Ranking the top 10 rookies in 2017 NBA Summer League

After Lonzo Ball and the Los Angeles Lakers won the 2017 NBA Summer League championship in Las Vegas, we give you the best rookies of the summer.

NBA Summer League is a desperate time for professional basketball fandom. With the NBA Finals, free agency and the draft in the rearview mirror, it’s the last basketball we’ll have for months. The NBA is moving the season up a couple weeks, but we still just lost basketball for a while.

Especially in Las Vegas, it’s become an attraction unlike any other. A record number of teams participated this year with a packed house of media members. Across three states, Summer League is a real phenomenon. The Dallas Mavericks won the Orlando Summer League, the Utah Jazz took their state’s small four-team league, and the Los Angeles Lakers lifted the hardware in Las Vegas.

While Las Vegas gave us the largest number of teams to check out, both Orlando and Utah were useful too. Across these two-plus weeks, we saw a strong 2017 rookie class, plenty of promising G-League players and countless professionals trying to make their dreams come true. It may have led to some unflattering and unattractive basketball, to say the least, but it’s an important component of the NBA calendar year.

When it comes to Summer League, the rationale behind fan attendance mostly revolves around future rookies. Jayson Tatum vs. Lonzo Ball is a main attraction, not the Celtics against the Lakers.

With that came many injuries and DNPs. However, it also yielded a look into some very promising rookies. We got some of the best Summer League performances in recent memory. So, without further ado, here are the 10 best rookies of the summer across the three leagues.

10. Luke Kennard — Detroit Pistons

Luke Kennard was one of the few rookies who only got to ball out in Orlando. Most of his fellow classmates played in Las Vegas, in addition to the four teams that played in Utah. With a smooth jumper and an underrated handle, Kennard showed a lot of promise.

He was the seventh leading scorer at 17.2 points per game and showed an ability to hit NBA threes.

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For large stretches of Orlando Summer League, no one could guard him. Nothing worked. The Detroit Pistons need playmaking and shooting this year, which is exactly what they’re getting from Kennard.

9. Jordan Bell — Golden State Warriors

Jordan Bell was always going to be a steal when he continued to drop on draft night. The Chicago Bulls’ decision to take cash considerations for what would eventually send Bell to the Warriors is going to come up for years to come.

As an older rookie, Bell has the age and the skill-set to contribute to the Golden State Warriors right away. He showed that in Las Vegas with an abundance of blocks, steals, terrific rebounding and intricate passes.

As one of just two players to average 2.6 blocks and 2.0 steals, Bell’s defensive versatility was on full display. If he can add any type of scoring to his game, look out.

8. Caleb Swanigan — Portland Trail Blazers

Caleb Swanigan’s draft range was questionable, but his motor sure wasn’t. An undersized big man who eats rebounds for breakfast was always going to have a chance in the NBA. Add to that a good-looking three-point shot and you got yourself an NBA player.

How good of an NBA player will be determined later. What we saw of Swanigan in Las Vegas was encouraging. “Biggie” was all over the glass on both ends of the court, made First Team All-NBA Summer League and made history as well.

He would in fact average a double-double, finishing with averages of 16.1 points and 10.6 rebounds. Between his motor, rebounding and passing potential, Swanigan has a chance to stick around in the NBA.

7. Jayson Tatum — Boston Celtics

From the second Jayson Tatum took the floor in Salt Lake City, he looked NBA-ready. One of the few rookies to participate in multiple Summer League spots, we got to see a lot of the former Duke man.

With three games in both Las Vegas and Utah, Tatum was right around 18 points per game. While he didn’t do much outside of scoring and rebounding, Tatum looks to be a tough assignment already. From step-backs to fadeaway jumpers, he has more moves than many players already in the NBA.

Tatum was explosive and able to hit tough shots in clutch fashion. He looked more or less like he was supposed to. The question now is whether he, on a loaded Celtics roster, can make NBA veterans look as foolish as Summer League talent.

