It’s been a busy month for some New England-based players in the NBA.
Just a few weeks after rookies heard their names called in the NBA Draft and realized their dreams, it was straight to work as they competed in the Summer League in Las Vegas, where recent draftees look to make a strong first impression with their new squads and unsigned players try to break into the league. It wrapped up earlier this week, and there were several players with New England roots who caught eyes.
The region produced a handful of players drafted last month – including Donovan Clingan, Kyle Filipowski and Tyler Kolek – and they each submitted some encouraging performances to kick off their professional careers on the right foot.
Here are five players with New England roots who stood out at this year’s NBA Summer League.
Donovan Clingan, Portland Trail Blazers
High school/AAU team: Bristol Central/Boston Spartans
Clingan – the No. 7 overall pick by the Blazers – arrived in the NBA with a reputation as an elite rim protector after leading UConn to back-to-back national championships, and that carried over to his first action professionally. The 7-foot-2 center set a Summer League record with 4.3 blocks per game – besting Victor Wembanyama’s 4 mark from last summer – as he totaled 17 blocks over four games before resting in Portland’s Summer League finale.
Clingan averaged 9 points, 12.3 rebounds (ninth most in Summer League history) and 4.3 blocks per game as he was named an All-Summer League second-team selection. He struggled offensively to start Summer League, but finished with his best outing in a loss to the Hornets, where he posted 16 points, 12 rebounds and four blocks. He went 7-for-13 from the field in that game, including 2-for-7 from 3-point range – an area he’s trying to improve.
Tyler Kolek, New York Knicks
High school/AAU team: St. George’s School/Middlesex Magic
A second-round pick by the Knicks, Kolek showed great promise at Summer League as a reliable floor general. The 6-foot-1 Marquette product struggled shooting the ball as he scored 9.6 points per game on 35.5 percent shooting and 31.6 percent from deep – numbers that are likely to improve after he shot 43.6 percent and 35.5 percent from three in college. But it was his passing and sharp decision-making that stood out as he totaled 35 assists and just seven turnovers over five games, a strong 5:1 assist-to-turnover ratio.
Kolek’s best performance came in a Knicks victory over the Kings, when he posted 21 points and eight assists, and produced a game-winner when his strong three-point play with 2 seconds to play was the difference in the one-point win.
Kyle Filipowski, Utah Jazz
High school/AAU team: Wilbraham & Monson/NY Rens
It was a big surprise to see Filipowski – projected to be a first-round pick – drop to the second round, where he was scooped up by the Jazz at No. 32 overall. Perhaps the 7-foot forward out of Duke was a bit motivated by that snub, as he produced a strong week in Vegas.
Filipowski – the Massachusetts Gatorade Player of the Year in 2021 – averaged 16.4 points on 45.5 percent shooting and 38.1 percent from deep and 6.8 rebounds over five Summer League games. He saved his best for last in Utah’s final game with a game-high 26 points and 11 rebounds to lead a victory over the Pistons. With his unique blend of shooting and skill at his size, Filipowski showed why he has more NBA potential than some think.
Matas Buzelis, Chicago Bulls
High school/AAU team: Brewster Academy/Expressions Elite
Buzelis was a mixed bag at Summer League, but the No. 11 overall pick showed his promising upside. The 6-foot-10 forward – who was New Hampshire’s Gatorade Player of the Year in 2022 – struggled to shoot the ball as he went 33.7 percent from the field, including just 21.4 percent from distance over five games. But he was aggressive with the ball and showed some traits that could make him a valuable player for Chicago right away. He attempted 5.4 free throw attempts per game and showcased his explosiveness with some rim-rocking dunks.
Cole Swider, Miami Heat
High school/AAU team: St. Andrew’s School/BABC
Swider went undrafted out of Syracuse in 2022 and has struggled to latch on to an NBA team. He was recently waived by the Heat but signed with their Summer League team, and the 6-foot-8 forward showcased a shooting stroke that could entice some teams around the league. He scored 19 points off the bench, which included five 3-pointers, in the Heat’s Summer League championship victory. In six Summer League games, Swider shot 45.9 percent from three. He’s now a free agent.
