Nets summer league grades: Tyrese Samuel drops 19 in loss to 76ers

USA Today

19-07-2025

The Brooklyn Nets (1-4) went into Friday's Las Vegas Summer League against the Philadelphia 76ers (3-2) looking to come away from the event with more than one win to hang their hat on. Brooklyn came into the contest with some players dealing with injuries so the team decided to get extended looks at other players, but it did not lead to the result they wanted.
The Nets lost to the 76ers 87-83 despite getting a great game out of center Tyrese Samuel, who finished the contest with 19 points and 12 rebounds while shooting 8-of-10 from the field. Samuel wasn't the only one who showed up to play as guard Quincy Olivari had 18 points and two rebounds prior to his injury and forward Grant Nelson had 11 points and four rebounds.
Brooklyn had control of the game in the first quarter, but once Mark Armstrong (23 points) and Judah Mintz (20) got going for the 76ers, the Nets did not have a way to keep up until the end when they finally started making some shots against Philadelphia's zone. With that being said, here are the Nets player grades following Friday's loss to the 76ers:
Caleb Daniels: C+
Daniels drew another start with the rookies not playing in this one, but he wasn't able to recreate the magic he had earlier in the summer league. Daniels had some good looks over the course of the game, but he wasn't able to find the touch necessary to finish plays. To his credit, Daniels did a great job of rebounding the basketball and he showed some skill as a secondary playmaker within the offense.
Quincy Olivari: B-
Olivari did not shoot the ball well in this one as he couldn't find his touch from the outside, but that didn't stop him from making an impact on the offensive end. Olivari remained aggressive with the ball in his hands and as a result, he was able to generate some free-throws and score some points that way. Despite showing some of his passing chops in previous games, Olivari turned the ball over entirely too much against Philadelphia.
Tosan Evbuomwan: C-
From the beginning of this game, it was clear that Evbuomwan did not have his usual touch on the offensive end as he was missing some shots that he makes in his sleep. Evbuomwan, who can usually get himself going driving to the rim and getting two feet in the paint, just wasn't able to finish against the 76ers' defense. Evbuomwan did a good job of making plays for his teammates and he was a solid presence on the glass as well.
Tyrese Samuel: A+
Samuel was the star of this game for the Nets as he seemingly couldn't miss when the ball got to him as he was making shots from inside the paint and from the perimeter as well. Samuel did not play much in the first few games of the summer league for Brooklyn, but he has been making his minutes count over the past two contests. Samuel was a rebounding machine and he had some nice moments creating for his teammates.
Grant Nelson: B
Nelson had a solid game at center for the Nets as he showed his ability to make an impact on the offensive end on the inside and on the perimeter. Nelson hasn't been too aggressive on the offensive end over the course of the summer league, but this was probably his most complete game. While Nelson did a good job of rebounding the ball, he also fouled too much on the defensive end.
Dre Davis: C-
Davis saw some extra minutes in this one with all of the players that were out for various reasons and he showed the good and bad parts of his game. Davis could not get anything going on the offensive end in terms of his shooting, especially from three-point land. Davis did a great job of hustling to get back on defense to block some shots, but that tenacity also came with some extra fouls as well.
TJ Bamba: B
Bamba didn't have his best game shooting the ball, but it was encouraging to see him continue to be aggressive on the offensive end despite his shooting struggles. Bamba has always shown his willingness to give more effort than the average player and that led to him getting some rebounds and steals thanks to his timing and instincts. Bamba is a solid defender in most matchups thanks to his unique blend of size and athleticism.