NBA Player News

Iggy was a one-time All-Star selection when he was with the 76ers, a three-time All-NBA Defensive Team selection and came away with four rings and a 2015 Finals MVP. The long-time vet said he is ready to spend more time with his family and he reportedly turned down offers from the Warriors and other teams before making his decision.

With Mikel Brown Jr. and Egor Dëmin sitting out Saturday’s game, Saraf started at point guard and logged 32 minutes. He didn’t shoot the ball particularly well, but the second-year guard recorded five assists and earned some trips to the foul line. Saraf’s rookie season was one to forget due to injuries and inconsistent play, and he’ll once again face a lot of competition for rotation minutes when training camp opens in the fall.

After suffering a season-ending ankle injury in March, Wolf struggled in his first few appearances this summer. The Nets must have been pleased with what they saw from the 7-footer on Saturday, as he shot the ball well over 26 minutes. However, Wolf needs to do a better job of taking care of the basketball and defending without fouling, as those were issues against the Hawks. With the addition of Julius Randle, Wolf will likely be relegated to a bench role this season, which limits his value in redraft leagues.

Johnson, who’s on a two-way deal, had some moments late last season as the Nets played out the string. For him, this summer is about doing what he can to earn a more secure opportunity, and nights like Saturday will help. Johnson was energetic throughout, providing excellent value as a scorer and defender. Brooklyn’s addition of Julius Randle was a sign that the front office intends to compete next season, but that does not mean Johnson has no chance of earning another shot to prove himself.

Ejiofor had an excellent all-around performance for the Hawks on Saturday, recording a complete stat line. The Nets struggled to deal with the rookie’s strength; when Ejiofor established position, he wasn’t being moved off his spot. He was more efficient offensively, and the comfort level shooting three-pointers is a pleasant surprise, given that Zuby wasn’t asked to do much of that at the college level. Even with the competition set to ramp up considerably in the fall, Ejiofor should be in the Hawks’ rotation.

The 33rd overall pick in last month’s draft, Evans’ summer league debut was not one for the archives. The former Duke wing missed all nine of his three-point attempts and spent most of his time lingering on the perimeter. One game does not make an entire career; Evans boasts plenty of potential to be a valuable 3-and-D wing. However, Saturday’s performance was a reminder that he’ll need some time to reach that potential.

For the second consecutive game, Pullin provided efficient offensive production from the point guard position. This offseason is key for the 6-foot-4 guard, who is looking to lock down a concrete role for himself in Minnesota. Given the Timberwolves’ depth at point guard, that may be challenging. However, Pullin can certainly make the decision a difficult one for head coach Chris Finch and the rest of the coaching staff. Playing as well as Pullin has in Las Vegas certainly helps his case.

Hopkins did not do as much scoring as he did in his summer debut on Friday, but the rookie out of St. John’s had another solid effort for the Nuggets. His activity as a rebounder and defender has been good; playing his final season for Rick Pitino certainly paid dividends on that end of the floor. Whether he’s on a two-way deal or a standard contract, Hopkins has the tools needed to contribute if his name is called during the regular season.

Stevenson signed a 10-day contract with the Wizards late in the 2024-25 season but never appeared in an NBA game. He’s still seeking his first legitimate NBA opportunity, which makes days like Saturday so important for the former West Virginia guard. Against the Timberwolves, Stevenson shot 4-of-7 from beyond the arc to help lead the Nuggets to a 19-point victory. He’s an unrestricted free agent, so there’s no need to expect to receive fantasy value from Stevenson. But he may have taken a step toward earning a training camp invite with his performance on Saturday.

Simpson signed a two-year, two-way contract with the Nuggets in February, so his status for the 2026-27 season is relatively secure. The lone issue with his performance on Saturday was the five turnovers, but he did enough in other areas to help Denver take the 101-82 victory. Simpson cleaned some things up after a subpar performance in the Nuggets’ first game in Las Vegas; the key now is to build on his showing against the Timberwolves.

After putting up an inefficient 20 points in Friday’s loss to the Nets, Dadiet continued to struggle with his shot on Saturday. The Knicks’ wing, who’s heading into his third NBA season, shot 1-of-6 from beyond the arc in the 70-49 loss to the Spurs. Many teams hope their returnees reach a point where they shine in summer league, but that has not happened yet for Dadiet or Mohamed Diawara, with the latter going scoreless on Saturday.