Featuring a combination of high-profile rookies and second-year players with limited minutes on a full-strength team, the rosters, and therefore the storylines going in the 2025 edition of the league, were more skewed toward unpredictability than ever. Something feels charged about high-profile rookies’ sophomore seasons waiting to explode, creative roster construction methods—it’s a tournament with unpredictable turns and electric performances. With that said, here are the star-powered, deep and seasoned teams that enter as front-runners heading into the NBA Summer League’s final rounds.
Teams working their way to the top
There’s been some noise about Cooper Flagg and the Mavericks particularly with Flagg’s 31-point outburst against the Spurs but pays to look deeper. The Mavs have since mothballed Flagg, likely in the interest of preserving him for the stretch run. With confidence in his impact but minus their top star, what does this mean for them in critical rounds? Meanwhile, things are just chugging along for the likes of the Oklahoma City Thunder and Atlanta Hawks. Another potential advantage comes from harmonious basketball and depth in the roster might prove more reliable than the early hype for followers of NBA odds trends.
Why Oklahoma City and Atlanta are quietly on the rise
The Thunder have basically breezed through the tournament, prevailing by an average of 14 points. No one player takes credit for this prosperity; rather, it is a smooth rotation flow. Topic’s steady hand in running the show, Mitchell’s consistent bench scoring, and Youngblood’s two-way presence provide a building recipe for sustainable success. It’s not flashy; it’s solid – kind of like the perfect jazz band where each instrument does what it’s supposed to at the right time.
Atlanta, meanwhile, has leaned heavily on Bufkin. The guard is averaging over 21 points and contributing across the board, and his aggressive style drawing fouls and slashing through a defense pairs nicely with rookie Asa Newell – a big showing maturity on both ends. Bufkin’s shooting might be streaky, but his fearlessness keeps Atlanta in tight games, something that could be crucial in the knockout rounds.
Don’t underestimate those wild cards
The Chicago Bulls are set to be the wild card of the tournament. Buzelis scored 28 points in a standout performance, sophomore Noa Essengue surprised with his maturity and rim protection. That underdog status is what makes them so interesting whereas more organized clubs. It’s typically Chicago playing with that uncertainty that can disrupt more traditional systems. It’s like facing a team of talented freelancers—sometimes it doesn’t come off, but when it does, it is tough to stop.
There’s also a dark horse perspective with rising prospects who’ve been flashed brilliance: the Brooklyn Nets, Cavaliers, and Hornets. For example, the Brooklyn Nets are experimenting with an unorthodox vision including Egor Demin and Nolan Traoré, whose styles are based on the kind of shot creation they unleash in the Summer League. Whether this can translate to wins under pressure with such a “let ’em fly” roster remains to be seen, but it sure spices up the final rounds.
Depth and strategy will shape the finish
This figures to be the most interesting Summer League yet just because of the changing mentality toward player development and injury risk. Some stars are being saved for the regular season. Some are going through the entire tournament, using it for experience—not just reps, but leadership. That creates an uneven playing field, where perhaps this year’s teams boasting deep and balanced rosters are at a premium.
Evolutionary strategy, defensive versatility, lineup experimentation, and adaptability have started to define success in Summer League. It’s not about finding the next 20-point scorer; it’s about identifying who can read the game, defend on a switch, and make decisions under NBA-level pressure.
In the end
It won’t be star-studded as far as the finals go, with names flashing through the news in early July, but it will be about teams that finally have depth, defense, and luck, and developed the full picture. Flagg’s spectacular initial appearance might have captured all the headlines, but franchises such as the Thunder and Hawks are accumulating serious steam which wins tournaments and for those who watch to scout future stars or simply enjoy the ride; the 2025 Summer League is a promise of an interesting and subtle end.
