By R.L. Bynum

High draft picks are typically done after two NBA Summer League games, but Caleb Wilson isn’t like most high draft picks.

He wanted to keep grinding because he says he loves playing, and he has shown the NBA world why he should have been picked higher than No. 4 in the NBA draft. Some have compared Wilson to Kevin Garnett, who has dubbed Wilson “The Little Ticket.”

In just under 24½ minutes over three quarters in his Chicago Bulls’ 105–82 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers in Las Vegas on Thursday, he did a little bit of everything in collecting 21 points, eight rebounds, two assists and a steal.

Like it or not, Wilson won’t play in the Bulls’ final Summer League game Friday night against the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Bulls announced after Thursday’s game. That undoubtedly wasn’t Wilson’s decision.

The good news for Wilson is that the team around him when the NBA season starts will be much better than the Summer League Bulls.

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His Summer League finale wasn’t always positive, as he showed his frustration that led to an emphatic offensive foul, and he committed a Summer League-high eight turnovers to push his average to 5.2.

Wilson was better at the free-throw line, 3-for-5, pushing his Summer League free-throw percentage to 33.3% (6-for-18). He was 1-for-6 from 3-point range as the Bulls collectively were 3-for-33 (9.1%).

But his overall numbers in four Summer League games were impressive: 23.5 points, 50% from the floor, 41.9% from 3-point range, 4.1 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and nearly a block a game.

Both Henri Veesaar and Drake Powell had quiet games in losses on Thursday.

In just over 19½ minutes of his Atlanta Hawks’ 96–64 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies, Veesaar had five points and three rebounds.

A win would have advanced the Hawks to the semifinals. Instead, their final Summer League game will be at 7 p.m. on Saturday (ESPN), a consolation contest against Seth Trimble and the Washington Wizards.

Powell’s shooting struggles continued in the Brooklyn Nets’ 100–83 loss to the Houston Rockets. He scored six points, going 1-of-6 from the floor while missing all four 3-point attempts. Through six games, Powell is shooting 18.2% from the floor and 16.0% from 3-point range, although he’s making 88.9% of his free-throw attempts.

The Nets play a consolation game against the Oklahoma City Thunder at 4:30 Sunday (ESPN).

