Every year, some rookies shine during the NBA Summer League, while others struggle mightily, and this year is no exception.Here are the five rookies that have played the best so far this summer.
5. Jack Cooley, PF, Memphis Grizzlies This undrafted rookie out of Notre Dame has turned heads in the Vegas summer league with his aggressive, tough play. In the Vegas league, Cooley is averaging 15.3 points and 9.5 rebounds per game while shooting 52-percent from the floor. Cooley won’t wow anyone with his athleticism or flashy play, but he plays extremely hard and always seems to be in the right place at the right time.
4. C.J. McCollum, G, Portland Trailblazers McCollum’s reputation coming out of Lehigh was that he could really score the ball, and he is proving that every game in the Vegas summer league. McCollum leads all rookies in scoring, averaging 20.7 per game. McCollum hasn’t shot a great percentage yet, but that’ll come with more NBA reps.
3. Victor Oladipo, SG, Orlando Magic Overall, Oladipo played well in the Orlando summer league, averaging 19 points, 4.3 rebounds and five assists per game. The numbers don’t tell the whole story though, as Oladipo often looked rushed which resulted in a ton of turnovers (4.8 per game). At the end of the day though, Oladipo showed enough offensive ability to give Magic fans a reason to be excited about his future.
2. Cody Zeller, PF, Charlotte Bobcats It’s tough to put too much into summer league performances, but Zeller has been very impressive thus far. He has shown a large variety of post moves and the ability to score around the basket while absorbing the contact. He’s averaging 16 points per game. One of the questions people had about Zeller was if he would be able to rebound in the NBA, and he has proven he can, averaging 9.3 rebounds per game so far. Zeller has looked very good so far.
1. Kelly Olynyk, PF, Boston Celtics The Celtics need someone to replace Kevin Garnett’s production, and Olynyk looks like he can fill that role immediately. Olynyk averaged 19.5 points and 7.8 rebounds per game in the Orlando summer league while shooting close to 58-percent from the floor. Olynyk proved that he can play anywhere on the court. He's knocked down three-pointers, worked the high post effectively and scored on the block with his back to the basket. Olynyk was very, very impressive.
