Figure 1 The new NBA season will soon be underway – Source: Unsplash
The NBA Summer League is now over, and some of the biggest names in the 2026 Draft have already shown why big things are expected of them in the months and years ahead. Nothing is guaranteed when an elite college player makes the jump to the big league, of course, but the top picks look like they are here to stay.
The big four – Cameron Boozer, AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, and Caleb Wilson – look set to explode into the NBA this year once the regular season begins in October. The teams they play for will be the ones fans will back using California sportsbook promos to bet on who they think will win this year.
But there are plenty of other top athletes coming out of the draft this season. Some of them have already impressed in the Summer League, and others will be refining their game as they progress through training camps and preseason. Here are a few other names to look out for when the 2026-27 NBA regular season gets underway.
Meleek Thomas, Cavaliers
It took Sacramento until the second round, and the 34th pick overall, to take Meleek Thomas, but it is now the Cleveland Cavaliers who look like they have selected a future star. If his performances in the Summer League are anything to go by, the 19-year-old has a bright future ahead of him in the NBA.
Thomas was able to make space for himself off the dribble and took advantage of teams not having much time to work on defense to score a lot of points. These games might have been perfect for a guard like Thomas, but he still delivered and has a chance of getting a lot of game time for the Cavs this season.
Keaton Wagler, Clippers
An impressive Summer League performance is not always a sure-fire sign that an athlete will set the NBA alight, just as some poor games do not condemn a rookie to a year of failure. Keaton Wagler himself would admit that he did not show his best ability during his Clippers Summer League showings, but there is time for this young rookie.
When it comes to Wagler, it is more important to look at what he did in college than what he did in Las Vegas in July. The shooting guard isn’t even 20 until next February, and by then he may have racked up the minutes on what is a largely veteran team. He will now feel as if he has something to prove, and that might be a problem for opposing defenses come October.
Bruce Thornton, Rockets
It almost feels a little old-school for a top prospect to complete four years of college hoops these days, and unlike the raft of 19-year-olds joining the NBA this year, Bruce Thornton will have already turned 23 by the time the first game starts. Maybe he should be ready for the pro game – and after the Summer League, we can now say that he most certainly is.
Thornton won’t get the starting position as point guard for the Rockets, but they were in dire need of some backup for Fred VanVleet, as was shown by Houston trading up for Thornton in the draft. His numbers in the Summer League games were impressive, but not as much as his leadership skills. Thornton will definitely be one to watch this year.
Brayden Burries, Bucks
If you are looking for rookies who really made a name for themselves in the Summer League, then Brayden Burries should be high up on your list. Named to the All-Summer League First Team, Burries looked like a future leader of a Bucks team that is in rebuild mode after the departure of Giannis Antetokounmpo.
The leadership shown by this rookie bodes well for Milwaukee ahead of the new season, as did his consistent scoring, even when his team wasn’t winning in its first few games. But Burries also showed that he excels on defense, while also being able to take the hits that the pro league hands out.
Kingston Flemings, Hawks
Taken by the Hawks with the eighth overall pick, big things are expected of Kingston Flemings, but he will have the benefit of not being expected to run the franchise this year. A complementary role should suit this 19-year-old guard well, even if some of the Summer League reports were not completely positive.
Averaging 6.5 assists in Las Vegas and 7.0 in Salt Lake City, Flemings’ play-making skills will be a positive for Atlanta. Similarly, his defensive work looked very good in the games he played. His scoring left a lot to be desired, however, and he will need to work on that to really break through. The good news is that he has the time to work on that aspect of his game ahead of the new season.
Figure 2 There will be a whole host of rookies getting used to the pro game – Source: Unsplash
Cameron Carr, Lakers
Carr’s thoughts on being immediately traded to the Lakers after being picked by the Knicks with the 24th overall pick were made very clear on draft night. But he had soon gotten over that disappointment and was claiming that he was looking forward to life in LA. With LeBron James now gone, things will look a little different with the Lakers this season.
Now a Luka Dončić team, Carr will need to show the kind of ability he did throughout the Summer League for the Lakers, while improving on his shooting, which was a little off in the games he played. His ability to read a game is already evident, however, and he now has the right mindset to produce in his rookie season.
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