Friday, July 3, result
— Heat 88, Spurs 87 | RJ Davis: didn’t start, 18:20, 15 points, 4–8 FG, 3–5 3FG, 2–3 FT, 2 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 1 foul, team-high +16
Saturday, July 4, results
— Bucks 97, Warriors Blue 83 | Cormac Ryan: started, 18:39, 13 points, 3–8 FG, 3–6 3FG, 3–3 FT, 2 turnovers, 3 fouls, +5 | Pete Nance: didn’t play (coach’s decision)
— Jazz 103, Hawks 102, OT | Henri Veesaar: didn’t start, 18:12, 5 points, 2–4 FG, 1–3 3FG, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 fouls, -13
— Kings 79, Nets 76 | Drake Powell: started: 27:01, 4 points, 0–9 FG, 0–5 3FG, 2–3 FT, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 3 turnovers, 2 fouls, -5
Sunday, July 5, results
— Nets 89, Bucks 69 | Neither Drake Powell, Cormac Ryan nor Pete Nance active for game
— Warriors Gold team 98, Spurs 69 | RJ Davis: didn’t start, 21:20, 2 points, 1–9 FG, 0–5 3FG, 1–1 FT, 2 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 block, 3 turnovers, 2 fouls, team-low -22
Monday, July 6, results
— Hawks 82, Thunder 77 | Henri Veesaar: didn’t start, 16:48, 2 points, 1–4 FG, 0–1 3FG, 7 rebounds, team-low -11
— Lakers 88, Spurs 84 | RJ Davis: started, 29:25, 18 points, 7–16 FG, 2–7 3FG, 2–4 FT, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 turnovers, 3 fouls, team-high +10
— Nets 100, Warriors Gold team 79 | Drake Powell: started, 23:20, 2 points, 1–8 FG, 0–4 3FG, 4 rebounds, 1 steal, 2 turnovers, 3 fouls, +20
— Kings 95, Bucks 89 | Cormac Ryan: not active for game
Tuesday, July 7, result
— Hawks 92, Grizzlies 82 | Henri Veesaar: Started, 23:32, 11 points, 4–9 FG, 2–5 3FG, 1–2 FT, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, 1 block 4 turnovers, 5 fouls, +5
All games below are in Las Vegas
Thursday, July 9, results
— Hawks 93, Spurs 66:
* Henri Veesaar (Hawks): didn’t start, 19:00, 14 points, 5–8 FG, 2–5 3FG, 1–2 FT, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 1 block, 1 turnover, 2 fouls, +17; Summer League totals: 8.0 points, 48 FG%, 45.7 3P%, 2–4 FT, 5.2 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 2 blocks
* RJ Davis (Spurs): started; 24:42, 12 points, 5–10 FG, 0–3 3FG, 2–3 FT, 2 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, 3 turnovers, 1 foul, team-low -20
— Wizards 92, Jazz 88 | Seth Trimble: didn’t start; 11:45, 2 points, 1–2 FG, 0–1 3FG, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, 1 foul, +6
Friday, July 10, results
— Heat 119, Bucks 86:
* Pete Nance: started, 26;15, 16 points, 6–10 FG, 4–8 3FG, 7 rebounds, 2 blocks, 1 turnover, 2 fouls, -14 (first game of the summer)
* Cormac Ryan: didn’t start, 22:07, 7 points, 2–7 FG, 1–4 3FG, 1–1 FT, 8 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 blocks, 4 turnovers, 3 fouls, team-low -28
— Nets 91, Knicks 65 | Drake Powell: started; 20:55, 1 point, 0–7 FG, 0–3 3FG, 1–1 FT, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 3 fouls, +7 |
— Grizzlies 97, Bulls 96 | Caleb Wilson: started, 32:56, 35 points,12–21 FG, 7–11 3FG, 2–6 FT, 5 rebounds, 2 steals, 3 blocks, 6 turnovers, 2 fouls, -11
Saturday, July 11, results
— Spurs 70, Knicks 49 | RJ Davis: didn’t start, 18:16, 5 points, 2–9 FG, 1–5 3FG, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 3 turnovers, 1 foul, +4
— Hawks 83, Nets 76:
* Henri Veesaar: didn’t start, 16:52, 6 points, 3–5 FG, 0–1 3FG, 0–1 FT, 1 rebound, 2 assists, 2 blocks, 1 turnover, 2 fouls, +15
* Drake Powell: started, 4 points, 0–4 FG, 0–2 3FG, 2–2 FT, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 turnover, +1
Sunday, July 12, results
— Wizards 104, Kings 85 | Seth Trimble: didn’t start; 20:07, 8 points, 3–10 FT, 0–3 3FG, 1–1 FT, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals, 1 foul, -4
— Spurs 90, Bucks 80
* RJ Davis: started; 28:54, 20 points, 6–16 FG, 2–7 3FG, 4–7 FT, 1 rebound, 3 assists, 2 steals, 1 turnover, 1 foul, game-high +22
* Pete Nance: started, 23:54, 8 points, 3–6 FG, 2–4 FT, 0–1 FT, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 block, 2 turnovers, 7 fouls, +2
* Cormac Ryan: didn’t start; 15 points, 5–13 FG, 3–7 3FG, 1–4 FT, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 4 steals, 3 turnovers, 3 fouls, team-low -9 | Summer League totals: 5 games, 42 points, 12–35 FG, 7–21 3FG, 6–10 FT, 21 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 blocks
