The 2026 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas has become a proving ground for a handful of former Syracuse University standouts, each hoping to translate college promise into professional minutes.
Summer League in Las Vegas
Among the seven alumni who accepted summer contracts, the spectrum of experience ranges from the polished guard William Kyle with the Los Angeles Lakers to the versatile forward Maliq Brown, now with the San Antonio Spurs.
Their outings have been a study in contrast: some have flashed moments of brilliance, while others have been limited by sparse minutes or inconsistent shooting.
Who Could Earn a Spot?
Buddy Boeheim, playing for the Oklahoma City Thunder, showed a noticeable uptick in scoring, whereas Jesse Edwards of the Milwaukee Bucks struggled to find a rhythm, often relegated to the bench.
Quadir Copeland’s stint with the Houston Rockets featured eye‑catching point totals and assist numbers, yet the competition for roster spots remains fierce.
Maliq Brown, however, has emerged as the most consistent presence, posting double‑digit rebounds and multiple steals across several games, positioning him as the player with the highest probability of securing an Opening Night roster slot.
The broader narrative suggests that, despite individual highlights, the majority of these former Orange players will likely watch the regular season from the sidelines, with only a few exceptions poised for meaningful minutes.