ESPN summarizes the Summer League: Yang Hanshen is labeled as the most watched rookie, with two major skills praised

On July 19, Beijing time, ESPN data expert Kevin Pelton published a summary of the Summer League, highlighting some impressive players in Las Vegas, with Yang Hanshen being one of them, referred to as the most watched rookie. Here’s a brief analysis and other players who made the list—

Most Watched Rookie: Yang Hanshen, Portland Trail Blazers

After Flagg, no rookie has garnered more attention than Yang Hanshen. He is the highest-drafted Chinese player since Yi Jianlian in 2007 (16th overall). Standing at 2.16 meters, Yang Hanshen excels particularly in his passing ability from the perimeter. He delivered 15 assists over four games, with several standout moments. His shot-blocking ability has also exceeded expectations (averaging 2.3 blocks per game), with a three-point shooting record of 4 out of 12 attempts.

His rebounding ability needs improvement, averaging only 5.0 per game, but his performance in the Summer League has not made it seem like a mistake for the Trail Blazers to select him.

Other players on the list—

Best Performing Rookie: Clifford (Kings), Flagg (Mavericks), McKinney (Hornets)

23-year-old Clifford possesses five years of college basketball experience and is one of the most technically mature players among this year's rookies. He averaged 18.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 5.0 assists in the Las Vegas Summer League. Clifford's breakout in his senior year was largely due to his improved shooting ability, and in this Summer League, he shot 9 out of 17 from beyond the NBA three-point line (53% accuracy), which is quite encouraging. While maintaining such a shooting percentage consistently may not be realistic, as long as opponents are wary of leaving him open, his highly intelligent playmaking will be a significant advantage.

In terms of design, Flagg's role in the Summer League is closer to what we typically see from a second-year player—deliberately given more ball-handling opportunities. As a point forward, Flagg currently ranks third in usage rate. To fulfill such a role in the NBA, he needs to improve his ball-handling skills, but against the Spurs, he showcased the ability to maintain efficiency despite a high volume of shots, astonishingly earning 13 free throw opportunities in a single game.

McKinney's performance has surpassed that of his teammate, 4th overall pick Knuppel (who rebounded after a poor debut). As the 29th pick, McKinney scored 22 points, grabbed 12 rebounds, and dished out 6 assists in his debut—his rebounding total exceeded his career high during his time at Connecticut, and his assists also ranked among his personal bests. He hit three three-pointers in both games he played, which is quite encouraging considering his college three-point shooting percentage was only 32%.

Most Promising Rookie: Flagg (Mavericks), Harper (Spurs), Trey Johnson (Wizards)

Best Undrafted Player: Ndiaye (Hawks)

Slowest Starting Rookie: Fears (Pelicans)

Best Veteran: Phillips (Jazz), Little Shannon (Timberwolves), Tomlin (Cavaliers)

Best Free Agent: Jenkins (Pistons)