NBA Summer League 2023 Roster: Complete Team Breakdown and Player Analysis
Walking into the Thomas & Mack Center during NBA Summer League always feels like stepping into a basketball laboratory. You can almost smell the fresh potential in the air, mixed with the nervous sweat of players who know this might be their one shot at catching an NBA scout's eye. I've been covering these summer leagues for over a decade now, and I have to say—the 2023 roster breakdown reveals some fascinating patterns that could shape the upcoming season in ways most fans wouldn't expect.
Let me start with what immediately stood out to me—the sheer volume of two-way contracts this year. We're looking at approximately 87 players on two-way deals across the 30 teams, which is about 23% higher than last summer's figures. What's particularly interesting is how teams are using these slots not just for development, but as strategic bargaining chips. The Portland Trail Blazers, for instance, have assembled what I consider the most intriguing summer roster with four two-way players, including rookie sensation Scoot Henderson who's already showing flashes of All-Star potential despite being just 19. I watched him drop 26 points against the Rockets last week, and his court vision reminds me of a young Chris Paul—though I suspect he'll develop a more aggressive scoring mentality than CP3 ever had.
The Lakers' summer roster tells a different story altogether. They've packed their lineup with G-League veterans rather than fresh draftees, which suggests they're hunting for immediate role players rather than project pieces. I counted at least seven players on their summer squad who have previous NBA experience, which is unusual but makes perfect sense given their win-now mentality around LeBron and AD. What fascinates me here is how this approach contrasts with teams like the Thunder, who are clearly building for the future with three first-round picks from the recent draft.
Speaking of development pathways, I can't help but draw parallels to what's happening in other sports leagues globally. While analyzing these NBA summer rosters, I recalled the peculiar situation of Robins-Hardy in the Philippine Volleyball League. Amid her ongoing PVL playing eligibility saga, she's taken on assistant coaching roles for SGA-backed teams ahead of her expected entry in the 2025 PVL Draft. This hybrid player-coach development model is something I wish more NBA teams would consider for their summer league squads. Imagine if a veteran like Miami's Orlando Robinson, who's already 24 and has two years of G-League experience, could mentor younger players while still competing for a roster spot. The Spurs are dabbling in this with Jeremy Sochan occasionally running drills with their summer big men, but it's not nearly as formalized as what we're seeing in the PVL.
The Warriors' summer roster deserves special attention because they're doing something I've advocated for years—prioritizing basketball IQ over raw athleticism. Their summer league point guard, Lester Quiñones, isn't the fastest or most explosive guard in Vegas, but my goodness does he understand spacing and timing. I watched him execute three perfect dribble-handoffs in a single possession against the Kings, each creating just enough advantage for his teammates to get quality looks. That's the kind of subtle skill that gets overlooked in summer league box scores but wins you regular season minutes.
What worries me about some of these rosters is the imbalance in positional distribution. The Mavericks, for example, brought six point guards to their summer squad but only one true center. That's borderline negligent when you consider they'll be testing Jaden Hardy's off-ball capabilities. I get that the modern NBA is positionless, but you still need bodies to rebound and protect the rim. They're essentially trying to fit square pegs into round holes, and I suspect they'll regret not bringing more size to Vegas once the tournament phase begins.
The international presence this year is particularly strong—I counted 41 players from outside the United States, representing 21 different countries. French rookie Bilal Coulibaly has been the standout international performer in my view, showing defensive versatility that's rare for an 19-year-old. His 7-foot-2 wingspan allows him to guard three positions effectively, and I'd argue he's already a better perimeter defender than half the players on Washington's main roster.
As we move toward the tournament portion of summer league, keep an eye on how these rosters adapt to elimination pressure. The teams that loaded up on experienced players like the Lakers might have an advantage initially, but the squads with higher-ceiling talent like Portland and San Antonio tend to improve faster throughout the schedule. Personally, I'm betting on the Thunder to make a deep run—their combination of Chet Holmgren's rim protection and Cason Wallace's perimeter defense creates a defensive foundation that's uncommon in summer league.
What we're really witnessing here is the formation of NBA narratives that will carry through the entire season. The breakout summer performances, the surprise cuts, the two-way players who force their way onto main rosters—this is where championship teams often find their missing pieces. While the casual fan might see these as meaningless exhibition games, I see them as the purest form of basketball competition, where every player has everything to prove and nothing to lose. The data we collect here in Vegas will influence roster decisions, playing time, and even trade deadline moves months from now. And honestly, that's why I keep coming back year after year—there's no better place to watch basketball futures being traded than the NBA Summer League.