Why Watch Summer League 2022?

Ethen Meyers • July 5, 2022

Pelicans Summer League 2022 Details

        The New Orleans Pelicans Summer League will consist of 5 total games starting July 9th, 2022 against Portland(ESPN2) and then continue July 11th (Atlanta/NBA TV), July 13th (Washington/NBA TV), and July 15th (Lakers/ESPN2). Every team will play a fifth game which will be determined by standings after the first 4 games, either you play for the championship or just play a 5th game for more experience. The roster will have some familiar faces as Jose "GTA" Alvarado will return along side Naji Marshall and Trey "Trigga" Murphy III and also feature all 3 rookies in Dyson Daniels, E.J. Liddell, and Karlo Matković. The Pelicans are wrapping up training camp practices today and will make the trip to Vegas soon to kick off the Summer League 2022 season led by Pelicans Assistant Coach Jarron Collins. We somehow have good depth on a Summer League Roster, you can check it out below:


Guards: Jose Alvarado, Jared Harper, Dyson Daniels, Dereon Seabron, Daeqwon Plowden, Elijah Stewart, John Petty Jr.

Forwards: Naji Marshall, Trey Murphy III, John Butler, E.J. Liddell, Deividas SIrvydis.

Centers: Amadou Sow, Zach Hankins, Tyrique Jones, Karlo Matkovic



Jose Alvarado

        Jose is coming off an incredible showing in the FIBA cup showing he was not just a feel good story and can do it on any stage at any time. He averages 21PTs, 5.5AST, 5REB, 1.5STL, all while shooting 45% from the floor and 43% from the 3PT Line making some clutch shots to keep his national team Puerto Rico in the game and led them to the eventual win. I have seen people compare him to Darren Collison, CP3, Fred VanVleet but I will compare him to a personal favorite because of his attitude and desire to win in Allen Iverson. Quick hands, quicker feet, with the ability to consistently score over larger defenders using his body I can't wait to watch him show out and prove why he deserves the first minutes off the bench in the guard role.


The Rookies

        This is an obvious one, but still a huge reason to watch. Last year I wrote an article, "Is this the best Pelican Draft....ever?" and while I have no idea where Dyson and Liddell will wind up they both came with high praise for scouts, Pelicans staff, and are getting praise during the training camp leading into the 2022 Summer League so I am excited to see them go out and show us what they have on the court in Vegas. Dyson has apparently improved his jumpshot and has shown it off in predraft workouts and this training camp before Vegas. There has not much been said about Dyson, but we didn't think Herb would be a starter so maybe we are in for another pleasant surprise. While he is certainly a draft and stash, Matković will hopefully get some decent minutes at either the 4 or the 5 and show us why he deserves to stay on this side of the pond.


The Hustle, The Playstyle, The Fun

        Anyone who watched a Pelican game last season, especially in the playoffs, saw that this team is a lot of fun to watch. The backcourt pressure by Jose. The smiling Brandon Ingram on the grill handing out plates. The revitalized CJ McCollum with the silky smooth midrange. The Jonas Valančiūnas  hair gel that doesn't quit. The relentless Herb Jones on defense finding his offensive game at his own pace. The team celebrating together, the culture shifting. That was all what Pelicans fan saw night after night. This team wants to have fun, and it shows when they are on and off the court. I hope with some of the returning faces being the main perpetrators of fun in Naji and Jose with the Trigga Man himself the new guys can see this is a team that enjoys playing together, but most of all wants to do it the right way by playing hardnose defense and giving every ounce of hustle they have.


Finally, Some Basketball.

        It feels like the season ended so long ago despite the Pelicans taking Phoenix to 6 games and the Pelicans games ending just over 2 months ago with the NBA Finals even less than that. This is by far the most excited I have been for the Summer League to start since Zion was selected first overall in 2019. The new coaching staff, the front office shakeups, and the recent wins we have had in the Draft make not only this Summer League exciting, but the entire season coming something to look forward to. All games will be played on ESPN networks or NBA TV, but you can also catch them on a stream via the ESPN app.


A quick share helps us a lot!

Pelicans @ Nuggets Takeaways

By Chrissy Smith • October 30, 2025
Team Stats (Pelicans at Nuggets) Final Score: 88-122 Rebounds: 36-57 Assists: 17-40 Steals: 9-5 Blocks: 3-5 Turnovers: 12-14 Stat Leaders Scoring Leaders: Jeremiah Fears, 21; Nikola Jokić, 21 Rebound Leaders: Trey Murphy III, 7; Nikola Jokić, 12 Assist Leaders: Jeremiah Fears, 6; Nikola Jokić, 10 My Player of the Game: Jeremiah Fears Chrissy's Key Takeaways * The starters for this game were Fears, Murphy III, Jones, Zion, and Deandre Jordan. So that was different, and it didn't work at all. * With most of the third quarter over, Zion had five total points in the game. He finished with 11. * The Nuggets went on a 32-4 run in the third quarter. The Pelicans came out very slow to start off the third. * New Orleans went 7-of-33 from the three-point line. * Nikola Jokić had a triple-double. The Pelicans had no answer for him all night. * Do the Pelicans know that the season has started because the majority of the guys out there look like they still think they're playing Summer League. * The problem with this team isn't the talent because they have that. So what's the problem? Coaching, effort, etc.? This has to be fixed ASAP. Follow @TheKneaux on X, and follow me there too, @SportsChrissy.

Celtics @ Pelicans Takeaways

By Chrissy Smith • October 28, 2025
Team Stats (Celtics at Pelicans) Final Score: 122-90 Rebounds: 54-35 Assists: 25-17 Steals: 5-7 Blocks: 7-0 Turnovers: 11-13 Stat Leaders Scoring Leaders: Anfernee Simons, 25; Jordan Poole, 22 Rebound Leaders: Neemias Queta, 11; Yves Miss, 7 Assist Leaders: Payton Prichard, 8; Trey Murphy, III, 5 My Player of the Game: Jordan Poole Chrissy's Key Takeaways * The first two losses of the season were tough but at least the team looked good. In this game, no one looked fired up to compete except Jordan Poole and Jose Alvarado. * Zion did not play because he's been spending all offseason getting in shape just so he could rest after two games. Makes no sense to me. * Trey Murphy and Herb Jones need to find their spark and stride. These guys have been putting in a ton of work in the offseason but it isn't showing right now. * Willie Green has got to be on a short leash because this 0-3 start feels like the team is just picking up where they left off except this time they're healthy and have all the momentum in the world. * The next three games for the Pelicans will be on the road against Denver, Clippers, and Thunder . Follow @TheKneaux on X, and follow me there too, @SportsChrissy.
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