Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images
The final weekend of Vegas Summer League kicked off Saturday afternoon, spelling the beginning of the end for die-hard NBA fans that enjoy watching the league’s future stars go at it for a couple of games.
And even with some of the summer’s biggest names and rookies already being pulled out of action, there was still a few noteworthy performances throughout the day that caught the eye.
Here are some of the bigger talking points from Day 9 in Sin City.
Amari Bailey takes charge
With Brandon Miller no longer playing in summer league, Amari Bailey decided to take the reins in the Charlotte Hornets’ win over the Minnesota Timberwolves.
And the result was the second-round picks’ best performance in Vegas.
Fresh off of signing a two-way deal with the Hornets on Friday, Bailey went out and nailed his audition to impress the organization’s higher ups, dropping a game-high 17 points to go along with three rebounds and three assists on 7-of-14 shooting from the field and 2-of-4 from three-point range.
He even had a highlight reel layup late in the game.
Hornets’ Twitter was excited seeing the former UCLA star go to work
Charlotte Hornets @hornets
WITH THE 360#HornetsSummer | @NovantHealth pic.twitter.com/KPc795VJnb
Charlotte Hornets @hornets
Amari Bailey did his thing today! 😤#HornetsSummer | @NovantHealth pic.twitter.com/DGbKYSzsuh
someswaggt @someswaggt
Amari Bailey gon be a stud in a few yrs https://t.co/mJrXgEKgIj
Leo S @Y0Leo
Amari Bailey hits a casual 360 layup in traffic so I’m glad I nailed it pic.twitter.com/WB4CZ8xjVD
Peezy Tsunami @PeezusChris_t
Amari Bailey with the sauce
tuse 🇮🇹 @CHA_ttuuse
AMARI BAILEY OMG
𝗙𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗸 | 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐮𝐊𝐚𝐢 𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 🤞🏽 @THENEXTBlGTHlNG
Amari Bailey hit the 360 layup… that was tough #NBASummer
Hornetsrule95 @Hornetsrule95
AMARI BAILEY 360 LAYUP
Ben Sigwart @sig_50
What a smoooooth layup by Amari Bailey. 360 spin to the scoop layup 👀👏.
Brody @704NCSU
Thoughts on this game:
-Horrible indictment on how big of ball stoppers the Hornets “main” summer league guys were
-We gotta do whatever we can to keep Nnanji
-Amari Bailey is baby Cody Martin
-Kobi Simmons will outlive us all
Hornetsrule95 @Hornetsrule95
Amari Bailey has looked very impressive today
RMM @_R_M_M
Amari Bailey looking good pic.twitter.com/hK4bOtYe3T
Tav @TheReal_TaviCat
Hornets looking night and day better with NSJ/Bouknight sitting.
Amari Bailey is the best guard on this roster he should’ve been starting.
Now, Bailey will be looking to turn that two-way deal into a stronger standing with the regular roster.
Lester Quiñones finishes strong
Going into Vegas, there probably wasn’t a whole lot of people familiar with Lester Quiñones’ game.
Fast forward a week or so later and you’d be surprised to find a Golden State Warriors’ fan that doesn’t know who the former University of Memphis star is.
Going undrafted in 2022, Quiñones signed a two-way contract with the Warriors ahead of last season and eventually got waived before signing with their G League affiliate, the Santa Cruz Warriors.
He signed another two-way in 2023, making his NBA debut in March and winning the G League’s Most Improved Player award.
And he pulled up to summer league ready to hoop this year. After three consecutive 20-plus point performances in his first few outings, Quiñones saved the best for last, dropping a game-high 32 points on 8-of-17 shooting from the field and 4-of-9 from three-point range in the team’s loss to the Toronto Raptors.
He also contributed four rebounds, six assists, three steals and two blocks.
Warriors’ Twitter was advocating for him to get a shot at the regular roster next season.
NBA @NBA
Lester Quinones had a spectacular all-around game at #NBA2KSummerLeague 🔥
32 PTS
4 REB
6 AST
3 STL
2 BLK
4 3PM pic.twitter.com/nZFOoURB37
Culture Hardwood @NBAculture_
Lester Quinones (@Effort_les) is averaging 22 PPG in 7 games so far for the Summer League Warriors 🔥 (Las Vegas/California).
