New York

Knicks

With the Knicks continuing to struggle offensively in Las Vegas, Akins did his best to provide a spark off the bench. Not only did he lead all scorers with 21 points, but the undrafted wing out of Michigan State was one of two Knicks in double figures. Having spent last season in the G League, Akins is looking to earn either an Exhibit 10 contract or a two-way deal. Thursday’s performance is a step in the right direction, and the Knicks will play once more before heading home.

Currently with the Knicks’ summer league team as an unrestricted free agent, Robbins did not play in the NBA at all last season. Performances like the one he put forth on Monday may not guarantee the 7-footer a standard contract, but it won’t hurt in his quest to earn a training camp invite or a two-way deal. Robbins did a little bit of everything on Monday, helping lead the Knicks to their first win this summer. Given his contract status, Robbins is likely to be available for New York’s final two games of the summer.

After a solid effort in his Knicks summer debut on Saturday, Kayil looked more comfortable on Monday. A reason for this may have been his insertion into the starting lineup, as the Knicks held out Mohamed Diawara and Pacôme Dadiet. More of the offense ran through players like Kayil, Tyler Nickel (nine points, six rebounds and three three-pointers) and Dillon Jones (18 points, six rebounds, four assists, one steal and two three-pointers), with Oziyah Sellers (10 points, seven rebounds and one assist) contributing off the bench. The lingering question for Kayil is where he’ll play his basketball next season. While the rookie has said he would prefer to remain in the NBA, the Knicks may stash him overseas to save cap space.

Initially a question mark to arrive in Las Vegas at all, Kayil received the necessary clearance from Alba Berlin and made his Knicks summer debut on Saturday. The 39th overall pick in last month’s draft logged 21 minutes off the bench and played well after getting over some early jitters. Kayil has said that his goal is to come over to the NBA immediately and not spend another season in Europe, but he also noted after Saturday’s loss that the decision isn’t up to him. Kayil remaining with Alba Berlin would give the Knicks a little more room under the second apron, which may impact the thinking of Knicks decision-makers.

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.

With returnees Mohamed Diawara (zero points, five rebounds, one assist and one block) and Pacôme Dadiet struggling mightily, Nickel has been one of the few bright spots for the Knicks in Las Vegas. After knocking down six three-pointers in Friday’s loss to the Nets, the second-round pick hit four more on Saturday. Putting capable shooters around Jalen Brunson has been a priority of the Knicks’ decision-makers since signing the point guard, and Nickel certainly fits the mold.

One of the best three-point shooters in the 2026 draft class, Nickel showcased his perimeter prowess in his summer debut. The former Vanderbilt wing shot 6-of-10 from beyond the arc on Friday, standing out on a day when his Knicks teammates combined to go 3-of-29 from three. With the Knicks’ perimeter rotation returning for another title run, Nickel faces long odds of consistently cracking Mike Brown’s rotation. However, if last season indicated anything, it’s that Brown is willing to give everyone a chance throughout the season.

While the Nets were able to flip to switch offensively after halftime, the Knicks continued to struggle, shooting 28 percent from the field on the day. Dadiet’s 20 points were the team’s highest, but he needed 16 attempts to reach that total. Like Mohamed Diawara (seven points, six rebounds and one three-pointer), Dadiet is hoping to earn a shot at consistent rotation opportunities next season for the reigning champs. That makes this summer critical for both, and Friday’s performances were lacking.

It’s a veteran minimum deal for Clarkson, who turned 34 last month. He served as valuable depth during the Knicks’ championship run and will take on a similar role next season. With the Knicks aiming to be under the second apron, Clarkson is an important value signing for their offseason.

While this shouldn’t impact Brunson’s availability to start next season, it does make his Finals MVP run even more impressive. Scoring 45 points in a closeout win while dealing with an injury in his shooting wrist is just another testament to Brunson’s resilience. He’ll still have plenty of time to get in shape prior to training camp.