We are now through the first weekend of the Las Vegas Summer League and after a couple opening summer leagues in California and Utah respectively, all 30 NBA teams have shown up for the main event. The University of North Carolina has quite a few players represented, so let’s take a look at Tar Heels (and former Tar Heels) who are playing in Las Vegas this Summer.
Henri Veesaar, Atlanta Hawks
Veesaar continued his strong finish to the Utah Summer League with a strong start in Las Vegas. In his first game against San Antonio, Veesaar finished with 14 points and six rebounds while hitting five of his eight shots — including two of his five from downtown — in 19 minutes off the bench for the Hawks.
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Veesaar’s second game was not as impressive, as the big man finished with just six points and a single rebound in 17 minutes in a win against the Nets. Veesaar did hit three of his five shots but missed his lone three-point attempt.
Veesaar and the Hawks next play Monday against the Celtics.
Drake Powell, Brooklyn Nets
Powell continues to have a horrible second round of Summer League. After playing poorly in California, the former first-round pick has scored five total points in 45 minutes across two games starting for the Nets. All of Powell’s points have come off free throws as he is zero for 11 in Las Vegas, including 0-for-4 from behind the arc. On a positive note, Powell does have five total rebounds and three assists while only committing one turnover despite his shooting woes.
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Caleb Wilson, Chicago Bulls
We covered Wilson pretty extensively after his record-setting debut, but I did want to do a little comparison before moving:
Player A
26 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 1.5 apg, 2.3 spg, 1.8 bpg, 2.3 topg, 62.3 FG%
Player B
21.8 ppg, 7 rpg, 2.8 apg, 1.5 spg, 1.83 bpg, 3.5 topg, 49.2 FG%
Player A is what Wilson averaged against the perceived top three for the 2026 draft. Player B is what those top three averaged against Wilson. Wilson is 2-2 in those games, with both losses coming by a combined three points. Assuming no one gets shut down (a summer league tradition for top picks), Wilson’s next two games come against Peterson and Dybantsa respectively, which means two more chances for the number 4 pick to show why he should’ve been picked higher.
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Cormac Ryan, Milwaukee Bucks
Ryan came back for the Bucks after missing Milwaukee’s final two California Summer League games with a less-than-impressive game off the bench against the Heat. Ryan finished that game with just seven points shooting just two for seven from the field, including one for four from three. Though he did have eight rebounds and two blocks in 22 minutes, Ryan also had four turnovers in the 30 point blowout loss.
In his second game against the Spurs, Ryan came off the bench again and acquitted himself well, scoring 15 points, grabbing five rebounds, and getting four steals in the loss to the Spurs. Ryan’s next game is Monday against the Suns.
Pete Nance, Milwaukee Bucks
Nance, who did not play with Milwaukee in California, started both of his games for the Bucks. Nance had an efficient game against the Heat, scoring 16 points and grabbing seven rebounds while hitting six of ten from the floor — including four of his eight three point attempts — in 21 minutes of play. In his second start against the Spurs, Nance finished with eight points, five rebounds, and five assists in a quieter game. Like Ryan, Nance’s next game is Monday against the Suns.
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Tyler Nickel, New York Knicks
Nickel has had a pretty impressive Summer League for the NBA champions. The former Tar Heel scored 18 points while hitting six of ten from three in his first game against the Nets. In his second game he had 16 points while hitting four of 11 from deep. Both games were blowout losses, but Nickel can’t be blamed for that. Nickel’s next game is Monday against the Pistons.
RJ Davis, San Antonio Spurs
Davis continued his impressive Summer League with three more games this weekend in Las Vegas. After two good showings in California, including one start, the five-year Tar Heel started off his Vegas showing strong with 12 points, three assists, two rebounds, and two steals in 25 minutes off the bench in a loss to the Hawks. Two days later he had five points, three rebounds, two assists, and a steal in 18 bench minutes in a blowout win over the Knicks. In both games Davis did have three turnovers, but seemed to be a valuable player.
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In Davis’s third summer league game, the second year guard made his second start of the Summer League in a game against the Bucks. Davis had his best game of the Summer League season, scoring 20 points while dishing out three assists and getting two steals in in 29 minutes in the win for the Spurs. Davis’s next game is Wednesday against the Jazz.
Seth Trimble, Washington Wizards
Trimble, who signed with the Wizards on an Exhibit 10 contract, is playing for his NBA future. So far the four-year Tar Heel has looked alright. In his first game against the Jazz, Trimble had two points, three rebounds, three assists, and two steals in 12 minutes off the bench in a game where the spotlight was definitely on the top two picks from the 2026 NBA draft.
In his second game against the Kings, Trimble had eight points, five rebounds, two steals, and an assist. Trimble’s best shot is probably getting some sort of G-League deal (whether two-way or not) and so far he is showing off his all-around game in Las Vegas. Trimble’s next game is Tuesday against the Bulls.
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Additionally, former Tar Heels Jalen Washington and Caleb Love signed with the Chicago Bulls and Philadelphia 76ers respectively. Washington didn’t get any playing time in the Bulls’ one game this weekend, and for some reason Love is not on the Sixers’ Summer League roster.
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