Bruce Pearl Delivered Another Strong Message After Auburn Five Key Players Began Their NBA Careers
Following their Final Four appearance, several key players from last season’s Auburn Tigers men’s basketball team transitioned to the NBA. That group includes Denver Jones, Miles Kelly, Dylan Cardwell, Chaney Johnson, and Johni Broome.
On Thursday night, both Kelly and Cardwell made their NBA Summer League debuts, with Kelly standing out in his first performance.
Currently on the Dallas Mavericks’ Summer League roster, Kelly has been somewhat overshadowed by top overall pick Cooper Flagg. With the spotlight mostly on Flagg and Lakers sophomore Bronny James, Kelly still managed to make a strong case for himself as someone worth watching.
MK AND ONE 🔥 pic.twitter.com/svVZkZzXKH
— Auburn Basketball (@AuburnMBB) July 11, 2025
In his Summer League debut, Kelly logged 29 minutes and scored 17 points—surpassing Flagg’s 10. He shot 6-of-12 from the field and 3-of-8 from three-point range. Kelly also added four rebounds, two assists, and a steal, showcasing his versatility and presence all over the court.
MK with a triple 🔥 pic.twitter.com/DKKtPuAhHy
— Auburn Basketball (@AuburnMBB) July 11, 2025
CLAMPS by Dylan 🔒 pic.twitter.com/nrROkh3cSU
— Auburn Basketball (@AuburnMBB) July 10, 2025
On the other hand, Cardwell’s debut wasn’t as impactful as Kelly’s. He played 10 minutes and missed his only shot attempt, going 0-for-1 from the field. Despite the limited offensive contribution, he made his presence felt on defense with a solid stop in the paint. Cardwell and the Sacramento Kings are set to return to action on July 12 against the Chicago Bulls.
Broome, a second-round pick in this year’s draft, made his second Summer League start for the 76ers on Thursday in a tough 110-70 loss to the San Antonio Spurs. He finished with 8 points, 5 rebounds, an assist, a steal, and a block—marking one of his more well-rounded performances so far in Summer League play.
Meanwhile, although Chaney Johnson and Denver Jones are on the Cleveland Cavaliers’ Summer League roster, neither saw action in the team’s opener, reportedly due to a coach’s decision, according to ESPN. The Cavaliers will be back on the court July 12 at 3:30 p.m. ET against the Milwaukee Bucks.
Johnson and Jones still have three more chances to make their Summer League debuts.
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