Winners and Losers From NBA Summer League Las Vegas 2026 - Sports Illustrated

What the report says

Sports Illustrated reported that the NBA’s 2026 Las Vegas Summer League wrapped after 11 days, effectively closing the league’s on-court calendar until October. The event ended with the Golden State Warriors defeating the Memphis Grizzlies in the championship game, led by No. 11 pick Yaxel Lendeborg, who posted 21 points and 10 rebounds in 23 minutes and was named title-game MVP.

The article highlighted Chicago Bulls rookie Caleb Wilson as one of the event’s biggest risers. Wilson, the fourth pick out of North Carolina, averaged 23.5 points, 7.2 rebounds and 3.7 combined steals and blocks over four games while shooting 41.9% from three-point range. SI noted that his perimeter shooting was especially notable because he had been a limited and inefficient three-point shooter in college, making the Summer League display an encouraging sign for Chicago.

SI also focused on the NBA’s test of a “one free-throw rule,” under which most shooting fouls resulted in a single foul shot worth the full value of the trip to the line, except late in the fourth quarter and overtime. The rule, already used in the G League, is intended to reduce stoppages and shorten games, though the article said it remains unclear whether the NBA will adopt it more broadly.

Other takeaways included a difficult shooting stretch for Brooklyn Nets guard Drake Powell, who opened Summer League 1-for-28 across early appearances before briefly recovering, and continued momentum for Lendeborg after a decorated year that included major college honors, a national title at Michigan, lottery selection and now Summer League championship recognition.