LAS VEGAS — It was a highly anticipated evening for both Illini and L.A. Clippers fans alike, as Keaton Wagler, the fifth-overall pick in the NBA Draft, was getting ready to make his Summer League debut.
Unfortunately for all parties involved, it was tough sledding for the former All-American guard out of Illinois, as he got his first taste of the pros.
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Wagler was held to seven points, one assist and two rebounds Thursday evening against the Sacramento Kings’ Summer League squad.
He made one shot from behind the three-point arc, going 1-7 from the field and scoring his remaining four points from the free-throw line.
There were a few familiar faces on the other side of the court for Wagler, with perhaps the most prominent being Darius Acuff Jr.
The two 19-year-old guards were the subject of many debates amongst NBA Draft analysts and fans alike, as arguments sprouted on who would be the better pro and deserved to be drafted higher.
Acuff came away with the upper hand in the duo’s first head-to-head match-up, as he logged 19 points and seven assists.
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On top of that, former Houston Cougar Emmanuel Sharp, whom Wagler took down in the Illini’s Sweet 16 win, scored a game-high 21 points for the Kings.
Despite the rough debut, optimism and opportunities remain for Wagler this summer.
History has shown that some ball-dominant point guards often struggle in the Summer League and still go on to have illustrious NBA careers, with Derrick Rose, Jalen Brunson, Trae Young and Stephen Curry coming to mind.
The Clippers have three games remaining in the 2026 Summer League, with Wagler getting his next shot on Sunday, June 12, against the Utah Jazz.
