By R.L. Bynum
On Saturday night in Las Vegas at the NBA Summer League, Tar Heels didn’t put up big numbers, but there was no denying the play of the day. It was a highlight-reel denial at the rim on a night RJ Davis again scored in double figures.
In the first quarter of Washington’s 92–83 victory over Atlanta, the Hawks’ Henri Veesaar stormed down court in transition on his way to throwing down a dunk. The Wizards’ Seth Trimble, his teammate last season at UNC who is nine inches shorter, had other ideas, skying to reject Veesaar with his outstretched left hand.
Subscribe to read Tar Heel Tribune ad-free
Subscribe for a cleaner, smoother reading experience without the flashing banners, slow-loading elements, or those especially annoying pop‑up ads that interrupt the flow of the story. You’ll also get the first version of each story emailed to you. The only ads you’ll see are static, non-intrusive ads for UNC‑related books, and there are none currently on the site.
Both struggled with their shooting in their Summer League finales.
Trimble went 3-of-9 from the floor and 1-for-3 from 3-point range to finish with seven points, but he pulled down six rebounds. In five games, Trimble shot 42.5% from the floor and 90% from the free-throw line but only 26.7% from 3-point range.
Trimble has made a case for a two-way contract with his outstanding defense, including on No. 2 pick Darryn Peterson in the Wizards’ win on July 9. His main competition for the Wizards’ final available two-way contract appears to be former Virginia point guard Reece Beekman, who averaged 7.7 points, 6.0 assists and 3.6 rebounds for the Wizards in the Summer League.
Veesaar came out aggressively on offense but made only one of eight shots, missing all three 3-point attempts and finishing with six points, four rebounds, two blocks and two assists. In eight games, he averaged 8.6 points and 4.1 rebounds while shooting 44.6% from the floor, making 37% of his 3-point attempts but only shooting 55.6% at the free-throw line.
Davis scored in double figures for the sixth time in eight games, netting 11 points in the San Antonio Spurs’ 86–81 victory over the Phoenix Suns. He was only 4-of-13 from the floor and missed all six 3-point attempts, collecting four assists and three rebounds.
The most surprising part of Davis’ numbers in the Summer League is that the best free-throw shooter in UNC program history (86.1%) only made 59.1% of his attempts (13-of-22) after shooting 86.4% at the line in the G League last season for the South Bay Lakers.
In the final Summer League game involving a Tar Heel, Drake Powell didn’t play in the Brooklyn Nets’ 109-90 victory Sunday over the Oklahoma City Thunder.
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.
Photo via @Spurs
