Summer League Grades: San Antonio Spurs vs. Los Angeles Lakers – Game #3
The San Antonio Spurs ended the California portion of summer league with a third consecutive loss. This time, the Spurs lost to the Los Angeles Lakers by a final score of 88-84. Next up, San Antonio heads to Las Vegas to play five more summer league games.
Stats: Spurs vs. Lakers
Spurs vs. Lakers – Final Grades
Tarris Reed Jr.
Reed was impressive in his last summer league game in California. He finished with 12 points, 12 rebounds, an assist and a block in 25 minutes. As the numbers suggest, he was very impactful on the glass and that helped lead directly to his dozen points. However, it must be noted that the Lakers had a few unserious bigs so Reed wasn’t quite as good as those numbers suggest. His touch around the rim is soft, his moves are powerful and he rips down boards with two hands. What I found most impressive about Reed against the Lakers were the glimpses of ball-handling and passing that we witnessed.
Grade: B+
Ja’Kobi Gillespie
After a couple of rough shooting games, it was great to see Gillespie get going. He finished with a team-high 19 points on 7-for-14 shooting from the field, including 5-for-9 from three-point range. Gillespie’s three-pointers look effortless and he clearly has deep range. He’s also actively learning how to finish at the rim against the superior athletes in summer league. His decision-making as a point guard continues to be a positive trait. He had six assists and only two turnovers, as his high-low passing is particularly impressive — and it’s something you want to see when Victor Wembanyama is your teammate.
Grade: B+
Maliq Brown
I mean, there are good defensive possessions where Brown’s activity and instincts make a difference but he needs to turn up the volume on both ends. On defense, he needs to be sturdier against contact and, more importantly, he needs to rebound better. One defensive rebound in 22 minutes isn’t going to cut it. Offensively, Brown just needs to do more. Give him credit for not turning the ball over but three field goal attempts isn’t enough considering his goal should be to prove to the basketball world that he’s not a glaring offensive liability.
Grade: C
Emanuel Miller
The good: Miller was 3-for-6 from downtown and I liked his liveliness on defense and on the boards. He totaled seven rebounds, two steals and a block while sticking to the principles on the defensive end. The bad: Miller was only 2-for-6 on twos. I continue to be underwhelmed by his ball-handling. His overall impact isn’t what you want to see from a dude who is 26 years old playing in summer league.
Grade: C+
RJ Davis
For a player who is 6-foot-nothing, Davis knows how to score the ball. He has a lot of moves off the dribble, at the rim and when dancing out on the perimeter. He’s unlikely to be an efficient scorer but he understands what’s needed to put the ball in the hoop. He’s an okay-ish passer and defender but scoring the ball is where he can make his money.
Grade: B-
Hyunjung Lee
The good: Lee exhibited some athleticism on defense and when grabbing his seven rebounds. His unselfishness and advanced timing were on display when tallying four assists. The fearlessness he plays with on both ends is palpable. The bad: Lee was only 1-for-8 from the field, including an 0-for-6 showing from three-point territory. He can’t make it if he doesn’t shoot straighter. It’s too bad he shot so poorly against the Lakers because this could have been a breakout game for him.
Grade: C
Jayden Nunn
Nunn hit a three-pointer but he failed to impact the game as much as he did in the first two summer league contests. His energy was fine but he wasn’t creating advantages or making enough defensive plays to offset the quiet offensive night.
Grade: C-
Igor Milicic Jr.
Milicic plays with energy, is a pretty good passer and has some obvious translatable athletic tools. Unfortunately, he also has a jittery presence and seems to needlessly speed himself up.
Grade: C+
RJ Melendez
Melendez now has nine blocks in the three summer league games. That’s a pretty insane total for a wing to register in only 42 minutes of playing time. He has some intriguing characteristics but he’s going to have to shoot it better.
Grade: C+
Miles Barnstable
Barnstable hit another three-pointer. He’s a good athlete but he hasn’t been able to show it on the summer league level just yet.
Grade: B-
David Muoka
Muoka got some backup center minutes and once again looked like he has natural rebounding instincts.
Grade: Inc.
Corliss Williamson
It felt like Reed and Gillespie got good opportunities to show what they can do. I’m not sure how the Spurs lost this game against what looked like a meme team Lakers squad. That wasn’t a good look, even though wins and losses in summer league don’t matter.
Grade: C-
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