5 NBA Rookies Who Already Look Like Draft Steals at 2025 Summer League

It's still early. We're barely through the opening weekend of the NBA's annual summer league in Las Vegas. But it's not too early for some takes on the 2025 draftees.

Several already look like they might be potential steals, based on where they were taken in June.

From wings taken late in the first round, to an international man of mystery taken just outside the lottery, to a potential All-Defense selection just ahead of him, these are the incoming rookies already outperforming their draft position.

Liam McNeeley was the 10th-ranked prospect in a high school class that included Cooper Flagg, Ace Bailey, Dylan Harper and several others who just heard their names called by the NBA commissioner last month.

But he had a hard time fitting into UConn's system (thanks in part to an injury), shot 38.1 percent from the field as a freshman and almost slipped out of the first round.

Through two games, though, he's looked every bit the five-star recruit he was in high school, calmly stepping into off-the-dribble and catch-and-shoot threes, attacking the paint when opportunities arise and providing some ancillary contributions, too.

In his debut game in Vegas, McNeeley went off for 22 points, 12 rebounds and six assists.

And if he winds up spending a lot of time in lineups with LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller and Kon Knueppel, he could be in line for some big nights against opponents' third- or fourth-best perimeter defenders.

Jase Richardson wasn't quite as highly touted as McNeeley coming out of high school, but he was still a four-star recruit and the son of Jason Richardson, who's in the top 200 in NBA history for career points scored.

The younger Richardson is undersized (at 6'0½" without shoes), but he can really shoot and has some serious pedigree.

So even though he fell to the bottom third of the first round, his summer shooting performances for the Orlando Magic probably shouldn't be all that surprising.

Richardson was 2-of-3 from deep in his first game, and he followed that up with a 19-point performance in which he generated nine free-throw attempts.

Defense and his lack of length may eventually force him to be a "heat check off the bench guy," but early returns suggest he might be able to thrive there.

Being "old" is often considered a knock against a prospect in the pre-draft process, and 23-year-old Nique Clifford certainly qualifies.

The five-year college player didn't even average double figures in any of his first three campaigns. But his slower development could prove incredibly valuable for the Sacramento Kings.

Clifford's experience has translated to the mature, patient game of a rookie who might be able to contribute to a veteran-laden roster right away.

The 23-year-old had 17 points on 5-of-12 shooting in his debut, 19 on 8-of-13 shooting in his second game and 19 more on 7-of-8 shooting on Monday.

With his steady shooting, 6'5" frame and 6'8" wingspan, Clifford looks like the kind of prototypical wing who could enjoy a long NBA career.

Hansen Yang started getting second-round buzz in the weeks immediately before the draft. Over the last day or two, there were even some whispers that he might sneak into the first round.

When his name was called for the Portland Trail Blazers at No. 16, it was undoubtedly the biggest shock of the night.

And yet, he might still prove to be a steal.

In his last season for Qingdao in China's CBA, Yang averaged 16.6 points, 10.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 2.6 blocks. But those numbers came in a league in which J.R. Smith averaged 34.4 points. And there were real questions about Yang's foot speed relative to NBA talent.

Those will probably persist for a while, but there shouldn't be many questions about the speed at which he processes the game. That, in combination with his vision and passing ability could make him a real offensive weapon. It's no wonder he's already being referred to as the Chinese Jokić.

And while he isn't likely to win multiple MVPs, it is starting to look like Yang has the skill necessary to be the fulcrum of a high-level offense.

If Yang is sort of the "defense may take a while" prospect from this class, Carter Bryant is likely the opposite.

Through three games in Vegas, he's just 3-of-24 from the field. He's only connected on two three-point attempts. And he's done little to nothing in terms of creating on the ball.

But Bryant still looks like a potential steal at No. 14, thanks to genuinely dominant perimeter defense.

He combines absurd lateral quickness with a 6'11¾" wingspan, which has allowed him to more than stay in front of just about every assignment in Vegas. He makes trying to get free almost torturous.

Those attributes also helped him put up staggering block (2.9 per 100 possessions) and steal (2.8 per 100 possessions) rates in college, which should translate to impact defense in lineups that already include Victor Wembanyama.

Even if Bryant can't average more than four or five points as a rookie in 2025-26, he could have a clearly positive impact overall.