6. Josh Jackson — Phoenix Suns

Named to the All-NBA Summer League First Team in Las Vegas, Josh Jackson impressed. While his shooting was erratic at times, he showed off both his toughness and skill. Highlight dunks and blocks took center stage for the Phoenix Suns’ rookie, but he had plenty of finesse as well.

Showing off some advanced NBA footwork and secondary playmaking, Jackson already looks the part of a super role player. His athleticism is just off the charts.

If he can continue to show off the passing ability he flashed in college and Las Vegas, he’ll bring even more value to the Suns. Package that with his intensity and you have yourself a born winner.

5. John Collins — Atlanta Hawks

John Collins was also named to the All-NBA First Team in Las Vegas after a very productive run of games. His athleticism puts most other bigs to shame. Looking the part of an offensive juggernaut, he might be one of the biggest surprises amongst first round rookies.

Collins could flat out score at Wake Forest and did so with tremendous efficiency. Fifteen points and nine rebounds per game on nearly 60 percent shooting in Summer League isn’t too shabby either. It’s unclear what else Collins can really do well, but those two traits may be enough to carry him toward a productive career in the NBA. Also, someone put this dunk in the Summer League Hall of Fame.

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4. Dennis Smith Jr. – Dallas Mavericks

After missing out on the Dallas Mavericks’ run in Orlando, we anxiously awaited Dennis Smith Jr.’s debut. Needless to say, it was well worth the wait.

This was the first look at a guy who had a lot of questions about him after a disappointing year at N.C. State. A lot of those questions were answered rather quickly.

Smith thrived with NBA spacing, getting to the rim at will. He also showed strong effort more consistently on defense, which was very encouraging. His ability to score at all three levels with the toughness and creativity to finish through contact is going to make him a menace for years to come.

It’s already looking like his slide to No. 9 in the draft will haunt teams for a while.

3. Kyle Kuzma — Los Angeles Lakers

Kyle Kuzma was the biggest winner of Las Vegas Summer League. He put his name on the map with some help from Lonzo Ball, won it all and took home championship MVP honors. Thirty points and 10 rebounds will get that for you.

It might not even be a stretch to call him the biggest surprise as well. As the 27th pick in the draft, Kuzma shot the ball from three like he never had before. He looks the part of a dynamic combo forward in the NBA.

Whether he can hold up on the defensive end is another matter. For now, Kuzma has amply shown his worth and looks like a possible first round steal. Julius Randle and co. had better be working on their jump shots.

2. Donovan Mitchell — Utah Jazz

If there’s any leftover Donovan Mitchell stock, you should buy it immediately. Mitchell was the star of the Utah Jazz Summer League after going bonkers against the Sixers, Spurs and Celtics.

He then backed that up with two big-time performances in Las Vegas, averaging 28 points and six steals per game across two games there.

An athletic combo guard, Mitchell wreaked havoc on both ends of the floor across both leagues’ play. Not only did he look capable handling the ball more but his shooting looked improved as well.

He also happened to have scored the most points in a Summer League game this year with 37. Losing Gordon Hayward sucks, but the Jazz might really have something in their 13th pick.

1. Lonzo Ball – Los Angeles Lakers

Lonzo Ball was always going to have the spotlight in Las Vegas. He answered the call. After all of his dad’s soundbites and pointless questions from reporters, he answered the call. After a horrific first game, he answered the call with multiple triple-doubles and a 36-point game.

What’s most amazing about him is he did all this despite shooting the ball terribly. Just imagine when Ball hits an average amount of his threes.

His inability to score efficiently and still make his teammates better to help win games illustrated how unique and valuable he is. Ball did win Summer League MVP, after all.

Next: 2017 NBA free agency tracker - Grades for every deal so far

Just as he was in Las Vegas, Ball will be the most intriguing and divisive player for a long, long time in the NBA.