(Photo by Candice Ward/Getty Images)
The NBA Summer League gives first and second-year players a chance to showcase their skills.
People should look way beyond the stat sheet and focus on the eye test and the intangibles, as we’ve seen countless stars struggle in Summer League and then dominate in the NBA and vice versa.
However, even considering that, there are some concerns about the first two selections in this year’s NBA Draft.
Zaccharie Risacher was solid in his first outing, but only managed to score 11 points on 4-of-12 shooting in his latest performance, and he looked lost and a step slow at times.
As for Alex Sarr, he scored 8 points on 4-of-14 shooting, despite most of his attempts coming from within close range.
As pointed out by Courtside Buzz on Twitter, both players were either blocked or missed some big-time shots.
Washington Wizards No. 2 pick Alexandre Sarr & Atlanta Hawks No 1 pick Zaccharie Risacher both struggled in their respective Summer League games tonight:
Sarr: 8 PTS, 4/14 FGM
Risacher: 11 PTS, 4/12 FGM
Both players were close to highlight finishes, but either missed or were… pic.twitter.com/SD06PN7Nb8
— Courtside Buzz (@CourtsideBuzzX) July 15, 2024
Once again, as we pointed out, it’s never wise to count out a player after some tough performances in the Summer League.
It’s not even wise to do so after a bad rookie season.
Still, these young men may not get the benefit of the doubt for long.
This year’s draft class was one of the least impressive we’ve ever seen, and while there will clearly be guys who step up and even become stars, there were always doubts about the top two players’ potential and ceiling.
Hopefully, they’ll be able to prove the doubters wrong, as the game is always better when those who were supposed to be good turn out to actually be good.
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