Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the NBA Summer League match.
Brooklyn Nets
The Brooklyn Nets approach this fixture with a more cohesive and experienced roster. The squad includes four players with a year of NBA experience and five newly drafted rookies. The spotlight is on Egor Demin, who has already received praise from Jordi Fernández for his court awareness and physical tools. The Brooklyn Nets won three out of four group-stage games in last year’s Summer League, and this year’s lineup looks even more promising. In addition to Demin, the Nets selected four more players in the draft. These include forward Nolan Traoré from the French league, forward Drake Powell from the North Carolina Tar Heels, guard Ben Saraf, who played for Ratiopharm Ulm, and centre Danny Wolf from the Michigan Wolverines.
Oklahoma City Thunder
The Oklahoma City Thunder have listed 19 players, but only five have any NBA experience. The younger group, who trained in Utah, failed to deliver encouraging performances — the team lost two of their three games. The Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Philadelphia 76ers (89:78), but lost to the Memphis Grizzlies (80:92) and the Utah Jazz (82:86). Viktor Lakhin remains sidelined due to injury, and the core of this summer’s team lacks chemistry, even by Summer League standards. Notably, the Oklahoma City Thunder failed to register a single group-stage win in Las Vegas last year.
Brooklyn Nets vs Oklahoma City Thunder Prediction
The Brooklyn Nets appear to be in a stronger position: they boast a well-balanced roster, a developmental focus on their draft picks, and a structured tactical approach. Given the Oklahoma City Thunder’s lacklustre recent form, the Brooklyn Nets look capable of securing the win. We’re backing them with a modest plus handicap.