Monday‘s results
— Hawks 102, Celtics 90 | Henri Veesaar: started, 23:08, 20 points, 7–12 FG, 4–6 3FG, 1–2 FT, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, 3 turnovers, 3 fouls, -7 | Veesaar Summer League totals: 6 games, 9.7 points, 52.4 FG%, 42.9 3P%, 42.9 FT%, 4.3 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 0.5 of a steal, 0.8 of a block
— Jazz 80, Bulls 63 | Caleb Wilson: started, 29:27, 19 points, 8–17 FG, 3–8 3FG, 0–6 FT, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, 5 blocks, 4 turnovers, 5 fouls, -14
— Suns 95, Bucks 88 | Pete Nance: started; 23:30, 7 points, 3–7 FG, 1–2 3FG, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 2 fouls, -10 | Cormac Ryan didn’t play (coach’s decision)
Tuesday’s results
— Nets 115, Kings 83 | Drake Powell: started, 21:04, 18 points, 6–10 FG, 4–7 3FG, 1–1 FT, 1 rebound, 2 steals, 1 block, 2 turnovers, 4 fouls, +16
— Bulls 99, Wizards 87:
* Caleb Wilson: started. 23:51, 19 points, 7–15 FG, 2–6 3FG, 1–1 FT. 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 block, 3 turnovers, 3 fouls, -1
* Seth Trimble: started, 27:51, 27:51, 13 points, 2–7 FG, 1–3 3FG, 4–4 FT, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, 3 turnovers, 5 fouls, -9
Wednesday’s results
— Bucks 110, Hornets 91 | Pete Nance: started, 26:35, 11 points, 4–9 FG, 3–8 3FG, 2 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, 2 turnovers, 4 fouls, game-high +25 | Nance Summer League totals: 4 games, 10.5 points, 60.0 FG%, 45.5 3P%, 0–1 FT, 3.0 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 0.5 of a steal, 1.0 block | Cormac Ryan didn’t play (coach’s decision) |
— Spurs 94, Jazz 82 | RJ Davis: started; 14 points, 5–12 FG, 1–6 3FG, 1–1 FT, 12 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 4 turnovers, 1 foul, +3 | Davis Summer League totals: 7 games, 12.3 points, 38.0 FG%, 23.7 3FG%, 57.9 FT%, 3.6 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.0 steal
— Clippers 108, Wizards 94 | Seth Trimble: started; 26:59, 24 points, 8–12 FG, 2–5 3FG, 4–5 FT, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 1 block, 2 turnovers, 3 fouls, team-low -22 | Trimble Summer League totals: 4 games, 11.8 points, 45.26 FG%, 25.0 3P%, 90.0 FT%, 3.5 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.8 steals
Thursday’s results
— Rockets 100, Nets 83 | Drake Powell: started, 24:46, 6 points, 1–6 FG, 0–4 3FG, 2–2 FT, 1 rebound, 1 assist, 1 turnover, 3 steals, 1 block , -13 | Powell Summer League totals: 6 games, 5.8 points,18.2 FG%, 16.0 3P%, 88.9 FT%, 3.2 rebounds, 1.0 assist, 1.2 steals, 0.3 of a block, 1.7 turnovers
— Lakers 105, Bulls 82 | Caleb Wilson: started, 24:25, 21 points, 7–15 FG, 1–6 3fG, 3–5 FT, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, 8 turnovers, 4 fouls, -26 | Wilson Summer League totals: 4 games, 23.5 points, 50.0 FG%, 41.9 3P%, 33.3 FT%, 7.2 rebounds, 1.2 steals, 2.5 blocks, 5.2 turnovers
— Grizzlies 96, Hawks 64 | Henri Veesaar: started, 5 points, 2–6 FG, 1–3 3FG, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 1 block, 3 turnovers, 6 fouls, -20 | Veesaar Summer League totals: 7 games, 9.0 points, 50 FG%, 41.7 3P%, 42.9 FT%, 4.1 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 0.6 of a steal, 0.9 of a block, 2.1 turnovers
Friday’s consolation game
Chicago Bulls (Wilson) vs. Cavaliers, 7 p.m., ESPN
Saturday’s consolation games
Bucks (Ryan and Nance) vs. 76ers, 5 p.m., ESPN
Hawks (Veesaar) vs. Wizards (Trimble), 7 p.m., ESPN
Spurs (Davis) vs. Suns, 10:30, Prime Video
Sunday’s consolation game
Nets (Powell) vs. Thunder, 4:30, ESPN

The Las Vegas schedule reflects each team’s first four Summer League games there, which count toward tournament seeding. The top four teams advance to the semifinals July 18, with the championship game July 19. TV assignments for several later-round games were still to be determined.

Note that an experimental one-free-throw rule is in place. One, two and three free-throw sequences produce a single attempt worth the same total points, except for the final two minutes of the fourth quarter and all overtime periods when standard free‑throw rules apply.

Photo via nba.com

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