The NBA's Summer League gets started on Saturday in California and Salt Lake City before the main event in Las Vegas runs from July 10-20.
Nine former Alabama basketball players will participate in Summer League over the next few weeks as they compete for opportunities in Training Camp with either their current teams or others. Some might not have a legitimate opportunity due to tight rosters on the team they are playing with in Summer League, but all it takes is one other team being impressed with what they see for you to get a legitimate opportunity somewhere.
The majority of the Alabama players participating in Summer League will face an uphill battle to make an NBA roster. They will likely spend next season in the G-League, or potentially explore options overseas.
These nine Alabama players will participate in the NBA Summer League
The Rookies:
Mark Sears - Milwaukee Bucks
Mark Sears was one of four Alabama players undrafted in last month's NBA Draft, but Sears was the only one of the bunch to receive a two-way contract. After the Bucks found a creative solution to their Damian Lillard problem, there could be a legitimate opportunity for Sears to make the roster in Milwaukee.
He'll need to play well in Summer League, and then again in Training Camp and preseason, but he is in the best situation among the Tide rookies.
Grant Nelson - Brooklyn Nets
Nelson somewhat surprisingly signed an Exhibit 10 deal with the Nets when many expected he would land a two-way deal like Sears. The Nets have a lot of young depth in the frontcourt, including another former Alabama player in Noah Clowney, so there likely isn't much of a path to making the NBA roster for Nelson. His time with the Nets could be an audition for an opportunity elsewhere.
Cliff Omoruyi - Toronto Raptors
Omoruyi also signed an Exhibit 10 and will look to parlay a strong showing in Las Vegas into a legitimate opportunity in the league. With the young depth in Toronto, Omoruyi will likely find himself in the G-League.
Chris Youngblood - Oklahoma City Thunder
Chris Youngblood signed an Exhibit 10 deal with the Thunder after going undrafted. Coming off an NBA Championship, and with a roster full of young talent, there's no realistic path forward to the NBA in Oklahoma City for Youngblood. He'll end up in the G-League even if he has a terrific showing in Vegas.
G-League Veterans
Jaden Shackelford - Golden State Warriors
Jaden Shackelford is still searching for his NBA opportunity. He is entering his fourth season as a pro, spending all of it in the G-League thus far. He played his first two seasons with the Oklahoma City Blue, and then last season with the Valley Suns.
As an undersized two-guard, Shack's best opportunity to get an NBA shot is as a specialist. Unfortunately, his three-point shot has trended in the wrong direction. He shot a career-low 33% from downtown last year.
Alex Reese - Philadelphia 76ers
Of the Alabama players in the Summer League, Alex Reese might have the best opportunity to break through and onto an NBA roster. Reese made the Thunder's roster out of Training Camp last year but was promptly waived once Isaiah Hartenstein recovered from injury. He found himself with the 76ers, however, and played the final 15 games of the regular season in Philadelphia.
Reese nearly gave up basketball, but bet on himself in 2023-24, and he parlayed a brilliant season in the G-League into a legitimate NBA opportunity. Reese's Summer League journey gets started tonight in Salt Lake City.
Aaron Estrada - Memphis Grizzlies
After going undrafted a year ago, Aaron Estrada spent last season with the Motor City Cruise, the G-League affiliate of the Detroit Pistons. In 17 games, he averaged 9.2 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game. Estrada will need continued improvement on his three-point shot (32% last year) to get on an NBA team's radar.
One final shot for two former Lottery picks
Kira Lewis Jr. - Miami Heat
Kira Lewis is still just 24 years old, but he is entering his sixth professional season. The former 13th overall pick to the New Orleans Pelicans, Lewis has bounced around and has yet to find footing anywhere. A torn ACL hampered his progress, but he spent time with the Raptors and Jazz before playing for the Capital City Go Go, the G-League affiliate of the Washington Wizards, last season.
Lewis will look to impress the Heat, or another team, in what could be his final chance to crack an NBA rotation.
Josh Primo - Chicago Bulls
A stress fracture in his left ankle cost Josh Primo all of last season. The former 12th overall pick can't afford to miss any more time. Still just 22 years old, Primo blew a golden opportunity with the San Antonio Spurs due to off-court behavioral issues.
The Clippers gave Primo a shot, and he impressed during the 2023-24 season with their G-League team, but he was ultimately waived by them and the Chicago Bulls due to injury. He's healthy now and will look to parlay a strong showing in Las Vegas into what could be one final shot in the NBA.