One thing to watch from each top five 2026 NBA Draft pick at Las Vegas Summer League

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Basketball devotees understand how little Las Vegas NBA Summer League games predict young players’ futures. But even for the most measured consumer, it’s easy (and enjoyable!) to lose oneself to small-sample Summer League analysis and evaluation, especially for highly touted rookies.

In that spirit, let’s discuss one thing I’m watching for each of the top five picks from the loaded 2026 draft class.

One thing to watch for in Las Vegas for every 2026 top five pick

AJ Dybantsa - Usage away from the ball

At BYU, possessions rarely began or ended without AJ Dybantsa touching the basketball. A mid-season injury to star teammate Richie Saunders only amplified their future top pick’s offensive responsibilities. Dybantsa already led the nation in scoring and approached the leaders in usage rate, but that figure spiked to a gargantuan 36.8 percent following the Saunders injury.

Dybantsa will handle the ball and create plenty in Las Vegas. He’ll share the floor with some other high-profile prospects (Tre Johnson, Will Riley) and must operate away from the ball, an area where he lacks experience and high-end skill.

Despite his massive on-ball upside, it’s a worthwhile habit to track, especially on a Trae Young team.

MORE: AJ Dybantsa 'under pressure' heading into Darryn Peterson matchup

Darryn Peterson - Deep paint rim attacks

Peterson already appears healthier than he did in many of his college games at Kansas. His game likely always slants towards finesse, but his downhill burst and flexibility should unlock more rim pressure than he showcased in college. Attacking the tin forcefully would be an auspicious signal.

For more on Peterson, click here to read about five things I learned from his Utah Summer League performance.

Cameron Boozer - Defending the basket

As he did in college and before, Boozer should dominate the Vegas Summer League competition on the offensive end. The aspects of his game that allow for interior dominance on offense don’t encourage the same on defense, though.

His greatest defensive strengths exist on the wing, where his quick hands and sharp positioning shine.

Without high-level vertical explosiveness, length or instincts, more athletic players scored over him at the college level. A first taste of NBA-caliber competition will test Boozer’s shot blocking, rim deterrence and interior positioning.

#3 overall pick Cameron Boozer in his Salt Lake City Summer League debut:

🐻 15 PTS
🐻 4 REB
🐻 4 AST
🐻 7-11 FGM

Memphis defeats Oklahoma City! pic.twitter.com/jIOzcZkHqG

— NBA (@NBA) July 4, 2026

Caleb Wilson - Volume shooting from three

Of all Summer League (or general small sample) statistics, 3-point volume predicts future results better than almost any figure. Maximising Caleb Wilson’s tantalizing athleticism and passing feel will require shooting development, and this would be the setting for him to fire away from deep with impunity.

Wilson converted just seven of his 27 3-point attempts at North Carolina on low volume. Hopefully, he takes more than the 1.1 triples per game he averaged as a college freshman, though he’ll still lean on his deep post and mid-range toolkit.

Keaton Wagler - Explosiveness and speed

Wagler reached the upper echelon of college basketball players as an unheralded freshman without traditional elite athletic markers. He famously failed to dunk the basketball throughout the entire season, joining Trae Young as the only top-five picks without a college slam since 2008.

Yet we should not dismiss Wagler’s athletic profile entirely: phenomenal flexibility, deceleration and balance, paired with silky touch from all over the floor, fueled his elite creation against college defenses.

The job only intensifies against NBA athleticism, size and length, and he’ll begin to prove his mettle on the ball in Vegas.