Pacers Summer League Rookies Keep Turning Heads in Vegas

The Indiana Pacers’ young guns are making plenty of noise in Las Vegas, even if the Summer League isn’t the Eastern Conference Finals just yet. Indiana improved to 2–2 in Summer League play Thursday, outlasting the New York Knicks 91–88 in a game that showcased promising performances from several key prospects.

Second-round pick Kam Jones stole the show, dropping 21 points and dishing out 11 assists in a dazzling display of poise at point guard. Enrique Freeman continues to bolster his bid for a two-way contract, adding 18 points and 10 rebounds while showing the hustle and polish that have caught scouts’ attention all week.

The Pacers’ Summer League campaign has already featured its share of highlights — Johnny Furphy’s thunderous dunk earlier in the week will live in Vegas lore — but Thursday was about the team’s ability to grind out a tight contest down the stretch.

With Summer League regulars like Furphy and RayJ Dennis getting the night off, others stepped up in their absence. Buddy Boeheim added 12 points and Steven Ashworth chipped in six while spacing the floor with his shooting.

The Pacers close out their Summer League slate Friday night against the New Orleans Pelicans on ESPN, offering one final chance for these prospects to make their case before training camp decisions are made.

While the Summer League may not count in the standings, the Pacers’ rookies and hopefuls are proving they’ve got plenty of fight in their doghouse — and fans have every reason to believe the team’s future remains bright.