By R.L. Bynum
Drake Powell’s pro basketball debut will have to wait until this fall.
The former Carolina wing reportedly won’t play for the Brooklyn Nets’ Summer League team because of left knee tendinopathy, according to the New York Post.
Powell, the No. 22 pick in the NBA draft, tweaked that knee during the lead-up to the draft and is being held out of the Summer League as a precaution. According to the Post, he would be playing if these were regular-season games.
“It’s extremely disappointing not to play because coming in with these guys, I want to compete with them,” Powell said Monday in Brooklyn, according to the Post. “It’s definitely frustrating, but I understand it. I’d say it’s more of a precaution type thing right now.”
Powell will be in Las Vegas with the Nets Summer League team, even though he won’t play, to break down film and see the plays the team runs and get to know teammates and coaches.
The Atlanta Hawks drafted Powell, and the trade that sent him to Brooklyn became official on Monday. The Nets acquired guard Terance Mann and the draft rights to Powell from the Hawks in a three-team trade.
In his only season at UNC, he was Carolina’s Defensive Player of the Year and led Carolina in plus/minus 10 times while averaging 7.4 points per game.
Summer League Tar Heels

Friday, July 3, result
— Heat 88, Spurs 87 | RJ Davis: didn’t start, 18:20, 15 points, 4–8 FG, 3–5 3FG, 2–3 FT, 2 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 1 foul, team-high +16
Saturday, July 4, results
— Bucks 97, Warriors Blue 83 | Cormac Ryan: started, 18:39, 13 points, 3–8 FG, 3–6 3FG, 3–3 FT, 2 turnovers, 3 fouls, +5 | Pete Nance: didn’t play (coach’s decision)
— Jazz 103, Hawks 102, OT | Henri Veesaar: didn’t start, 18:12, 5 points, 2–4 FG, 1–3 3FG, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 fouls, -13
— Kings 79, Nets 76 | Drake Powell: started: 27:01, 4 points, 0–9 FG, 0–5 3FG, 2–3 FT, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 3 turnovers, 2 fouls, -5
Sunday, July 5, results
— Nets 89, Bucks 69 | Neither Drake Powell, Cormac Ryan nor Pete Nance active for game
— Warriors Gold team 98, Spurs 69 | RJ Davis: didn’t start, 21:20, 2 points, 1–9 FG, 0–5 3FG, 1–1 FT, 2 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 block, 3 turnovers, 2 fouls, team-low -22
Monday, July 6, results
— Hawks 82, Thunder 77 | Henri Veesaar: didn’t start, 16:48, 2 points, 1–4 FG, 0–1 3FG, 7 rebounds, team-low -11
— Lakers 88, Spurs 84 | RJ Davis: started, 29:25, 18 points, 7–16 FG, 2–7 3FG, 2–4 FT, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 turnovers, 3 fouls, team-high +10
— Nets 100, Warriors Gold team 79 | Drake Powell: started, 23:20, 2 points, 1–8 FG, 0–4 3FG, 4 rebounds, 1 steal, 2 turnovers, 3 fouls, +20
— Kings 95, Bucks 89 | Cormac Ryan: not active for game
Tuesday, July 7, result
— Hawks 92, Grizzlies 82 | Henri Veesaar: Started, 23:32, 11 points, 4–9 FG, 2–5 3FG, 1–2 FT, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, 1 block 4 turnovers, 5 fouls, +5
All games below are in Las Vegas
Thursday, July 9, results
— Hawks 93, Spurs 66:
* Henri Veesaar (Hawks): didn’t start, 19:00, 14 points, 5–8 FG, 2–5 3FG, 1–2 FT, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 1 block, 1 turnover, 2 fouls, +17; Summer League totals: 8.0 points, 48 FG%, 45.7 3P%, 2–4 FT, 5.2 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 2 blocks
