Future Watch: Top 5 NBA Summer League Prospects and Rookies – Led by assistant coach Becky Hammon, the San Antonio Spurs won the 2015 NBA Summer League Championship in Las Vegas with a thrilling 93-90 win over the Phoenix Suns. Shooting guard Jonathan Simmons took home MVP honors with 23 points.
The NBA Summer League consists of three separate leagues: the Las Vegas Summer League, the Utah Jazz Summer League and the Orlando Pro Summer League. National Basketball Association teams use this opportunity to try out different rosters instead of their regular season line-ups. Teams typically consist of a mix of rookies, second year players, and unsigned free agents.
Players use the Summer League as a way to showcase their talents and make an impact on NBA coaching staffs. Many of these players do not yet have NBA rookie cards. However, collectors can expect those players making NBA rosters to have cards produced this season by Panini America.
Here is a look at some of this summer’s players who stood out from the crowd.
Jonathan Simmons – Guard
Unrestricted Free Agent – Undrafted 2012
First Card: NA
Rookie Cards: NA
After watching his performance in the Las Vegas Summer League Championship its crazy to realize that Simmons went undrafted in 2012. At 6-6, Simmons has a great scoring touch around the rim including the ability to play above the net with some high-flying aerial theatrics. If the Spurs are unable to find room for him, he will mostly certainly get a look from other teams.
Seth Curry – Guard
Unrestricted Free Agent – Undrafted 2013
First Cards: 2013-14 SP Authentic, 2013-14 Fleer Retro
NBA Rookie Cards: NA
The younger brother of Stephen Curry and the nephew of retired shooter Dell Curry, Seth has had his challenges stepping out from his brother’s shadow. To date he has played in just four regular season NBA games with three different teams. However, he has been making significant improvement year-over year in the NBA’s Development League increasing his shooting percentage from 43.7 to 48.4. Behind the arc his numbers are even more impressive, improving his accuracy from 37.2 to 46.7. He has a legitimate chance to make the New Orleans Pelicans’ roster.
Myles Turner – Center
Indiana Pacers – 11th Overall Pick, 2015 NBA Draft
First Cards: 2015 Panini Father’s Day
NBA Rookie Cards: NA
The 7′ center out of the University of Texas absolutely tore up Summer League competition in Orlando. He put up an impressive per-game stat line consisting of 18.7 points, 8 rebounds and 4.8 blocked shots. He appears to have completely regained his confidence after an unimpressive freshman year performance. Turner definitely has the potential to fit into the Pacers current rebuilding plans sooner than later.
Stanley Johnson – Small Forward
Detroit Pistons – 8th Overall Pick, 2015 NBA Draft
First Cards: 2015 Panini Father’s Day, 2015 Panini National Wrapper Redemption
NBA Rookie Cards: NA
Johnson was named a NCAA All-America his freshman year at Arizona. He choose to forgo his three remaining years of eligibility and enter the NBA Draft this past June and was selected 8th overall by the Detroit Pistons. He lived up to expectations in Summer League competition. Through four appearances, he averaged 17.8 points, 7.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 2.3 steals and 0.8 blocks. Additionally, he had only seven turnovers and shot 64.3 percent from the field and 44.4 percent from the three-point line.
Branden Dawson – Forward
Los Angeles Clippers – 56th Overall Pick, 2015 NBA Draft
First Cards: NA
NBA Rookie Cards: NA
Dawson helped lead the Michigan State Spartans to the NCAA Championship this past spring. Despite losing to Duke, Dawson had a solid senior year averaging 11.9 points and 9.1 rebounds per-game. In Summer League play, he upped his game, averaging 12.8 points and 10.3 rebounds per game.
Stay tuned to www.GoGTS.net for information about upcoming, 2015-16 NBA trading cards from Panini America.
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