Brooklyn Nets leave Las Vegas Summer League with a whimper, lose to Charlotte Hornets 97-90

Las Vegas Summer League is over, and for all the excitement it brought in the early stages, it has run its course.

It was nice to see the Brooklyn Nets earn one final appearance in a consolation game vs. the Charlotte Hornets on Sunday afternoon, nearly sneaking in the playoffs with a 3-1 record in the first four games, and Brooklyn even gave their main guys some serious run.

Noah Clowney got ‘em up, taking seven triples in the first half and making three, finishing with 12/3/0/2/2 in 19 minutes...

Clowney, likely playing his last game in Las Vegas (until the league expands to 32 teams,) capped off a summer that proved he can be a real-deal NBA defender, overwhelming Summer League competition at the rim on that end, while making progress with his three-ball and inside finishing on the other.

On Friday, Tim Legler of ESPN had this to say about Clowney’s game, calling him one of seven Summer League players he’s been impressed with.

“His defensive presence and ground coverage was super impressive... I was very impressed that a guy that is that long has that much awareness to be there early,: said Legler.

“I was watching him before the game shoot the basketball, he definitely has a stroke that is going to translate out to perimeter shot-making regardless of his percentages in Vegas or whatever they were last year. I think he’s going to eventually be a guy that can stretch it out to the three-point line because his mechanics say that that’s possible for him... I think it’ll happen for him.”

His fellow 2023 first-rounder, Dariq Whitehead, also offered up more of the same. Which is to say, Whitehead continued to be a rough watch. He opened up Sunday with a coast-to-coast take...

...which, aside from the ball going in, unfortunately looked much like his other offensive possessions on Sunday, which unfortunately looked much like his other offensive possessions throughout the Vegas games...

He finished with four points on 2-of-7 shooting, finishing the Summer League 5-of-41 overall. That’s 12.2%.

Two-way guard Jaylen Martin got the start and played 24 minutes, shooting 4-of-10 with five turnovers. He got big-time opportunity in Brooklyn’s final two games, but likely secured his status as Not-A-Guy, at least until further notice.

The veterans of the squad, Jalen Wilson and Keon Johnson, each shot 2-of-4 from three with three turnovers, scoring 15 and 12 points, respectively. Wilson now finishes Summer League having averaged 21.8 PPG, buoyed by his 22-of-40 performance from deep, while Johnson departs Vegas with a brand-new two-year standard contract. Not bad.

We also had Sarah Kustok and Michael Grady in the booth for ESPN and YES broadcasting the game, reunited on a Nets call that added some necessary comfort to the Sunday afternoon broadcast.

As for the scoreboard, it remained in Charlotte’s favor for much of the 40 minutes, with Brooklyn making occasional runs up until the final seconds. In the fourth quarter, we got to say hello and in some cases goodbye to the Other Guys on the roster. KJ Jones II, who electrified Division II basketball last season by leading the country in scoring, notched two points and an assist.

Jones II and Mark Armstrong, the Villanova point guard who finished with 10 points and five assists, have Exhibit 10 meaning they’ll very likely be in Brooklyn training camp, then in Long Island’s.

Zylan Cheatham is a perfect Summer League hooper as a 28-year-old 6’5” quasi-center who last played in the NBL, and he dropped four assists and the highlight of the day on this block...

Everybody on Brooklyn’s roster touched the floor, including Mark Armstrong, who made the most of his opportunity by taking ten shots to score ten points in 15 minutes.

Now, we can leave Las Vegas semi-satisfied with a 3-2 record, and the real work ahead for the rebuilding Nets. Dariq Whitehead, Noah Clowney, Jalen Wilson, and now, Keon Johnson will enter 2024-25 with varying levels of importance to the big-league squad, but all possess a chance to prove themselves.

That wraps up Las Vegas Summer League, 2024. Was it a success for the Brooklyn Nets? Only time will tell.

Final Score: Charlotte Hornets 97, Brooklyn Nets 90

• Box score: Charlotte Hornets 97, Brooklyn Nets 90 - NBA
• Game Highlights: Charlotte Hornets 97, Brooklyn Nets 90 (Video) - NBA