No wonder the Warriors gave up Poole without thinking twice. They got something special here 👀 pic.twitter.com/zVy7kL6ZNd
Phillip Smith @philaugust30
lester quinones is tufff
z @ZakMarcinNBA
the Warriors better give Lester Quinones a real shot this season. he looks like a true splash bro disciple.
THEGODFRESCO 🏁 @GSDOUBLEU
Sooo, is Lester Quinones getting a roster spot on the Warriors?
Jared @PlayboyJared_
Lester Quinones is actually him
jackboy 👹🏴☠️ @jackzankich
lester quinones a wayyyyy better version of JP so i ain’t mad he got traded
kirby @kirbyjames30
Lester Quinones is that guy right now
Arden Independence Cravalho @a_cravalho
Forget Jordan Poole, it’s Lester Quinones SZN in the Bay.
𝙛𝙡𝙤𝙬𝙚𝙧 𝙗𝙤𝙮 𝙛𝙡𝙤𝙬𝙯 🧜🏽♂️ @kayceeflowz
Lester Quinones is the future
mike @mike7rodriguez
lester quinones needa a roster spot
Steven Golden @GBpickem
Lester Quinones of the Warriors summer league fan really be something for the Warriors off the bench. Like his game. Heat check guy and similar to Jordan Poole’s game
lia 🥂 @alebaldee
lester quinones splash brother
Quiñones will now look to keep impressing the organization through camp and preseason with the hopes of getting the promotion.
Julian Strawther Keeps Shining
The Denver Nuggets may have found themselves a late first-round gem in Julian Strawther.
The No. 29 pick in this year’s draft, Strawther had a consistent string of strong performances during his time in Vegas, slowly gaining confidence with every single outing.
And Saturday night was no different.
Strawther was the best player on the floor, finishing with 25 points on 8-of-16 shooting from the field and 5-of-11 from three-point range in the win, showing off that elite shooting ability that he had at Gonzaga last season, when he made 40.8 of his shots from beyond the arc.
He also had nine rebounds, two assists, a steal and a block in 32 minutes.
Picturing Strawther’s shooting ability combined with Nikola Jokic´’s passing will be a scary sight for the rest of the league and will have the rookie in a position for immediate success.
And Twitter was happy to see it.
jeff (limited) @DedicationHoops
julian strawther tonight:
25 points
9 rebounds
1 steal
1 block
50% FG (8-16)
45% 3P (5-11)
great value at the 29th pick pic.twitter.com/7Vt6lLPNNF
gui @MestreGuii
Anxious to see Julian Strawther and Hunter Tyson cooking in October
Loucc 🐐ひ @LouccTalkToEm
Why Julian Strawther out here playing great defense
West Bank Pete @Bucketsince88
Julian Strawther is the best shooter the Nuggets have drafted since Michael Porter Jr. Calvin Booth is on FIRE!!! 🔥🔥🔥 #milehighbasketball
Aaron Washington @A_a_ron25
Might have to keep a closer eye on Julian Strawther.
15 points in the first half tonight vs New York
jeff (limited) @DedicationHoops
i can’t emphasize enough how dangerous guys like julian strawther and hunter tyson can potentially be in the nuggets offense next to nikola jokic. i’m excited for strawther like he’s a lottery pick
Ryan Blackburn @NBABlackburn
Another great game from both Hunter Tyson and Julian Strawther I see.
Solid way to end SL after a shaky start for the Nuggets.
Alex Lewis @lewisalex10
GET JULIAN STRAWTHER SOME DENVER NUGGETS JEANS
cam @vlatkofan4l
oh my god hunter tyson and julian strawther i am OBSESSED with you
Adam Mares @Adam_Mares
Julian Strawther’s shot wasn’t falling In the first 3 games but he found a rhythm over the last few. His ability to get 3s up Is Impressive. Combination of height and quick release. He got the the rim better than I expected In games 4&5. His height popped defensively at times.
Wukas @Wkas1111
i thought julian strawther quietly had a really good summer league
Strawther will look to carve out a role for himself in the Nuggets’ rotation during his first season as a pro with a chance to immediately contribute for the reigning champs.
>>> Read full article>>>
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source : Bleacher Report – https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10082845-nba-summer-league-2023-hot-takes-about-top-players-from-day-9-las-vegas-results
