Four of the five NBA rookies from coach Mark Pope’s first University of Kentucky basketball team have made their debuts in the 2025 Summer League in Las Vegas.
For Kentucky’s two NBA draft picks, the results were sparkling. The three undrafted free agents have some ground to make up to earn full-time roster spots.
The NBA’s annual Summer League runs from July 10-20 so plenty of opportunities for exposure remain for those looking for work.
Koby Brea and Amari Williams, both second-round picks in last month’s draft, made their Summer League debuts Friday, as did undrafted rookie Andrew Carr. Ex-Cat Jaxson Robinson played his opener Thursday. Lamont Butler has yet to take the floor in Vegas.
Koby Brea
The former Kentucky sharpshooter was drafted No. 41 overall by the Golden State Warriors and traded that night to the Phoenix Suns as part of the historic seven-team swap that sent Kevin Durant to Houston.
The 6-foot-7 Brea, who spent one season at UK after transferring from Dayton, started at shooting guard for the Suns against Washington on Friday night and played almost 24 minutes in Phoenix’s 103-84 victory.
Brea made 7 of 10 shots from the field, including 4 of 5 attempts from 3-point range, on his way to 19 points. The rookie also collected three rebounds and a steal and committed four turnovers.
“It was great, man, just to be out there finally living the dream, being out there on an NBA court with an NBA team,” Brea said after the win. “Just really happy with what we did out there.”
In Phoenix, Brea will have the opportunity to team up with fellow former Wildcat Devin Booker, who last week signed a new contract reported at $145 million for two years.
Brea and the Suns will be back in action Sunday against Atlanta (3:30 p.m. EDT, NBA TV).
Amari Williams
The former Kentucky center was picked No. 46 overall last month by the Orlando Magic and traded on draft night to the Boston Celtics.
The 7-foot Williams started in the middle for Boston on Friday night and scored nine points in 21-plus minutes in a 92-78 Celtics win over Memphis. Williams, who spent one season at Kentucky after transferring from Drexel, made all three of his shot attempts and 3 of his 4 free throws. The Englishman also collected three rebounds, an assist and a steal, blocked two shots and committed three turnovers.
Charles Bassey, a former Western Kentucky University standout who spent the past three seasons with the San Antonio Spurs, posted a double-double for Boston with 14 points and 11 boards in 18 minutes off the bench. The 6-foot-10 Bassey was a last-minute addition to the Celtics’ Summer League roster.
The Celtics’ next Summer League game is Sunday against the New York Knicks (5:30 p.m., NBA TV).
Andrew Carr
Carr, who played one season at Kentucky after transferring from Wake Forest, hooked up with the Portland Trail Blazers as an undrafted free agent.
In his Summer League debut Friday night, the 6-foot-11 Carr played almost 13 minutes off the bench, making 1 of 4 shots and finishing with two points, two rebounds and one assist in Portland’s 106-73 romp over Golden State.
Portland’s next game was set for Saturday against Memphis (10:30 p.m., ESPN2).
Jaxson Robinson
The former Kentucky shooting guard took the floor in game action on Thursday for the first time since Feb. 26 when he aggravated a wrist injury at Oklahoma and was lost for the rest of the season.
Robinson, who spent one year at UK after transferring from BYU where he played for Pope, came off the bench Thursday for the Cleveland Cavaliers in a 116-115 loss to Indiana.
Robinson went scoreless in 14 minutes, 26 seconds, missing all three of his shot attempts, which were all 3-pointers. He finished with two assists and a turnover.
Cleveland was scheduled to take the floor again Saturday against Milwaukee (3:30 p.m., NBA TV).
Lamont Butler
Butler, who played one season for UK after leading San Diego State to an NCAA Final Four, was supposed to make his Summer League debut Friday for the Atlanta Hawks but sat out with an injury.
Brad Rowland of the Locked On podcast network reported that the point guard missed the game with an ankle problem but did not say how long Butler would be sidelined.
Former Wildcat Jacob Toppin started the game for Atlanta and scored 19 points in 27 minutes of a 105-98 Hawks victory over Miami. Toppin also had 10 rebounds.
Atlanta will be back in action Sunday against Koby Brea’s Phoenix Suns.