NBA summer league basketball 2019 has officially come to a close and was one that will be remembered by many people as uneventful, uninspiring and flat out boring. This year’s action did not include the Atlanta Hawks’ number ten overall pick Cam Reddish, and a majority of the 2019 top selections didn’t see the court at all, while some were very limited in their outings. Big names like Zion Williamson (who was shut down as a precaution after nine minutes of action) and Ja Morant (never suited up) provided no excitement as these rookies must not have seen the value in competing against their younger peers. I can tell you most current NBA players did not agree with them – like Allonzo Trier.
https://twitter.com/ISO_ZO/status/1150217771734585346
Trier makes a solid point. Even NBA Summer League is the highest level of basketball many of these rookies would have played at to this point in their lives, and the greats don’t waste opportunities to earn extra reps. Look how mightily Trae Young struggled at Summer League a year ago, but I’m positive he will tell you those games had him better prepared for what he was going to face once the lights were on for real. Regardless, the lack of top rookies had us searching for diamonds in the rough, and the Hawks might have found one in Charlie Brown Jr.
First off, is there a better name in basketball than Charlie Brown Jr?  Secondly, the 6’7″ wing proved he was worth every penny of the two-way contract he recently signed with the Hawks. The former Saint Joseph’s standout averaged 14.7 points while shooting 46% from the field in Las Vegas. Brown also displayed his potential on the defensive side, averaging a steal per contest in 30 minutes a game. The shooting guard was the one electric piece to an otherwise underwhelming Atlanta Hawks summer league team. A quick look at his playmaking and you’ll realize why having Snoopy’s best friend on the roster will provide even more youthful depth at the wing position.
Charlie Brown Jr. getting 2 back to back buckets during his first run at Summer League with the Atlanta Hawks. pic.twitter.com/8KJcrrSwsR
— Basketball Society (@bbsociety_) July 9, 2019
While seeing Bruno Fernando and DeAndre Hunter suit up for the first time with the Hawks made it worth watching; it was actually Charlie Brown Jr. that was the best player on the floor night in and night out. The 21-year-old undrafted free agent hopes to follow in the footsteps of Allonzo Trier and turn his two-way contract into something more permanent.