SerpApi.Org
It’s not always common for a Summer League team to be exciting. The Lakers have had some of the most exciting sides that have ever traveled to Las Vegas in early July, but they’ve also had some absolute clunkers.
Almost universally, though, fans found this Lakers team a pleasure to watch. After a dud of a debut in the California Classic, the Lakers won five straight games, including the first four in the Las Vegas Summer League.
They were the only team to go 4-0 in the regular season portion of Summer League and featured several standout players. Cameron Carr and Adou Thiero were impressive as the two draft picks on the roster. Chris Mañon proved why he was a two-way player and Arthur Kaluma played his way into a two-way deal after a huge 34-point showing.
Realistically, any of them could be picked for Summer League honors and it’d be a worthy inclusion. The NBA, though, took a different approach to recognizing one of the best teams this summer by….
[checks notes]
….giving them no awards?
All four of the aforementioned players averaged double figures, led by Kaluma’s 18.6 points per game, in Vegas. Kaluma also shot 60.9% from the field and 50% from range as well. If anything, his debate should have been between whether he was First Team or Second Team, not if he should be on a team at all.
This is a clear lack of respect for the Lakers and it will not stand. You may respond with the obvious question of “Who cares about the All-Summer League teams?” or “Can you even name who made the team any other year?” and I’d respond to all of those fair points by telling you it’s about the principle!
There’s no doubt this snub will loom large over the rest of the summer for the Lakers and motivate them heading into next season.
You can follow Jacob on Twitter at @JacobRude or on Bluesky at @jacobrude.bsky.social.
