THE NBA Summer League has wrapped up for 2023, and there were plenty of exciting performances from some of the competition’s most recent draftees.

The Summer League is a pre-season tournament in the NBA that provides an opportunity for the best and brightest in the league to showcase their talents, while also giving undrafted prospects a chance to earn a spot on a team’s roster.

This year, the tournament took place in Las Vegas over the past couple of weeks, with the Cleveland Cavaliers taking it all out after an undefeated campaign.

With that in mind, Rookie Me Central will be taking a look at some of the players that delivered standout performances just a few months out from the start of the regular season.

Keeping the Aussie theme going, we will be taking a look at former Illawarra Hawks big man Duop Reath, who was excellent during the tournament.

Duop Reath

Still eager to work his way into the NBA, Reath suited up for the Portland Trail Blazers, coming off the bench and having a serious impact.

He was as consistent as anyone in Las Vegas, always providing an offensive spark for the Trail Blazers and proving a reliable hand for Portland to turn to when it came to offensive production.

This year saw the NBA add another two-way contract spot on each team’s roster, so Reath looked to impress as much as possible. The 27-year-old is still as good a chance as any to earn a spot on a list, and his performances at the Summer League echoed this.

A seriously skilled big man who can stretch the floor, Reath produced double-digit points constantly for the Trail Blazers, bringing plenty of energy off the bench and playing a considerable amount of minutes as reward for his strong play.

While his future on an NBA roster remains up in the air, Reath’s good form could have international implications as well.

With the FIBA World Cup approaching at a rapid place, he may well be playing his way onto the Boomers’ roster.

Australian coaches will know what he’s capable of, having dominated at NBL level for the Hawks in the past, and his Summer League form is a perfect demonstration of what he can do against some of the best in the world, so keep an eye on his name when the roster is finalised ahead of Australia’s first game in the coming weeks.