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OKC suffered a 109-80 loss to Charlotte<\/a> in the semifinals. The Thunder, which was without Ajay Mitchell and Nikola Topi\u0107<\/a>, trailed for all but 54 seconds.<\/p>\n That marked the end of OKC’s time in Las Vegas, but it can count its chips with pride. The Thunder received strong showings from players such as Mitchell and Topi\u0107, who’ll compete for minutes next season, and they potentially hit the jackpot with other players such as Brooks Barnhizer<\/a> and Chris Youngblood.<\/p>\n “I thought the guys made a lot of progress throughout the time (in Las Vegas), and that’s promising,” OKC Summer League head coach Connor Johnson said. “There are a lot of positives to take away.”<\/p>\n OKC will now shift its focus to the 2025-26 preseason<\/a>, which begins on Oct. 5 with a game against none other than Charlotte in Charleston, South Carolina.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n Here are four more takeaways from the game:<\/p>\n Pre-order our new book on the Thunder’s road to NBA Finals<\/a><\/p>\n More: NBA Summer League 2025: OKC Thunder roster, schedule and everything else to know<\/a><\/p>\n Branden Carlson showed flashes of shot creation<\/p>\n M.J. Walker’s stance, despite being open, was far from inviting.<\/p>\n When Branden Carlson<\/a> searched for a way around the Charlotte guard on the perimeter, he was met with an elbow to the rib cage. It was a clear sign to back up.<\/p>\n So, he did. Carlson separated himself from Walker with a stepback 3-pointer, which found the bottom of the net. That marked the second straight off-the-dribble bucket for the 7-foot center midway through the first quarter.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n On a day when OKC was without its go-to playmakers, Mitchell and Topi\u0107, Carlson showed an ability to create for himself. The 26-year-old big man recorded 12 points and seven rebounds on 5-for-10 shooting from the field (1 for 3 from deep).<\/p>\n Carlson impressed this summer after missing OKC’s first five games due to a sprained ankle. He averaged 11.7 points, six rebounds and 2.3 assists throughout three contests on 56.7% shooting from the field (50% from deep).<\/p>\n Carlson is set to rejoin OKC next season. He recently signed a new two-way contract<\/a>.<\/p>\n More: Ajay Mitchell, Nikola Topi\u0107 injury update: OKC guards won’t play in Summer League playoffs<\/a><\/p>\n Brooks Barnhizer #23 of the Oklahoma City Thunder brings the ball up the court during the second half of their NBA Summer League game against the Memphis Grizzlies at the Jon M. Huntsman Center<\/p>\n Charlotte dared Brooks Barnhizer to shoot from deep<\/p>\n As Youngblood waited to inbound the ball late in the second quarter, Barnhizer slowly crept out to the 3-point line.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n Barnhizer wasn’t followed by a defender, but that was by design. The Hornets, who’d swarmed the Thunder all game on defense, deemed other threats to be a bigger priority.<\/p>\n Barnhizer gathered a pass at the top of the arc, and he had plenty of space to let it fly. The ball clanked off the left side of the rim.<\/p>\n Barnhizer shined this summer as a strong defender, an aggressive rebounder and a good finisher who can absorb contract. But his 3-point shooting remains a work in progress, which is why Charlotte dared him to shoot throughout the game.<\/p>\n Barnhizer finished with 10 points and three rebounds. He went 3 for 12 from the field (1 for 6 from deep).<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n After being selected by OKC in the second round (44th overall) of the 2025 draft<\/a>, Barnhizer played in all eight of his team’s Summer League games. He averaged 10.4 points, 5.9 rebounds and 2.6 steals on 47.7% shooting from the field (25% from deep).<\/p>\n More: Thunder rookie Brooks Barnhizer ‘grateful’ to play for ex-teammate in NBA Summer League<\/a><\/p>\n LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – JULY 10: Chris Youngblood #40 of the Oklahoma City Thunder drives against Egor Demin #8 of the Brooklyn Nets in the first half of a 2025 NBA Summer League game at the Thomas & Mack Center on July 10, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada.<\/p>\n Chris Youngblood completed his compelling Summer League run<\/p>\n Thomas & Mack Center was silent.<\/p>\n Its seats, which were filled at the start of Summer League, were now mostly empty. Some fans had gone back home. Others had better plans for a Saturday night in Las Vegas than to watch a blowout game.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n But even with the air taken out of the venue, OKC received a brief spark midway through the third quarter. It came from its top flamethrower, Youngblood, who drilled a pair of 3-pointers on consecutive possessions.<\/p>\n That wasn’t enough to turn things around for OKC, which was still eliminated from the playoffs. But it was the final set of fireworks from Youngblood, who delivered a dazzling display of 3-point shooting this summer.<\/p>\n After not getting selected in the 2025 draft, Youngblood made the most of his opportunity in Salt Lake City and Las Vegas. He averaged 11 points throughout eight games on 46.5% shooting from deep.<\/p>\n Youngblood has made a compelling case to earn OKC’s third and final two-way contract. The other two spots have gone to Carlson and Barnhizer<\/a>.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n More: OKC Thunder signing Ajay Mitchell to three-year contract worth nearly $9M, per report<\/a><\/p>\n Erik Reynolds II made his minutes count down the stretch<\/p>\n The second half of Saturday’s blowout game might not have meant much to most people, but it meant something to Erik Reynolds II.<\/p>\n OKC’s backup guard scored all 16 of his points in the final two quarters. He went 5 for 12 from the field (5 for 11 from deep).<\/p>\n After spending all four seasons of his college career at Saint Joseph’s, Reynolds didn’t get selected in the 2025 draft. He then joined OKC for Summer League but struggled to see the floor.<\/p>\n Reynolds entered Saturday’s contest with an average of 6.8 minutes played through six games, and he didn’t play in another game. But he logged 21 minutes against Charlotte and used that valuable time to showcase his sharpshooting skills.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n It’s hard to imagine Reynolds earning OKC’s final two-way contract over a player such as Youngblood, who caught fire from deep throughout the entire Summer League run. But it might be worth the Thunder taking a closer look at him on its G League affiliate, the OKC Blue.<\/p>\n More: OKC Thunder signs 2025 NBA Draft picks Thomas Sorber, Brooks Barnhizer<\/a><\/p>\n Justin Martinez covers sports for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Justin? He can be reached at jmartinez@oklahoman.com or on X\/Twitter at\u00a0@Justintohoops. Sign up for the\u00a0Thunder Sports Minute newsletter<\/a>\u00a0to access more NBA coverage. Support Justin’s work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a\u00a0digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"Brooks](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/1752989175_441_8ed5556c4d62ef17b551ddb0e88ce65f.jpeg\"\/)
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