Ja’Kobi Gillespie, the San Antonio Spurs rookie guard, delivered one of the best performances of the week in Las Vegas, dropping a game-high 25 points against the Utah Jazz on Wednesday. This dude is absolutely making his presence felt in the 2026 NBA Summer League, and honestly, it’s a total head-turner. He even outshined 2026 No. 2 overall pick Darryn Peterson, who converted just 4 of his 16 field goal attempts. Talk about showing up!
This Guy Is Already Playing Like a Vet in Vegas
Seriously, Gillespie’s outing against the Jazz was straight fire. He put up 25 points, dished out 5 assists, grabbed 1 rebound, and snagged 2 steals. His shooting was legit too: 10-21 from the field, 3-8 from beyond the arc, and a perfect 1-1 from the free throw line. Through four games in the Las Vegas Summer League, Gillespie is averaging a rock-solid 16.0 points, 4.3 assists, and 2.0 steals per game. That’s not just good, that’s consistently good. For a second-round pick, he’s showing off some serious scoring ability, playmaking, and defensive instincts right out of the gate. You love to see it when a guy steps up and makes everyone take notice.From Knoxville to the Big Stage: Gillespie's Journey
It’s even cooler when you look at Gillespie’s path. He’s a 22-year-old who got picked 42nd overall in June’s NBA Draft and signed a two-way contract. Before hitting the pros, he bounced around a bit, spending time at Belmont University and the University of Maryland before making a big move to the University of Tennessee for the 2025-26 season. And man, did he shine in Knoxville! He averaged 18.4 points, 5.4 assists, and 2.1 steals per game, which is wild production. That monster season earned him the 2025-26 SEC Newcomer of the Year from the Associated Press and First Team All-SEC honors from the conference’s head coaches. The dude’s got a proven track record of getting buckets and making plays. So, what’s next for Gillespie? He’s clearly got the skills to make a real impact. He’ll be looking to continue developing at the professional level and provide some valuable guard depth. You just gotta love watching a player burst onto the scene like this. It’s exciting to see what he’ll do next as the Summer League continues!This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.