NBA Summer League Rookie Recap: Fantasy Basketball Insights

NBA Fantasy Basketball Insights

Jul 24, 2025

Cooper Flagg (Dallas Mavericks)

Key Stats : 20.5 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 1.5 SPG

Fantasy Outlook: The potential for Flagg to be the most promising NBA rookie is incredibly high. As "The Guardian" noted, "There was an astronomical amount of hype around the No. 1 overall pick leading into his Dallas Mavericks debut, and while the shots didn't start falling until his second game, all the signs of someone who will almost certainly be a highly impactful NBA player were there from tip-off. Flagg is incredibly well-rounded: he can create, score, pass and defend at a high level, and he showcased a little bit of everything in Vegas."

Dylan Harper (San Antonio Spurs)

Key Stats: 16.0 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 2.0 APG

Fantasy Outlook: Despite having more turnovers than assists in his two games (7 to 4), Harper showed promising potential. Mark Barrington of SB Nation observed, "His shooting started off a little rusty, but it's hard to criticize that based on such a small sample size. He had just about as good of a summer league as you could expect, and I didn't find much to be unhappy about."

VJ Edgecombe (Philadelphia 76ers)

Key Stats: 21.5 PPG, 8.0 RPG, 4.0 APG

Fantasy Outlook: Edgecombe was perhaps the most impressive rookie in his opener in Salt Lake City, putting up 28 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, and 2 blocks. Ky Carlin of Sixers Wire is optimistic, stating, "One has to believe that Edgecombe will play right away as a rookie. Maybe not as a starter. Grimes will probably be the starting 2-guard alongside Maxey, Embiid, George, and either Kelly Oubre Jr. or Jared McCain depending on what coach Nick Nurse wants to do. With that being said, Edgecombe is going to receive regular minutes and he can help the Sixers right now with his speed, athleticism, and ability to make winning plays despite not shooting his best."

Kon Knueppel (Charlotte Hornets)

Key Stats: 15.6 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 3.8 APG

Fantasy Outlook: Often overshadowed by Cooper Flagg at Duke, Knueppel might be underestimated for immediate fantasy contribution. He led the Hornets to a perfect 6-0 record and championship game MVP. Jack Baer of Yahoo! Sports noted, "Knueppel will now enter Hornets training camp fully expected to lock down a starting job... Success will be harder to find in the regular season, but when you're a young team like the Hornets, you definitely want to see your young players doing stuff like this."

Tre Johnson III (Washington Wizards)

Key Stats: 19.5 PPG, 58.3% FG, 45.5% 3PT, 2.5 SPG

Fantasy Outlook: Johnson appears to be a top scoring prospect. Wizards/NBA reporter Chase Hughes wrote, "Summer League results can sometimes mislead and even misdirect expectations heading into the NBA regular season. But it is so far, so good for Wizards rookie Tre Johnson III, who could not have been much better offensively in his first Summer League showing."

Ace Bailey (Utah Jazz)

Key Stats: 13.0 PPG, 7 RPG, 2 APG

Fantasy Outlook: Bailey showed potential, particularly in his second game with 18 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 assists. Dwyane Wade offered high praise: "He's one of those guys that just walk in the gym and he can get you 30. He's just one of those Melo-type of score-type of players."

Sophomore Standout

Kyle Filipowski (Utah Jazz)

Key Stats: 29.3 PPG, 7.7 RPG, 2.3 APG (Vegas), 17.0 PPG, 11.3 RPG, 2.0 APG (Salt Lake City)

Fantasy Outlook: Filipowski is the summer league's most intriguing fantasy prospect. With John Collins out, he could see significant minutes increase from his rookie season's 21.1 MPG. ESPN’s André Snellings noted, “His production as a rookie was already worthy of being on the fantasy hoops radar, but based on what I saw in Vegas and a projected larger role, Filipowski has legitimate fantasy hoops upside as a second-year player.”

Conclusion

The NBA Summer League provides a glimpse into rookie potential, but fantasy managers must approach these performances strategically. While these rookies show promise, successful draft picks require:

· Careful evaluation beyond summer league performances

· Understanding of team dynamics and player roles

· Long-term potential assessment

· Balanced expectations

These players represent intriguing fantasy prospects, but their true value will emerge through consistent NBA performance. Dynasty league managers should pay closest attention, while redraft league players should maintain cautious optimism.