NBA Summer League for 2026 concluded in Las Vegas with the Golden State Warriors crowned champions, in an edition that carried exceptional momentum thanks to a draft class described as one of the strongest in years. The summer tournament, considered the first real test for new players before they meet the regular season, gives teams a chance to evaluate their picks and young talent under genuinely competitive conditions. It is also the first window for fans onto future stars before the season begins in October. This recap runs through the highlights of NBA Summer League this year: the champion, the MVP, and the names that made their mark.
Golden State Warriors, NBA Summer League Champions
The Golden State Warriors took the tournament title after beating the Memphis Grizzlies 94-90 in the final at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas. The win came after a dramatic comeback from a twelve-point deficit in the fourth quarter, with the team finishing the tournament on a record of five wins and one loss.
Memphis controlled much of the final and carried a comfortable advantage until the fourth quarter, before the game turned in the Warriors’ favor in the decisive minutes. This is the Warriors’ first NBA Summer League title since 2013, and it came led by one of this year’s standout draft picks. The comeback in the final reflected the young team’s character and its ability to close under pressure — something that drew attention in a tournament that is supposed to be a test of individual talent more than a team competition.
Lendeborg, NBA Summer League MVP
Yaxel Lendeborg, the Warriors’ rookie, won the tournament’s MVP award by a vote of all thirty teams. In the final, Lendeborg posted a double-double of 21 points and ten rebounds in thirty-two minutes, and averaged 14.8 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 4 assists over six games in the tournament, on shooting splits of 46% from the field and 36% from beyond the three-point arc.
The Warriors selected Lendeborg with the eleventh pick in the 2026 draft and signed him to a four-year contract. Notably, Lendeborg is 23, older than most of his peers in the rookie class, which explains his advanced physical readiness and skill. He spent two college seasons before turning professional, and added the summer title to his record after winning a college championship earlier in the year. His performance at NBA Summer League cemented expectations that he will have a direct impact in the coming season.
Draft Class Stars at NBA Summer League
What distinguished this year’s edition was that the new draft class was the center of attention. The top four picks all delivered standout performances that confirmed why they are viewed as potential future stars:
- AJ Dybantsa — the first pick, who opened the tournament with a notable head-to-head against the second pick
- Darryn Peterson — the second pick, in an opening game described as one of the most anticipated of the summer
- Cameron Boozer — the third pick, who delivered composed, consistent performances for Memphis and led his team to the final
- Caleb Wilson — the fourth pick, one of the tournament’s biggest surprises and a member of the First Team
The opening game between Dybantsa and Peterson was described as one of the most anticipated in NBA Summer League history, pitting the first two draft picks against each other from the very first night — an indicator of the scale of interest in this class specifically.
The All-Summer League First Team
The thirty teams selected the tournament’s All-Summer League First Team, comprising five names that stood out across eleven days of competition in Las Vegas:
- Cameron Boozer — Memphis Grizzlies
- Brayden Burries — Milwaukee Bucks
- Yaxel Lendeborg — Golden State Warriors
- Meleek Thomas — Cleveland Cavaliers
- Caleb Wilson — Chicago Bulls
The team reflected the diversity of the class: a mix of early lottery picks and second-round players who made their mark through performance rather than draft position. Notably, Meleek Thomas of the Cavaliers came from the second round of the draft but claimed a place on the team through his play.
What NBA Summer League This Year Means for the Coming Season
The bottom line is that the 2026 draft class lived up to the high expectations placed on it. The summer tournament settles nothing definitively — it is a limited test with young players and conditions different from the regular season — but it showed that a number of the leading picks are ready to compete for real roles immediately.
Lendeborg established himself as the biggest winner, and the top four picks confirmed their standing. NBA Summer League this year offered an encouraging glimpse of a new generation of players, and promised exciting matchups in the near future as these names enter the full season.
Summary
NBA Summer League 2026 will be remembered for the Golden State Warriors taking their first title since 2013, for the standout play of Yaxel Lendeborg, who claimed the MVP award, and for a strong draft class led by the top four picks. The summer tournament played its role as a first window onto future stars, and left the impression that the coming season carries a promising generation of talent.
