 minutes per game off the bench Chandler has averaged 9.3 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.3 assists. His speed with the ball and dynamic offensive ability haven’t changed, using them to score over larger defenders inside and find open shooters. He brings Portland’s summer team an instant spark off the bench, a role Chandler hopes for from an NBA team soon. Portland continues their Summer League on Friday at 10 p.m. ET vs Charlotte.
Jaden Springer – Celtics
Springer recently won an NBA Championship with the Boston Celtics this past year, but hopes to further sharpen his skills at this year’s Summer League. Drafted 28th overall in 2021 to the 76ers, Springer was traded midseason last year to Boston. Springer is one of the most experienced players on Boston’s summer team, so he only appeared in the first game versus Miami. Springer scored 23 points and grabbed two rebounds and six assists along the way. Springer showed confidence to lead Boston’s offense and scored very comfortably throughout this game. His level may be a bit above the Summer League, which could explain Boston’s choice to sit him out the next two games. Springer is capable of contributing big minutes for the Celtics this upcoming season and taking another major step in his development as a player. The Celtics continue their Summer League on Friday at 3:30 p.m. ET against Dallas.
Jordan Bowden – Hawks
Bowden played 30 minutes for the Hawks in their third Summer League game on Wednesday night. Bowden scored six points while grabbing five rebounds and tossing three assists. The Knoxville native hopes to find more minutes over the next few games and will return to his professional team the Montreal Alliance for this upcoming season.
