The NBA’s annual Las Vegas residency came to a close Sunday night, with the Golden State Warriors claiming the title of 2026 Summer League champions.
The Celtics’ Summer League outfit — featuring Boston’s two 2026 draft picks, three returning second-year pros and nearly a dozen unsigned players on tryouts — posted a 3-2 record in the tournament.
As we now enter the quietest stretch of the NBA calendar, here are six Boston players who helped or hurt their cause during the team’s week in Sin City:
WINNERS
Chris Cenac Jr.
Yes, he’s young, and no, he likely won’t be ready to immediately contribute this season. But Cenac made a solid first impression in Summer League, excelling as a rebounder and shot-blocker while showcasing the length and athleticism that made him an enticing target for the Celtics at pick No. 27. And though he made just 36.6% of his field goals and 27.3% of his 3-pointers, the 19-year-old hit the biggest shot of the tournament for Boston: a last-second corner three that forced overtime in the opener against Toronto.
Moving forward, adding strength should be a priority for Cenac, whose lean frame could struggle to hold up against the burlier big men he’ll face in the NBA. The Celtics will also want him to become a more consistent at-the-rim finisher after watching him shoot 7-for-18 inside the restricted area with a handful of missed dunks.
Dillon Mitchell
Mitchell delivered arguably the most impressive individual outing of any Celtic in Vegas: a 24-point, eight-rebound (seven offensive), six-steal, two-block clinic in a win over Charlotte. The second-round draft pick led the team in steals (eight) and offensive rebounds (12) despite sitting out the final two games, and he shot the ball much better than he did at St. John’s, posting a 47.2% field-goal percentage while going 3-for-8 from deep (37.5%).
Small sample, sure, but if Mitchell can carry that over into the regular season, he could push for early playing time in Boston’s crowded group of high-energy wings. In the meantime, the biggest question is whether the Celtics will sign the 22-year-old to a two-way contract or give him their final 15-man roster spot, which they can do without pushing into the luxury tax if they so choose.
Hugo Gonzalez
A player in Gonzalez’s position should be the top performer on his Summer League squad, and the 2025 first-rounder was, leading Boston in points (18.3), rebounds (8.0; tied with Cenac) and assists (5.7) per game over his three appearances.
Gonzalez did struggle as a shooter (31.8%; 25.9% from three) and averaged more than three turnovers per game while carrying a larger offensive burden than he’ll shoulder with the full Celtics team. But he closed with his best performance, going for 24-10-5 with a steal on 8-of-18 shooting in a win over Sacramento. He sat out Saturday’s finale against Orlando along with Cenac and Mitchell.
John Tonje
“When a guy wants to be in the NBA, that’s how you look.” That’s how Summer League head coach Amile Jefferson described Tonje, who’s seeking a second chance with Boston after his two-way contract expired this offseason. The second-year guard was the Celtics’ best shooter in Vegas, hitting 45.2% of his 3-pointers on 6.2 attempts per game. He started all five Summer League contests and scored at least 17 points in four of them.
“He’s given himself a really good chance,” Jefferson said after Tonje scored 18 against the Kings. “I think he is definitely an NBA player.”
Point guard Milos Uzan and wing Tucker DeVries also acquitted themselves well as undrafted rookies playing on Exhibit-10 tryout contracts. All three are candidates for Boston’s two open two-way contract slots, though the team’s lack of guard depth could give Tonje and Uzan stronger cases.
LOSERS
Curtis Jones
Jones’ prior NBA experience (10 games for Denver last season) didn’t help him in Las Vegas. Despite starting the first three games for the Celtics (and playing in all five), the 24-year-old guard finished Summer League with just nine total points, three assists and seven turnovers. He went 4-for-16 from the field and 1-for-7 from three.
Alondes Williams
Another Summer Leaguer who’s seen real NBA action (13 total appearances for Miami, Washington, Detroit and Brooklyn), Williams also was a non-factor in this tournament, shooting a team-worst 21.1% across his 60 minutes of floor time.