The Summer League 2022 is over, and the first appearances of the top 5 picks in the most recent draft were particularly spectacular. Chet Holmgren ran straight away, but was then sidelined by another rookie. SPOX has collected the first impressions of the potential new NBA stars.
1st Pick – Paolo Banchero, PF/C: Footwork like Melo
Banchero has only played in two games, but still showed something that pleased fans, teammates and coaches alike. There was never any doubt about his athleticism, but in combination with his size, it stood out in the Summer League.
His qualities in the mismatch were also directly visible. In most situations, he knows when and how to use his speed or strength to get to the ring or to create space for a good shot from short middle distance.
After Banchero converted a fadeaway from spinning over his opponent, commentator Mark Jones compared (ESPN) the top pick based on his footwork with Carmelo Anthony, a middle distance champion.
The 19-year-old also distributed six assists in both games, so the five turnovers per game can be accepted for the time being. With his improved ability to create for himself and his fellow players in his senior year of high school, Banchero’s hype finally started.
According to media reports, it is precisely these skills that played a major role in Magic’s decision to pick Banchero with the first pick. Orlando urgently needs the additional playmaking in the upcoming season.
Whether he’ll hit the three-pointer consistently enough in his rookie season to pull the defense out to him is a big question for Banchero. The first signs in a mini-sample were promising, after all, the Big Man accommodated two of his four attempts.
NBA Summer League: Paolo Banchero’s stats in Las Vegas
| games | minutes | Points | Rebounds | Assists | Steals | FG% | 3FG% |
| 2 | 30,1 | 20,0 | 5,0 | 6,0 | 2,5 | 40,7 | 50,0 |
2nd Pick – Chet Holmgren, PF/C: Spectacular then unremarkable
Holmgren made the most spectacular debut of the year, demonstrating the impact he can have as a ring protector in Salt Lake City with a straight six block in the first game. He also hit 4 of his 6 threes (7/9 FG overall) en route to 23 points, grabbed 7 rebounds and played 4 assists with just 2 turnovers in just 24 minutes.
The 2.13-meter man took two of his threes and sank them from the dribbling, which will hardly be defendable for most opposing centers with similar dimensions. Faced with a smaller opponent, Holmgren caught the ball in the post, turned and pocketed a flamingo fadeaway in the best Nowitzki manner. As long as those two options work well, Holmgren will be an absolute mismatch against most NBA athletes.
The interaction between Holmgren and Josh Giddey worked particularly well for OKC, the two youngsters seem to have developed good chemistry at this early stage. As expected, Holmgren was not able to completely repeat his performance in the following games, especially at the offensive end he was quite inconspicuous in Las Vegas with only an average of twelve points in three games.
Holmgren’s shot rates remained good, but he was less likely to find a good shot. In a direct duel against Houston’s Jabari Smith Jr., Holmgren found it difficult to get past the No. 3 pick or throw it over him. With his high dribbling he was stopped several times or the ball was taken away from him.
On the defensive side, too, Holmgren had to admit defeat a little more often in Las Vegas than on his debut, with some players – impressively proven by, among others, Kenneth Lofton Jr. – could push him around the zone due to his light weight. However, with 2.3 steals and 2.0 blocks per game, he continued to be anything but unsuccessful on defense.
NBA Summer League: Chet Holmgren’s stats in Las Vegas
| games | minutes | Points | Rebounds | Assists | Blocks | FG% | 3FG% |
| 3 | 27,0 | 12,0 | 7,7 | 2,3 | 2,0 | 46,4 | 42,9 |
