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This content was machine-translated from the French version.
The NBA's 2026 Summer League came to a close Sunday night in Las Vegas with the Golden State Warriors crowned champions, defeating the Memphis Grizzlies in the final (94-90). Thirteen years after their last summer trophy in Nevada, the Californians overturned a compromised game — trailing by ten points at the start of the fourth quarter — relying on Yaxel Lendeborg, named tournament MVP. Beyond the outcome, this edition mainly offered ten days of competition to nine young French players, a contingent significantly reduced compared to the fourteen French players present last summer. Without any rookie from the 2026 class — Narcisse Ngoy, the only French player drafted in June, will join the NCAA next season — the spotlight shifted to players already glimpsed in the NBA, with mixed fortunes.
Penda, the expected breakout
Among the French players in the desert, Noah Penda made a strong impression.
Among the French players in the desert, Noah Penda made a strong impression. The Magic forward, selected in the second round of the 2025 draft, received the keys to Orlando's offense and didn't let go. With generous playing time of 29.4 minutes per game over five contests, the former Le Mans player showcased the extent of his progress. His stats reflect a complete production: 15 points, 6.7 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.7 steals, and 2.7 blocks per game.
But the most striking number lies in his outside shooting. Penda converted 47.1% of his three-point attempts on a volume of 5.7 shots per game, compared to just 1.6 attempts in the regular season. His overall shooting percentage (56%) confirms rare efficiency for a player of his size. Defensively, his ability to switch on perimeter positions while protecting the rim makes him a valuable asset in the Magic's scheme. "I worked a lot during the summer and I think the results are there," he commented soberly after his campaign. Orlando, which needs depth on the wings, could offer him regular minutes as early as this fall.
Beringer in one night, Raynaud on a rollercoaster
Joan Beringer only got one game in a Timberwolves jersey, but the twenty-year-old big man turned it into a showcase. Eighteen points, eleven rebounds, and four blocks: the Parisian reminded everyone why Minnesota invested a first-round pick in him in 2025. Nate Bubes, who led the team on the bench, praised his technical progress: "All aspects of his game are improving, including ball handling." Good news for a Wolves frontcourt thinned by the departures of Naz Reid and Julius Randle.
The assessment is more uneven for Maxime Raynaud. Runner-up in the 2025 Summer League with Sacramento, the French center delivered two performances in total opposition. Brilliant against Washington with 20 points and 12 rebounds, he struggled against Brooklyn, turning in a poor stat line of 3 points and 7 turnovers. That shows how much work remains for him to establish himself in the Californian rotation, even if his much more successful summer with the French national team invites perspective.
Pacôme Dadiet, crowned NBA champion with the Knicks just a month ago, didn't capitalize on his momentum. Hampered by chronic shooting struggles, he didn't display the level expected for a player of his status. Tidjane Salaün, meanwhile, flashed some scoring bursts without ever really stringing them together, while Mohamed Diawara and Lucas Dufeal, invited on trial by Dallas, tried to carve out a spot in a particularly crowded roster.
A window into the fall
With nine representatives compared to fourteen last year, the French contingent logically scaled back. Victor Wembanyama and Bilal Coulibaly, already established as NBA starters, have nothing left to prove in this development tournament. The Summer League becomes what it should be: a laboratory for role players and a launching pad for players seeking contracts or minutes. In that regard, the performances of Penda and Beringer should weigh favorably in their franchises' plans when training camp begins in two months.
