For NBA rookies and less experienced players, the Summer League is the optimal time to test the waters as basketball professional. A long season looms ahead for these emerging NBA players, and they have two weeks to play in a more lighthearted manner, getting to know their young teammates in the pursuit for a Summer League championship.

The Los Angeles Lakers happened to walk off with this years Summer League championship, defeating the Portland Trailblazers 110-98 in Las Vegas. Lonzo Ball took home the Summer League MVP award, averaging 16.3 ppg, 9.3 assists, and 7.7 rebounds.

As exhilarating as his performance must have been for Lakers fans finally wanting to see some new energy pumped into the team culture, some would have to be brutally honest and critique the level of competition Ball faced. NBA writer Sean Deveney caught up with an NBA scout to see what he thought of the defense played against Ball in the Summer League.

RECOMMENDED (Article Continues Below)
Nikola Jokic saying "new year, new series..." Nuggets logo and the Lakers logo with a "vs." between the logos.

Rachel Strand ·

LeBron James, Anthony Davis, D'Angelo Russell, Lakers logo on one side. On other side is Jamal Murray, Nikola Jokic, Michael Porter Jr.

Bailey Bassett ·

Reggie Miller broadcast Lakers Pelicans Anthony Davis miss free throw

Peter Sampson ·

“Defenses I saw were making things a little too easy on him,” the NBA scout told Sporting News. “You can go under the screen on him, but you still have to pick him up aggressively on the other side. NBA defenses are going to be a lot more aware of his deep passes, too. I don’t know how often he will be able to throw those 50-footers. So he will have a lot to learn against better defenders, but so far so good with him.”