The NBA Draft only happened last week, but the league calendar waits for no one — Summer League action begins on Friday!
And there will be plenty of former Kentucky players hitting the floor over the next couple of weeks. Up first are the California Classic and the Salt Lake City Summer League, which take place from July 5-8. But unless more roster additions are made over the coming days, we’ll only see one of the one-time Wildcats playing in those two events.
The real Summer League fun happens in Las Vegas from July 10-20, where all 30 NBA teams will compete for an offseason title. At least 10 former Kentucky players will be in Sin City later this month to either show they’re worthy of earning a full-time contract or, in some cases, prove they’re too good to play against this level of competition.
Below are the Wildcats confirmed to be on Summer League rosters.
- PG Lamont Butler – Atlanta Hawks
- PF Jacob Toppin – Atlanta Hawks
- C Amari Williams – Boston Celtics
- SG Jaxson Robinson – Cleveland Cavaliers
- PG Reed Sheppard – Houston Rockets
- SF Chris Livingston – Milwaukee Bucks
- PG Rob Dillingham – Minnesota Timberwolves
- SF Justin Edwards – Philadelphia 76ers
- SG Koby Brea – Phoenix Suns
- PF Andrew Carr – Portland Trail Blazers
Now for some notes…
- Justin Edwards is the only one of the 10 who could play in two Summer League circuits. After recently agreeing to a three-year contract with the 76ers, the 6-foot-7 wing (who was impressive late in the season for Philly as a rookie), will suit up in Salt Lake City and Las Vegas. He falls in the category of players the front office would like to see outperform the rest of his peers.
- Jacob Toppin is teaming up with Lamont Butler for the Hawks. Toppin is about to enter year three as a pro after inking a two-way contract with Atlanta back in March. Butler is also on a two-way deal after going undrafted last month. Both will look to fight for full-time roster spots in 2025-26.
- Reed Sheppard and Rob Dillingham, lottery picks in 2024, will be expected to come out and excel from the jump. Neither were offered real playing time opportunities as rookies on playoff teams a season ago, but showcased moments of brilliance along the way. These two will be expected to ball out in the first couple of games before ideally sitting out the remaining games.
- Chris Livingston was named to the Bucks roster despite being waived by the franchise less than 24 hours prior.
- Adou Thiero, who transferred to Arkansas after two seasons at Kentucky, will not play for the Los Angeles Lakers, which picked him early in the second round, due to a minor injury.
- Like Livingston, Antonio Reeves was recently waived by his team, the New Orleans Pelicans. But Reeves has yet to be named to a new Summer League roster. That could easily change between now and July 10.
- Oscar Tshiebwe has yet to be named to a Summer League roster after two straight record-breaking seasons in the G League. He’s currently a free agent.
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