The Los Angeles Lakers are making the most of their two Summer League appearances. Despite dropping four of their five games between the California Classic and the Las Vegas event, promising up-and-comers are taking center stage and answering questions about what the future may look like.
Some of that progress has been measured statistically, as the top players from the 2024 Summer League roster have put forth noteworthy performances.
The Lakers' Summer League roster includes 2024 first-round draft pick Dalton Knecht and second-round selection Bronny James. It also includes several players signed to two-way contracts, thus making this unit one with significance to JJ Redick's potential 2024-25 rotation.
An indicator of which players may be ready for immediate NBA minutes can be found in three of the most astounding statistics from Summer League action thus far.
5
The first astounding Summer League statistic is five—perhaps a pedestrian figure in some eyes. It's not just the number of games it took for the Lakers to win a game between the California Classic and the Las Vegas event, either.
Five is the number of double-doubles that Colin Castleton has produced in six games played—and his current pace would suggest the number will grow.
Castleton recently signed a two-way contract that will bring him back to the Lakers for a second consecutive season. While he spent most of his time with the team in the G League in 2023-24, his quality of play at Summer League suggests he could be ready for a bigger role in 2024-25.
The fact that five isn't the only statistic of significance for Castleton makes it even easier to envision a scenario in which he sees the floor for the NBA-level Lakers on a nightly basis.
25
If you're looking for reasons for optimism about the future of the Lakers, look no further than the number 25. It's the marker of the best individual scoring performance by a Los Angeles player thus far at either Summer League event.
For those who missed it, it was first-round draft pick Dalton Knecht who stepped up with 25 points in his Las Vegas Summer League debut.
Knecht is the reigning SEC Player of the Year and one of the most prolific scorers to emerge from this class. He ranked eighth in the country, as well as first in the SEC, at 21.7 points per game. He's also one of the best spot-up shooters to emerge from the 2024 NBA Draft.
A true three-level scorer with the handle, toughness, and skill level to get the job done in every way, his 25-point eruption was a clear example of the upside he possesses.
17, 12, and 6
Cheating? Perhaps. But the most impressive numbers of the 2024 Summer League belong to Castleton, who appears once again with a stat line that the Lakers have to keep an eye on as they consider roster adjustments and decisions.
In the Lakers' most recent Summer League game, Castleton posted 17 points, 12 rebounds, and six assists in an 87-86 win over the Atlanta Hawks.
It was yet another example of Castleton being the standout performer from the Lakers' Summer League showings. Only time will tell how this translates to the NBA, if at all, but there's been a clear step forward in terms of performance and skill level.
If nothing else, Castleton thriving as a scorer, rebounder, and playmaker adds a new reason for intrigue in Los Angeles.