Summer League, Day 1: Five Players Who Turned Heads in Vegas — Non-Wemby Division

Houston power forward Jabari Smith Jr. had a huge night Friday, scoring 33 points and hitting a three-pointer at the buzzer as the Rockets beat the Portland Trail Blazers Friday night in the Las Vegas Summer League. Here are three players who caught my eye on the first day.

LAS VEGAS, Nev. — Jabari Smith Jr. of the Houston Rockets sure knows how to work a crowd.

Smith, the third-overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, is playing with the Rockets' summer league team in Las Vegas, and he seized the moment Friday night. While the sellout crowd at the Thomas & Mack Center were getting to their seats to watch the debut of Victor Wembanaya a few minutes after Houston's game with Portland ended, Smith hit a three-pointer at the buzzer to give the Rockets a 100-99 win.

Smith, who averaged 12.8 points and 7.8 rebounds a game as a rookie, scored 33 points and had seven rebounds in the win. He was 8-for-18 from the field and made 14-of-17 free throws. 

Here are four others that had nice days during Day 1 of the Las Vegas Summer League:

Scoot Henderson, Trail Blazers

Scoot Henderson, the second overall pick in this year's draft by Portland, scored 15 points in his debut but left with a mild shoulder injury. He also had five rebounds and six assists, with just two turnovers in 21 minutes.

He did a nice job of showing off his quickness and running the Blazers' offense. He's a pest defensively, too, and is going to be fun to watch develop.

Scoot Henderson steps back for his first bucket!

Watch the No. 3 pick's #NBA2KSummerLeague debut LIVE on ESPN. pic.twitter.com/XdMor7tsua

— NBA (@NBA) July 7, 2023

Sharife Cooper, Cavaliers

Sharife Cooper is doing his best to make a good impression on the Cleveland Cavaliers during the summer, and he showed out on Friday night, scoring 27 points in the Cavs' 101-97 win over the Brooklyn Nets. He was 8-for-11 from the field, made 2-of-3 three pointers and 9-of-11 free throws. 

He looked good off the bounce and was very efficient in knocking down shots. 

Marjon Beauchamp, Bucks 

MarJon Beauchamp had 23 points in the Milwaukee Bucks' 92-85 victory over the Denver Nuggets and had several moments where he took over in the second half. 

Beauchamp also had eight rebounds and two assists 

Payton Watson, Nuggets

In the same game, Peyton Watson led the Nuggets with 23 points, five rebounds, two assists, three steals and three blocks and looked good in every facet of the game. 

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