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After ten days of enthralling basketball, the Sacramento Kings toppled the Boston Celtics in the 2021 NBA Summer League final.
Despite averaging 100 points in their first four games, the Celtics were limited to just 67 on Tuesday, while the Kings racked up a century of points, thanks to Louis King's 21 points and five steals.
The 2021 NBA Summer League was the perfect opportunity for fans to get a glimpse of their team's future prospects and how role players from last season would perform with more minutes. On that note, here's a look at the top five standout players in this year's Las Vegas tournament:
#5 Jalen Green
Although Jalen Green only played three games for the Houston Rockets, it's difficult not to mention him among the standout performers in the 2021 NBA Summer League.
Determined to prove why he should have been the no.1 overall pick, Green put on an electric shooting display in Las Vegas, connecting with 51% of his field-goal efforts and 52% of his threes. He also had a stellar presence at the free-throw line, making 92.9% of his shots.
Green will need to continue developing his overall game and improve his handling, but considering his scoring prowess, the Houston Rockets have a real star on their hands. His shot-making could separate him from the rest of his rookie class this year. While his workload won't be as high with the franchise's first team, he will likely have a strong impact.
#4 Chris Duarte
Chris Duarte looks ready to start for the Indiana Pacers this season after a successful NBA Summer League showing. He was the oldest player on Draft night and has proven in Las Vegas why multiple teams were interested in him before the Pacers picked him with their lottery selection.
Over the four games Duarte played, of which the Pacers won twice, he was the top scorer on three occasions. He ended the tournament averaging 18.3 points, having shot at 45% from the field and an impressive 47% from the deep on 7.3 attempts per game.
It wasn't just his scoring that Indiana fans will be excited about, though. Duarte also filled up the boxscore with four rebounds, 3.8 assists, 2.5 steals and 1.8 blocks per game.
#3 Paul Reed
There were high expectations from Paul Reed ahead of the NBA Summer League, so the Philadelphia 76ers will be happy with the development he has shown. Drafted into the side after winning the MVP award in the G-League, Reed played in every game in the Summer League, and was dominant at both ends of the court.
He ended the tournament averaging 17.4 points, shooting at 55% from the field and 82% from the free-throw line. He also pitched in with 12 rebounds, 2.6 steals and 2.2 blocks per contest.
The Sixers left Vegas winning three games, but they could have won four, as they lost by only three points in their final matchup. Reed was utterly dominant against the Timberwolves on Sunday, putting up 27 points, 20 rebounds, four steals and four blocks.
#2 Davion Mitchell
Although his teammate Louis King grabbed the headlines for his tally of 21 points in the NBA Summer League final, it was Davion Mitchell who locked up the Boston Celtics' biggest threat, Payton Pritchard. Indeed, Mitchell's notorious on-ball defense was influential in the Sacramento Kings' success in Las Vegas, and could prove to be a problem for opponents in the NBA.
Selected ninth overall by the Kings in this year's draft, the move was viewed with skepticism, considering their backcourt depth. But Mitchell has proven what he can bring to the table. His numbers in the NBA Summer League don't exactly jump off the page (10.8 points, 5.8 assists and a steal per game). However, Mitchell was absolutely clutch in defense, helping Sacramento win five games in a row.
He held fellow lottery pick James Bouknight to eleven points, shooting 36% from the field and 20% from downtown. In the title match against the free-scoring Boston Celtics, he stopped Payton Pritchard, who was having a prolific summer. He limited the 23-year-old to just six points, no three-point attempts made from six efforts and a field-goal percentage of just 33.
#1 Payton Pritchard
Despite losing the NBA Summer League championship game, Payton Pritchard was dominant for the Boston Celtics in Las Vegas. The 23-year-old had put up a staggering 92 points in the Portland ProAm game at the weekend before returning to the C's lineup.
It has been a successful offseason for Pritchard. The Celtics' backup shooting guard averaged over 20 points a game in their opening three contests before being clamped by Davion Mitchell in the final on Tuesday. Instead, he left Vegas with 16.3 points per game, a tournament-high 8.6 assists, 5.8 rebounds and 1.8 steals across four matchups.
He was in electric shooting form, too, making 47.8% of his field-goal efforts, 46% of threes and 89% of his free throws. Even with Dennis Schroder now on the books in Boston, Pritchard is worthy of earning more minutes this season, having proved his toughness and shot-making ability this summer.
Guess the Lakers players!
