Keaton Wagler struggles in NBA Summer League Debut

It wasn’t the NBA debut that we had all hoped for former Illini Keaton Wagler. After going fifth overall in the 2026 NBA Draft, hype and expectations have followed the once under-recruited guard from Shawnee, Kansas. Wagler struggled to get a rhythm going and finished the game with 7 points on 1-7 from the field and 1 assist. As the fifth overall pick, expectations are simply higher, particularly after elite performances from fellow lottery picks, AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, and Cameron Boozer.

However, many Illini fans knew that Keaton would have an adjustment period to the NBA. On top of that, the summer league truly is not the best barometer for a player’s future success in the NBA. If you recall, former Illini Ayo Dosunmu only had 6 points in his summer league debut. Similar players who rely on angles and their own pace to get their shots, like Jalen Brunson and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, also struggled heavily in their summer league debuts.

Gilgeous-Alexander actually shot 5-19 from the field in his summer league debut game.

The story is just getting started

No one is denying that Keaton Wagler struggled in his first NBA summer league game. However, at just 19 years old, Wagler is going to figure this out. To put it bluntly, a player does not drop 46 points at Mackey Arena and lead a team to the Final Four unless they have the skills to succeed at the highest level of basketball. In Keaton’s first game of college in an exhibition vs Illinois State, he had 9 points and fouled out of the game.

Clipper fans are understandably worried about Wagler’s first game. But just let Keaton Wagler settle in.

Wagler takes the court next on Sunday, June 12th vs the Utah Jazz at 9 pm CST.

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