* RJ Davis (Spurs): started; 24:42, 12 points, 5–10 FG, 0–3 3FG, 2–3 FT, 2 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, 3 turnovers, 1 foul, team-low -20
— Wizards 92, Jazz 88 | Seth Trimble: didn’t start; 11:45, 2 points, 1–2 FG, 0–1 3FG, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, 1 foul, +6
Friday, July 10, results
— Heat 119, Bucks 86:
* Pete Nance: started, 26;15, 16 points, 6–10 FG, 4–8 3FG, 7 rebounds, 2 blocks, 1 turnover, 2 fouls, -14 (first game of the summer)
* Cormac Ryan: didn’t start, 22:07, 7 points, 2–7 FG, 1–4 3FG, 1–1 FT, 8 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 blocks, 4 turnovers, 3 fouls, team-low -28
— Nets 91, Knicks 65 | Drake Powell: started; 20:55, 1 point, 0–7 FG, 0–3 3FG, 1–1 FT, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 3 fouls, +7 |
— Grizzlies 97, Bulls 96 | Caleb Wilson: started, 32:56, 35 points,12–21 FG, 7–11 3FG, 2–6 FT, 5 rebounds, 2 steals, 3 blocks, 6 turnovers, 2 fouls, -11
Saturday, July 11, results
— Spurs 70, Knicks 49 | RJ Davis: didn’t start, 18:16, 5 points, 2–9 FG, 1–5 3FG, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 3 turnovers, 1 foul, +4
— Hawks 83, Nets 76:
* Henri Veesaar: didn’t start, 16:52, 6 points, 3–5 FG, 0–1 3FG, 0–1 FT, 1 rebound, 2 assists, 2 blocks, 1 turnover, 2 fouls, +15
* Drake Powell: started, 4 points, 0–4 FG, 0–2 3FG, 2–2 FT, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 turnover, +1
Sunday, July 12, results
— Wizards 104, Kings 85 | Seth Trimble: didn’t start; 20:07, 8 points, 3–10 FT, 0–3 3FG, 1–1 FT, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals, 1 foul, -4
— Spurs 90, Bucks 80
* RJ Davis: started; 28:54, 20 points, 6–16 FG, 2–7 3FG, 4–7 FT, 1 rebound, 3 assists, 2 steals, 1 turnover, 1 foul, game-high +22
* Pete Nance: started, 23:54, 8 points, 3–6 FG, 2–4 FT, 0–1 FT, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 block, 2 turnovers, 7 fouls, +2
* Cormac Ryan: didn’t start; 15 points, 5–13 FG, 3–7 3FG, 1–4 FT, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 4 steals, 3 turnovers, 3 fouls, team-low -9 | Summer League totals: 5 games, 42 points, 12–35 FG, 7–21 3FG, 6–10 FT, 21 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 blocks
Monday‘s results
— Hawks 102, Celtics 90 | Henri Veesaar: started, 23:08, 20 points, 7–12 FG, 4–6 3FG, 1–2 FT, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, 3 turnovers, 3 fouls, -7 | Veesaar Summer League totals: 6 games, 9.7 points, 52.4 FG%, 42.9 3P%, 42.9 FT%, 4.3 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 0.5 of a steal, 0.8 of a block
— Jazz 80, Bulls 63 | Caleb Wilson: started, 29:27, 19 points, 8–17 FG, 3–8 3FG, 0–6 FT, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, 5 blocks, 4 turnovers, 5 fouls, -14
— Suns 95, Bucks 88 | Pete Nance: started; 23:30, 7 points, 3–7 FG, 1–2 3FG, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 2 fouls, -10 | Cormac Ryan didn’t play (coach’s decision)
Tuesday’s results
— Nets 115, Kings 83 | Drake Powell: started, 21:04, 18 points, 6–10 FG, 4–7 3FG, 1–1 FT, 1 rebound, 2 steals, 1 block, 2 turnovers, 4 fouls, +16
— Bulls 99, Wizards 87:
* Caleb Wilson: started. 23:51, 19 points, 7–15 FG, 2–6 3FG, 1–1 FT. 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 block, 3 turnovers, 3 fouls, -1
* Seth Trimble: started, 27:51, 27:51, 13 points, 2–7 FG, 1–3 3FG, 4–4 FT, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, 3 turnovers, 5 fouls, -9
