NBA Summer League 2024: Hot Takes on Sarr, Clingan, McCain, More from Day 5 Results
Adam Hagy/NBAE via Getty Images
Plenty of promising young rookies were on display during NBA Summer League action on Tuesday. Below, we’ll break down some of the notable performances from across the league and the fan and pundit reaction to them.
Alexandre Sarr and Donovan Clingan
This was not a banner night for the No. 2 overall pick, Alexandre Sarr, who finished with no points but did have nine rebounds, three blocks and three assists in the Washington Wizards 82-80 loss against the Portland Trail Blazers.
NBA @NBA
No. 2 pick Alex Sarr with the big-time rejection 🚫💪
WAS-POR on NBA TV | #NBA2KSummerLeague pic.twitter.com/gNw4yPrMpe
Still, an 0-for-15 shooting night from the floor—yes, you read that right—is brutal, and for good measure he missed both free-throw attempts. Folks on social media had some raised eyebrows after that showing:
Dan Wolken @DanWolken
Summer League takes will look stupid about 88.7% of the time but Alex Sarr is like five years away from being five years away on offense
Keith Smith @KeithSmithNBA
Washington needs to re-sign Tyus Jones to make life easier for Alex Sarr and the other kids. Sarr especially. He can’t be creating this much for himself. He’s not ready for that.
As for Donovan Clingan, Portland’s big man was a touch more efficient from the floor, finishing 3-of-10 with eight points. More importantly, he was a beast on defense, posting 13 rebounds and a whopping five blocks.
That earned him some well-deserved plaudits:
NBA @NBA
ANOTHER SWAT FOR CLINGAN ❌ https://t.co/KwqfXcNACp pic.twitter.com/XuQhXbSx2h
Aaron Torres @Aaron_Torres
My one 2024 NBA Draft take was that Donovan Clingan should’ve been the No. 1 pick.
No one dominates the game on both ends like he does.
I believed it then. And nothing has changed since 😤😤 pic.twitter.com/l9EdHhfA7h
Casey Holdahl @CHold
Sarr finishes the game scoreless on 0-of-15 shooting. Tough game but also seems reasonable to say Clingan had a significant part in that. https://t.co/GgcWGHCein
Name Cannot Be Blank @JBird_Lee
Clingan does some things you just don’t see anymore: hard defensive effort and bone jarring screens. A NBA off-season & a weight room are going to make him identify as a problem.
Clingan is walking into an odd situation in Portland, with Deandre Ayton and Robert Williams III already on the depth chart at center. Playing time could be tough to come by unless the team trades one of the two veterans ahead of him. though it’s hard to imagine the Blazers picked him No. 7 overall just to let him marinate on the bench for an entire season.
Jared McCain and Rob Dillingham
The Philadelphia 76ers first-rounder had a strong night on Tuesday, finishing with 21 points and seven rebounds in a 92-90 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves.
NBA @NBA
Jared McCain pulls up from deep early in Vegas 🔥
PHI-MIN on ESPN2 pic.twitter.com/qNVvxcHiWV
NBA @NBA
Jared McCain shows off the handles and gets the scoop And-1 to go 🤤
PHI-MIN on ESPN2 | #NBA2KSummerLeague pic.twitter.com/f8HBZqEEOd
CBain @cbain100
Things that make me like you:
1. Shooting the Half Court Buzzer Beaters
2. Running over to help your teammates up
3. Not losing your confidenceJared McCain has done all 3 tonight.
The Sixers have to be feeling good about the McCain selection thus far this summer. He looks like he could legitimately earn himself some minutes off the bench this season.
Dillingham, meanwhile, had a solid night, with 10 points, seven assists and six rebounds. That earned him some love on the socials, though his 3-for-10 shooting night wasn’t ignored:
NBA @NBA
Rob Dillingham with a look-away dish on the break to Leonard Miller for the flush 🤝😤
Miller has 19p, 10r on ESPN2 | #NBA2KSummerLeague pic.twitter.com/uvnlDkFFBX
Tara🖤 @alwaystara__
Rob Dillingham is such a team player. I love that but I be wanting my boy to go off! Lol
dosnetlive @dotonthemn
i am believing more and more that rob dillingham will have success in the nba rather quickly as conleys backup
MD 🔟 @AssaultHypeman
Rob Dillingham’s main issue is his lack of strength which prevents him from finishing well around the rim. If he gets stronger this offseason, he’ll be real nice.
Torus Washington @TorusW
Rob Dillingham has been getting locked up during this summer league. Just got shut down off the dribble in the clutch against the 76ers #NBA #NBASummerLeague
The Wolves have a ready-made contender, so it was surprising to see them make a splash and move up the draft board to take Dillingham at No. 8. He’s shown flashes this summer of the potential they clearly saw on tape, but he’s undoubtedly a major work in progress.
Ron Holland II
The No. 5 overall pick had himself a night, finishing with 17 points, nine rebounds and three assists, though he shot just 7-of-20 from the floor.
Still, it was a strong game in the 85-77 win over the Chicago Bulls, and folks on social media were liking what they saw:
NBA @NBA
BATTLE OF ROOKS IN VEGAS 🙌
Ron Holland II (Pistons No. 5 pick): 17 PTS, 9 REB
Matas Buzelis (Bulls No. 11 pick): 18 PTS, 4 BLK pic.twitter.com/ngix7ezaQz
NBA @NBA
Ron Holland II with two hands! 😲
Watch the Pistons No. 5 pick in Vegas on NBA TV pic.twitter.com/vAYkrGGT1T
Nate Higgers @WhatsWithDude
Ron Holland has that gene in him. They finally found the guy. Took a long time.
The Pistons have a ton of young players who are going to need minutes to thrive, and Holland is one of them. He’s a project, but the vision behind the pick was a bit more evident on Tuesday night.
Tidjane Salaün
The Charlotte Hornets rookie had himself a night, finishing with a 10-point, 10-rebound double-double in an 80-66 win over the Charlotte Hornets.
He was the best French lottery pick in action on Tuesday night, that much was certain:
NBA @NBA
Charlotte’s Tidjane Salaun (No. 6 pick) takes it himself coast-to-coast for the And-1 💪#NBA2KSummerLeague on ESPN2 pic.twitter.com/7NEYjqeuWg
DukePanthersHornets @FanOfHomeState
Tidjane Salaun is 18 years old and already a good rebounder. Tells me he going to become an elite rebounder.
That kid was crashing the glass after every shot even when he was at the 3-point line.
10 points and 10 rebounds night!
Effort and Energy!
Don Juggles @JohnDougls
tidjane salaun had had two and 1s in each summer league game. I’m addicted. This is now a Brandon Miller And Tidjane Salaun fan page
The Hornets haven’t had much hope in quite some time. Perhaps a young core of LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller and Salaün will change that.
