Many of the NBA Summer League rosters consist of drafted and undrafted rookies as well as second-year players. There are instances, though, when guys who have spent a few seasons in the NBA participate in hopes of strengthening their case of getting back into the league.
Here are five players on Summer League rosters that are former first round picks. All five of them are unsigned for the 2024-25 season, and all of them did not appear in a game last season, instead spending their year in the G League. They will be players to keep an eye on as they all have multiple years of NBA experience.
Summer League Players Hoping For Another Shot In NBA
Tony Bradley – Philadelphia 76ers
The six-foot-ten Tony Bradley was the 28th overall selection in the 2017 NBA Draft. The 26-year-old appeared in 179 NBA games in the six seasons spanning from 2017-18 to 2022-23. In 2020-21, he put up his most productive season, averaging 7.1 points and 5.7 rebounds for the 76ers and Oklahoma City Thunder.
Last season, the 26-year-old played in the G League for the Texas Legends. He would average 15.1 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks in 13 regular season games.
Josh Christopher – Miami Heat
Selected with the 24th pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, Josh Christopher last played at the NBA level in 2022-23. The 22-year-old totaled 138 games for the Houston Rockets over his first two seasons, but he was sent to the Memphis Grizzlies last offseason in a deal that sent Dillon Brooks to Houston. The Grizzlies released him, and he remained in the G League.
Last season with two different G League teams, the six-foot-five Christopher averaged 17.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 1.6 steals.
Jarrett Culver – Orlando Magic
Jarrett Culver was taken sixth overall in the 2019 NBA Draft. After starting 35 games as a rookie with the Minnesota Timberwolves, he was mostly out of the rotation the next three seasons in the league. He last played in 2022-23, getting in just 10 games and totaling 44 points for the Atlanta Hawks.
The 25-year-old Culver spent all of last season with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers of the G League. In 29 regular season games, he posted averages of 20.9 points, 6.9 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.9 steals.
Romeo Langford – Philadelphia 76ers
In the 2019 NBA Draft, Romeo Langford was chosen with the 14th overall pick. He actually started 21 games for the San Antonio Spurs in 2022-23 but was out of the league last season.
Instead, the 24-year-old spent the 2023-24 season playing in the G League for the Salt Lake City Stars. In 17 regular season games, the six-foot-four guard posted averages of 11.9 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.9 assists.
Zhaire Smith – Cleveland Cavaliers
Despite being selected 16th in the 2018 NBA Draft, Zhaire Smith has only played a grand total of 13 NBA games. A fractured foot cost him much of his rookie season as he didn’t debut until March of 2019. He last appeared in a NBA game more than four years ago (February 7, 2020).
The 25-year-old Smith spent last season with Cleveland’s G League affiliate, the Cleveland Charge. In 32 regular season games for them, the six-foot-four guard posted averages of 13.3 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.3 steals.
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