Wednesday’s results
— Bucks 110, Hornets 91 | Pete Nance: started, 26:35, 11 points, 4–9 FG, 3–8 3FG, 2 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, 2 turnovers, 4 fouls, game-high +25 | Nance Summer League totals: 4 games, 10.5 points, 60.0 FG%, 45.5 3P%, 0–1 FT, 3.0 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 0.5 of a steal, 1.0 block | Cormac Ryan didn’t play (coach’s decision) |
— Spurs 94, Jazz 82 | RJ Davis: started; 14 points, 5–12 FG, 1–6 3FG, 1–1 FT, 12 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 4 turnovers, 1 foul, +3
— Clippers 108, Wizards 94 | Seth Trimble: started; 26:59, 24 points, 8–12 FG, 2–5 3FG, 4–5 FT, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 1 block, 2 turnovers, 3 fouls, team-low -22
Thursday’s results
— Rockets 100, Nets 83 | Drake Powell: started, 24:46, 6 points, 1–6 FG, 0–4 3FG, 2–2 FT, 1 rebound, 1 assist, 1 turnover, 3 steals, 1 block , -13 | Powell Summer League totals: 6 games, 5.8 points,18.2 FG%, 16.0 3P%, 88.9 FT%, 3.2 rebounds, 1.0 assist, 1.2 steals, 0.3 of a block, 1.7 turnovers
— Lakers 105, Bulls 82 | Caleb Wilson: started, 24:25, 21 points, 7–15 FG, 1–6 3fG, 3–5 FT, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, 8 turnovers, 4 fouls, -26 | Wilson Summer League totals: 4 games, 23.5 points, 50.0 FG%, 41.9 3P%, 33.3 FT%, 7.2 rebounds, 1.2 steals, 2.5 blocks, 5.2 turnovers
— Grizzlies 96, Hawks 64 | Henri Veesaar: started, 5 points, 2–6 FG, 1–3 3FG, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 1 block, 3 turnovers, 6 fouls, -20
Saturday’s consolation results
Bucks 96, Sixers 94 | Pete Nance: started, 25:48, 11 points, 3–7 FG, 3–6 3FG, 1–1 FT, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 turnovers, 2 fouls, -10 | Cormac Ryan didn’t play
Wizards 91, Hawks 83
* Henri Veesaar: started, 23:20, 6 points, 1–8 FG, 0–3 3FG, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 4 turnovers, 1 steal, 2 blocks, +16 | Veesaar Summer League totals: 8 games, 8.6 points, 44.6 FG%, 37.0 3P%, 55.6 FT%, 4.1 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 0.6 of a steal, 1.0 block, 2.4 turnovers
* Seth Trimble: started, 29:43, 7 points, 3–9 FG, 1–3 3FG, 6 rebounds, 2 turnovers, 1 steal, 1 block, +3 | Trimble Summer League totals: 5 games, 10.8 points, 42.5 FG%, 26.7 3P%, 90.0 FT%, 4.0 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1.6 steals, 0.4 of a block, 1.4 turnovers
Spurs 86, Suns 81 | RJ Davis: started, 31:52, 11 points, 4–13 FG, 0–6 3FG, 2–3 FT, 3 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, 3 turnovers, -4 | Davis Summer League totals: 8 games, 12.1 points, 37.0 FG%, 20.5 3FG%, 59.1 FT%, 3.5 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.0 steal, 2.4 turnovers
Sunday’s consolation result
Nets 109, Thunder 90 | Drake Powell didn’t play
The Las Vegas schedule reflects each team’s first four Summer League games there, which count toward tournament seeding. The top four teams advance to the semifinals July 18, with the championship game July 19. TV assignments for several later-round games were still to be determined.
Note that an experimental one-free-throw rule is in place. One, two and three free-throw sequences produce a single attempt worth the same total points, except for the final two minutes of the fourth quarter and all overtime periods when standard free‑throw rules apply.
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