A handful of promising young stars began their NBA careers during the NBA Summer League California Classic on Saturday night.
Other players who have already begun their NBA journeys but are looking to develop their skills further were also in action on Saturday.
While top pick Zaccharie Risacher and other lottery picks have yet to make their Summer League debuts, other exciting players like Stephon Castle, Dalton Knecht and Bronny James had the chance to show out in front of crowds at the Chase Center and Golden 1 Center.
After Day 1 of Summer League, here’s a look at some notable players’ performances.
Bronny Struggles, Knecht Shows Promise in Lakers’ First Game
Both the Lakers’ first and second-round picks were in action as Knecht and James took on the Sacramento Kings’ second team.
It was a slow start for both players as Knecht went into halftime with four points and James had just two.
Knecht turned things around in the second half and managed to finish the game with 12 points. The former Tennessee star did struggle to find his rhythm though, shooting 3-of-12 from the field and 1-of-4 from deep.
James couldn’t get much going in the second half, finishing with just four points on 2-of-9 shooting.
After the Lakers’ first game, there were mixed reactions to the rookies.
Kel’el Ware Posts Solid Numbers in Debut
Kel’el Ware, drafted by the Miami Heat at No. 15 out of Indiana, had a strong showing in his Summer League debut as the Heat faced the Golden State Warriors.
While his team lost in blowout fashion, Ware had 12 points, six rebounds and five blocks, showing plenty of promise in his first game of the summer. Ware showed immediately why Miami was willing to use a first-round draft pick on him, and he’ll look to continue shining in Summer League.
After the game, Heat fans praised the rookie for starting strong.
Stephon Castle Shows Flashes in Spurs Debut
The San Antonio Spurs are probably feeling pretty good about their No. 4 pick after Castle put together a solid debut on Saturday.
The point guard had 12 points, six rebounds and three assists while playing just 20 minutes. As he gets more adjusted in Summer League, it won’t be a surprise to see him putting up big numbers.
The future for the Spurs was already bright with Victor Wembanyama leading the way, but San Antonio could have another star in the making in Castle.
After his debut, fans expressed their excitement for the first-round pick.
The first day of Summer League gave fans a look at plenty of exciting players, and there’s only more to come as other lottery picks make their debuts in the coming days.