The greatest lesson from watching many NBA Summer Leagues is to remember that it’s only the NBA Summer League.
Every success is diminished by the competition’s talent level and disjointed opposing defenses. Empty performances cast prospects into a massive pool of players that aren’t getting minutes. Top-tier prospects play less often. It’s hard to escape a handful of games as a big winner with all the caveats.
It’s also possible. So players arrive — from overseas, from drafts half a decade ago — to grasp that lottery-ticket chance at a roster spot. This month, former Syracuse Orange Malachi Richardson, Oshae Brissett, Tyus Battle, Andrew White and former SU commit Darius Bazley represent the hopeful.