You can always count on Los Angeles Lakers fans to get a little too excited about players’ performances during the Summer League. This year’s Summer League MVP and next man on the hype list is Darius Bazley.
Bazley is a long, athletic forward who has been putting up nice numbers and turning heads. There is no denying that so far he has looked good in stretches, but sorry to be the bearer of bad news, it is time to pump the brakes.
All eyes were supposed to be on Dalton Knecht. After his recent struggles, and one strong game from Bazley, he has all the attention on him. Even LakersNation joked on X, to 'sign Darius Bazley to a max contract this instant.'
Sign Darius Bazley to a max contract this instant, @Lakers.
— Lakers Nation (@LakersNation) July 9, 2025
Some fans are already penciling him into the regular season rotation. Some even think he could be a legit contributor come playoff time.
We have seen this Summer League hype before
Bazley’s had some great moments so far. In just his third game of Summer League, he popped off for 27 points, 13 boards, on 80% shooting in just 25 minutes of action.
The game before that, he dropped 16 and 9. Bazley also flirted with a double-double, 8 points with 11 boards, in the Lakers' first game in Vegas.
Solid work, but remember, this is only Summer League. These are not NBA playoff rotations. These are second-round picks, two-way contracts, and guys trying to make a G-League roster.
Bazley is not some 19-year-old prospect. He was drafted in 2019, had a decent stretch in OKC, and has bounced around ever since. Bazley has spent time with the Utah Jazz, Philadelphia 76ers, and even overseas in China last season.
His NBA averages are 8.9 points, 5.2 rebounds, shooting 41.4% from the field. That is five seasons of data, with no small sample size. Those numbers are telling of who he is.
Bazley has stayed ready for his opportunity
Bazley had a strong G-League season in 2024, made All-Defensive Team, and still fits the mold of the long, switchable forwards teams are always looking for. But calling him a core rotational piece on a team trying to compete in the wild, wild, West? Well, that is a stretch.
If Bazley cracks the Lakers roster, great. He should be happy. But if fans are expecting him to become a nightly contributor next to LeBron James and Luka Doncic, they are setting themselves up for disappointment.
Could he prove people wrong? Maybe. But Lakers fans have to stop acting like every Vegas standout is a future star. We have seen this script before, and it rarely ends the way people hope. Let’s not confuse a hot week in July with a breakout season.