Put a bow on NBA Summer League '25, and go ahead and plant the Flagg

LAS VEGAS — The education of Matas Buzelis is far from over.

His two-game Summer League stint was a reminder of that.

As a rookie in Vegas last year, it was about Buzelis getting a quick glimpse of the jump from the G League Ignite to the early stages of NBA life. Year 2 in Summer League play was much different. The 11th overall pick in 2024 went from wide-eyed 19-year-old to a target.

“This year, guys were actually trying to kill me every time I stepped on the court,” Buzelis joked.

That’s what opposing first-year players or guys just trying to make a roster do. They seek out the established young player and go after him.

Buzelis survived the Raptors’ bully-ball last week, still scoring 17 points despite shaky shooting (4-for-14), then came back in his second game and had 28 points in a victory over the Pacers. More important, he showcased his ability to be a secondary ballhandler/play-maker, which will be the request when fall camp tips off.

It’s a key reason the Bulls came out of the Summer League as one of the bigger winners. They wanted to see their best player and the future face of the franchise break a sweat while taking on more responsibility and doing so at a high level.

The Bulls weren’t the only organization to come out of Las Vegas feeling lucky, either.

Mavericks

Many of Cooper Flagg’s critics wanted to focus on his 5-for-21 shooting debut, but a first overall pick putting up 21 shots and also making winning plays as a point forward spoke about his confidence.

Then in his second — and last — Summer League game, Flagg had 31 points on 10-for-21 shooting (3-for-9 from three-point range) in a showdown with No. 2 overall pick Dylan Harper.

An ongoing NBA storyline is what life will be like after Steph Curry and LeBron James ride off into the sunset. The league can sleep well. Flagg is just about ready to take over.

Trail Blazers

The Blazers were mocked on draft night when they switched picks with the Grizzlies and selected Yang Hansen from China 16th overall. It was criticized as the reach of the draft. Who’s reaching now?

It’s only Summer League, but Hansen showed an Alperen Sengun-like feel for the game, scoring in double digits as well as being a weapon in the passing game at 7-1.

Portland drafted big man Donovan Clingan last season, so it will be interesting to see where Hansen falls on the depth chart, but there’s definitely something there for the Blazers, who suddenly could become a big brand in China.

Hawks

Atlanta came out of the draft with a ski mask on after acquiring an unprotected first-round pick in the loaded 2026 draft from the Pelicans and still landing Georgia forward Asa Newell at No. 23.

The knock on Newell was his inability to stretch the floor, but he quieted that criticism somewhat in Vegas in a victory over the Suns in which he went 4-for-5 from three-point range.

Oh, by the way, he also grabbed 11 rebounds in that game against Phoenix.

There’s a culture change taking place with the usually stale Hawks, and the draft-night heist was a great start.

Pistons

Ronald Holland II went through some serious growing pains as the No. 5 overall pick in the ’24 draft. Guess who suddenly has grown up?

Holland was one of the standouts in the desert with his posterizing dunks and all-around fearless game.

For the up-and-coming Pistons, who made some playoff noise this past season, Holland coming off the bench and having the ability to do some damage will continue their ascent in the wide-open Eastern Conference hierarchy in 2025-26.