By Marty Blake

Las Vegas Nev. – The most successful of the previous Las Vegas summer leagues closed with a roaring performance by rookies Jeff Green and Kevin Durant, albeit in losing efforts. The addition of five new NBA teams brought the total to 22 league participants and a good majority of the first and second round picks from this year’s NBA Draft were showcased. Games were played at both the Thomas and Mack Center, home of the U of Nevada-Las Vegas Runnin’ Rebels, and the Cox Pavilion, the home of the UNLV women’s teams. It had to be the biggest bargain in basketball with at least a combined six or seven games being played at the two venues. Admission was $25.00 and a ticket allowed you to attend events when both were hosting the games at the same time.

The New York Knicks and Dallas Mavericks tied for first place in this year’s tourney, each with perfect 5-0 records. The Mavericks were led by All-Tourney selections Jose Juan Barea and Pops Mensah-Bonsu – both rising second year players – while New York was led by the MVP of the event, Nate Robinson, and second year player Renaldo Balkman. Detroit, Houston and Minnesota tied for second with each winning four of the five games. Five teams finished with three wins in five tries – Boston, Denver, Golden State, Philadelphia and Sacramento.

Two-year vet Von Wafer of Denver had a tourney high of 42 points, as did Marcus Banks, while first round pick Marco Belinelli (Golden State) poured in 37 in his initial outing. Top scorers were Louis Williams of Philadelphia (25.2 ppg), Von Wafer (24.2 ppg), Kevin Durant (24.0) and Belinelli (22.8 ppg).

Rookie Glen “Big Baby” Davis (Boston) and Josh Powell (Golden State) each had 49 grabs (9.8 rpg), and Corey Brewer (Minnesota) grabbed 48 (9.6 rpg). Otis George (Phoenix), a U of Louisville product who played overseas the past two years, chipped in with 47 retrieves (9.4 rpg).

D.J. Strawberry, who was a second round pick of the Suns and one of the biggest surprises here, led the tourney in assists with 32 for the week (6.4 apg), while second year man, Jose Juan Barea was right behind with 31 (6.2 apg). Strawberry was picked 59th (in the second round). He also finished second in scoring on his team to first round pick Alando Tucker, with a mark of 15.6 ppg to the Wisconsin product’s 17.4 ppg.

Second-year player, Justin Williams (Sacramento) led the tourney in rebounds with 53 (10.6 rpg), while veteran center Jelani McCoy had an event high of 14 blocks to go with 9.0 rpg.

We are going to list the All-League Team on the following chart and show the round and the year each player was picked. Please note that of the 15 players listed – including MVP Robinson – 11 were drafted in the first round of the past three drafts and only three were second round picks. Barea was the only non-drafted player to make the All-League team. This indicates how effective the NBA teams have been in utilizing the draft in recent years to help mold their future players. It should be pointed out that first overall pick Greg Oden (Portland) only played two games. Joakim Noah (Chicago) did not play due to injuries suffered during the season.

Player	Team	Round Selected	Year
Aaron Brooks	Rockets	1	2007
Al Thornton	Clippers	1	2007
Craig Smith	Timberwolves	2	2006
Javaris Crittenton	Lakers	1	2007
Jose Juan Barea	Mavericks	none	2006
Kevin Durant	Sonics	1	2007
Kyle Lowry	Grizzlies	1	2006
Louis Williams	Sixers	2	2006
Marco Belinelli	Warriors	1	2007
Rodney Stuckey	Pistons	1	2007
Rudy Gay	Grizzlies	1	2006
Randy Foye	Timberwolves	1	2006
Spencer Hawes	Kings	1	2007
Von Wafrer	Nuggets	2	2005
Nate Robinson	Knicks	1	2005

Of the 30 first rounders drafted in 2007, 22 attended the Vegas tourney. They were: Oden and Peteri Koponen (Portland); Durant and Jeff Green (Seattle); Yi Jianlian (Milwaukee); Brewer (Minnesota); Hawes (Sacramento); Thaddeus Young and Jason Smith (Philadelphia); Brandan Wright and Belinelli (Golden State); Al Thornton (Clippers); Rodney Stuckey and Aaron Afflalo (Detroit); Nick Young (Washington); Javaris Crittenton (Lakers); Wilson Chandler (New York); Brooks (Houston); Mike Conley Jr. (Memphis) and Alando Tucker (Phoenix).

Twenty-Four second rounders also played. They were: Carl Landry (Seattle); Gabe Pruitt and Davis (Boston); Marcus Williams (San Antonio); Nick Fazekas, Renaldas Seibutis and Reyshawn Terry (Dallas); Josh McRoberts and Taurean Green (Portland); Chris Richard (Minnesota); Jared Jordan (Clippers); Stephane Lasme (Golden State); Dominic McGuire (Washington); Demetris Nichols (New York), Herbert Hill (Utah); Ramon Sessions (Milwaukee); Sammy Mejia (Detroit) and Strawberry (Phoenix).

Other first rounders played at either Orlando or Utah. They included Al Horford and Acie Law IV (Atlanta); Sean Williams (New Jersey); Daequan Cook (Miami); Jared Dudley (Charlotte) and Morris Almond (Utah). Second rounders who played at Orlando or Utah were Jermareo Davidson (Charlotte), Derrick Byars (Philadelphia), Aaron Gray (Chicago) and JamesOn Curry (Chicago).

A number of international players who were drafted were playing on their respective international teams and could not attend.

Everyone agrees this was one of the best drafts in recent years. In most cases, this summer’s events added luster to that collection.