The Philadelphia 76ers began the 2024 Summer League on Monday when they took on the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Salt Lake City Summer League. It was the first opportunity for the Sixers to see what they have in youngsters such as Jared McCain and Adem Bona as well as their undrafted additions.
The Sixers were able to receive contributions from up and down the roster as they began the summer with a 102-92 win over the Thunder in Utah. McCain was solid in his debut with 15 points, six rebounds, and three assists while Bona had seven points and seven rebounds. Ricky Council IV had 29 points and eight rebounds, Keve Aluma had 12 points and eight boards, and Jeff Dowtin Jr. had 15 points, four assists, and three steals.
Here are the player grades after the summer league win:
Jared McCain: A-minus
McCain showed off an ability to get to the basket in this one. He was attacking any defender in his way and despite his smaller frame, he was able to finish up and around taller rim protectors for Oklahoma City. He made a lot of wise decisions on offense in this one in terms of when to attack and when to make a pass. He was also solid on the defensive end moving his feet well and being active on that end of the floor. He also was hustling and diving after loose balls. That type of effort will translate to the next level. A negative for him was his struggles from deep as he was unable to cash in on his 3-pointers.
Ricky Council IV: A-plus
Going through his second summer league, Council showed off his physical frame by attacking the Thunder defenders. He put the ball on the floor and attacked with strong aggression. He had a solid night and gave the summer Sixers a boost when needed. He was absolutely phenomenal in the fourth quarter with his shooting ability and offensive game to put the game away. One has to like the work he has put in on that aspect of his game. He deserves credit for being a vocal leader in this one as well.
Adem Bona: A
It’s obvious why the Sixers like Bona. He showed off a lot of what made him a valuable player while with UCLA on both ends of the floor. He attacked the basket downhill with aggressiveness and he was a key player on the defensive end of the floor as well. He had a couple of highlight plays including an alley-oop slam off a pass from McCain, a putback slam, and a great block that showed off his timing.
Jeff Dowtin Jr.: B-plus
The veteran of the summer Sixers, Dowtin ran the offense with some efficiency. Whenever he was on the floor, the Sixers seemed to find a good look at the basket. He was efficient with his own offense and made sure others got involved with the basketball. Overall, it was a nice night for him.
David Jones: B
Undrafted and on a two-way deal, Jones showed off some real NBA skills. He was able to draw defenders and kick out to shooters and showed off a bit of an outside shot. He has an NBA body and his physicality will be helpful when he gets to the next level.
Justin Edwards: Incomplete
On a two-way deal with the Sixers, Edwards wasn’t able to make much of an impact in the summer league opener, but he will continue to get a look as time goes on.
Keve Aluma: A
There was a stretch in the second quarter when Aluma gave the Sixers a big boost. He stretched the floor with his shooting as Philadelphia gained some separation in the early going. He showed off an innate ability to attack the glass in terms of his rebounding as well.
RJ Hampton: A
Looking for his next opportunity in the NBA, Hampton did some good things for himself. He knocked down some tough looks on the offensive end, made the right decisions on that end, and was aggressive on the defensive end as well. A good night for the veteran.
