Here is your guide to Wisconsin-connected players at the NBA summer league in Las Vegas
It's that time when the NBA descends on Las Vegas for the league's annual summer league.
Hundreds of high draft picks, improving young players, hopeful auditioners and even desperate veterans make up the rosters in the 10-day showcase.
Here are some names familiar to local basketball fans:
(Alphabetical order)
Patrick Baldwin Jr., Los Angeles Clippers
The former five-star recruit at Sussex Hamilton High School hasn’t found consistent success since an ill-fated season at UW-Milwaukee. Since being a first-round draft pick by the Golden State Warriors in 2022, Baldwin has seen action mostly in the G League. After a stint with the Washington Wizards and then a flurry of transactions at the trade deadline last season, Baldwin is trying to stick with the Clippers.
Reece Beekman, Denver Nuggets
Beekman grew up in Milwaukee, but went to high school in Louisiana. He played in 36 games as a rookie last season with the Golden State Warriors and the Brooklyn Nets.
MarJon Beauchamp, New York Knicks
Beauchamp never found his place with the Bucks after being the 24th overall pick in the 2022 draft. He was dealt to the Clippers for Kevin Porter Jr., but was then waived. The Knicks gave him a two-way contract in March.
Jamal Cain, Minnesota Timberwolves
The former Marquette player scratched and clawed his way into the NBA with the Miami Heat, then earned a lot of playing time last season with the New Orleans Pelicans.
D.J. Carton, Portland Trail Blazers
Carton left MU after the 2020-21 season, then bounced around the G League before playing eight games for the Toronto Raptors over the past two seasons.
Steven Crowl, Utah Jazz
The 7-footer went undrafted after playing five seasons with the University of Wisconsin.
Dawson Garcia, Detroit Pistons
Garcia was a huge recruit for Marquette, then embarked on a long college career at two other schools. He was not picked in June’s draft.
Oso Ighodaro, Phoenix Suns
The former Marquette big man returns for a second stint in the summer league. He played in 61 regular-season games as a rookie last season.
A.J. Johnson, Washington Wizards
Johnson was on the Bucks' summer-league team last year after being a first-round draft pick. He was sent to the Wizards as part of the Khris Middleton deal.
Kobe Johnson, Atlanta Hawks
The former Nicolet High School standout wasn’t drafted after playing at USC and UCLA. He’ll get a chance with the Hawks. Johnson’s older brother, Jalen, is a rising star with the franchise.
Tyler Kolek, New York Knicks
Like his former Marquette running mate Ighodaro, Kolek is back for his second stint in the summer league. He played in 41 regular-season games with the Knicks as a rookie.
Kam Jones, Indiana Pacers
After a standout four seasons at Marquette, Jones was a second-round draft pick of the Pacers. Indiana GM Kevin Pritchard said Jones is dealing with a hamstring injury, so that's something to watch in Las Vegas. One game to circle on the calendar is a possible matchup vs. Kolek on July 17.
David Joplin, Milwaukee Bucks
The local product (Brookfield Central High School and Marquette) earned a spot on the local NBA team’s summer squad.
Kon Knueppel, Charlotte Hornets
The highest-ever NBA draft pick for a Wisconsin native, the former Wisconsin Lutheran star went No. 4 after one season at Duke.
John Tonje, Utah Jazz
Tonje was picked in the second round after his All-American season with the Badgers. He’ll reunite with Crowl as teammates this summer.
Alondes Williams, Orlando Magic
The player affectionately known as “ManMan” went from Riverside High School to junior college to Oklahoma to Wake Forest before signing a two-way contract with the Nets in 2022. He’s also been in the Heat and Pistons organizations, seeing action in nine regular-season games.