NBA Summer League Homepage
Fourteen former Big West men’s basketball players will participate or have participated in the 2025 NBA Summer League, with the Las Vegas portion being held July 10-20 at UNLV's Thomas & Mack Center and Cox Pavilion. The NBA Summer League is an off-season basketball competition organized by the NBA and its teams to try out different summer rosters (instead of their regular season lineups), including rookie, sophomore and affiliate players.

Additionally, former member of the Rainbow Warrior coaching staff Garrett Jackson leading the Houston Rockets squad as head coach for the second straight year. Jackson was a graduate manager at Hawai'i during the 2018-19 season. 

Biwali Bayles (Hawai'i 2020-21) - New York Knicks - Bayles averaged 6.2 points, 3.1 rebounds and 2.6 assists as a freshman before turning pro. Bayles most recently played for BBC Nyon of the Swiss Basketball League. Bayles signed a Summer League contract with the New York Knicks. 

Darius Brown II (CSUN 2018-22) - Cleveland Cavaliers – Brown II was a four-year Matador, before transferring to Montana State and exhausting eligibility at Utah State. Brown II was on an Exhibit-10 contract (a one-year, minimum salary agreement that isn't guaranteed) with the Cavaliers last season. Brown signed a Summer League contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers. 

JC Butler (UC Irvine 2018-23) – Miami Heat – Butler was a five-year Anteater and played in all 35 games for the Anteaters during the 2022-23 season, shooting .478 from the floor. The forward was a member of UC Irvine's 2019 Big West Championship team that advanced to the NCAA Tournament second round. After graduating, Butler played for the Orlando Magic summer league team in 2023 and the Sioux Falls Skyforce, the G-League affiliate of the Miami Heat, during the 2023-24 season. Butler signed a Summer League contract with the Miami Heat. 

Hayden Gray (UC San Diego 2023-25) – Boston Celtics – Gray was an instrumental force for the 2024-25 UC San Diego team that won the Big West regular-season and championship crowns, and made an appearance in the NCAA Tournament. Gray was an All-Big West Second Team member and the Defensive Player of the Year, leading the conferene and nation in steals. Gray signed a Summer League contract with the Boston Celtics. 

Elijah Harkless (CSUN 2018-20) – Utah Jazz – Harkless was a two-year Matador and averaged 10.7 points per game for CSUN during the 2019-20 season before transferring to Oklahoma for two years and then a final stint at UNLV. Harkless is on a two-way contract with the Utah Jazz, splitting time between the top team and the G-League affiliate, the Salt Lake City Stars. 

TY Johnson (UC Davis 2022-25) – Los Angeles Lakers – Johnson is a three-time All-Big West member and averaged 21.1 points, 4.1 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 2.3 steals as a senior. Johnson signed a Summer League contract with the Los Angeles Lakers. 

Justin McKoy (Hawai'i 2023-24) – Portland Trail Blazers – McKoy played one season at Hawai'i and was an All-Big West Second Team honoree. McKoy most recently played for Hapoel Altshuler Shaham Beer Sheva in the Israeli League. McKoy signed a Summer League contract with the Portland Trail Blazers. 

Ajay Mitchell (UC Santa Barbara 2021-24) – Oklahoma City Thunder – Mitchell played three seasons at UC Santa Barbara and was a three-time All-Big West selection, including the league's Player of the Year and Championship MVP in 2022-23. For the 2023-24 season, the Ans, Liege, Belgium product averaged 20.0 points, on 50.4 percent shooting, 4.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game. Mitchell was selected in the second round of the 2024 NBA Draft by the New York Knicks and then subsequently traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder and signed a two-way contract.
 
Miles Norris (UC Santa Barbara 2020-23) – Boston Celtics – Norris played three seasons for the Gauchos and earned All-Big West Second Team honors in 2022-23. Norris is on a two-way contract with the Boston Celtics, splitting time between the top team and the G-League affiliate, the Maie Red Claws. 

Lachlan Olbrich (UC Riverside 2022-23) – Chicago Bulls – Olbrich played only one season at UC Riverside, earning Big West Freshman of the Year honors and an All-Big West Honorable Mention nod averaging 11.4 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game. Olbrich embarked on a pro career after the season and was drafted in the second round, 55th overall, by the Chicago Bulls in the 2025 NBA Draft. 

Zyon Pullin (UC Riverside 2019-23) – Miami Heat – Pullin was a four-year member of the UC Riverside program and a three-time All-Big West honoree, including a First-Team selection in 2022-23, before transferring to Florida. Pullin signed a two-way contract with the Memphis Grizzlies.

Jackson Rowe (Cal State Fullerton 2016-20) – Golden State Warriors – Rowe was a four-year player at Cal State Fullerton, garnering three All-Big West nods, including a Second Team selection in 2019-20 and the 2016-17 Freshman of the Year honor. Rowe is on a two-way contract the Golden State Warriors, splitting time between the top team and the G-League affiliate, the Santa Cruz Warriors.

Kobe Sanders (Cal Poly 2020-24) – Los Angeles Clippers – Sanders was a four-year Mustang and earned All-Big West Honorable Mention honors after averaging 19.6 points per game in 2023-24. Sanders transferred to Nevada for a final season of NCAA eligibility and was drafted in the second round, 50th overall, by the New York Knicks in the 2025 NBA Draft. 

Aniwaniwa Tait-Jones (UC San Diego 2023-25) – Toronto Raptors – Tait-Jones, the 2024-25 Big West Player of the Year, guided the Tritons to the 2024-25 Big West regular-season and Championship titles, and made an appearance in the NCAA Tournament averaging 19.1 points, 5.4 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game. Tait-Jones is on a Summer League contract with the Toronto Raptors. 
 

Player	School (Years)	Team
Biwali Bayles	Hawai'i (2020-21)	New York Knicks
Darius Brown II	CSUN (2018-22)	Cleveland Cavaliers
JC Butler	UC Irvine (2018-23)	Miami Heat
Hayden Gray	UC San Diego (2023-25)	Boston Celtics
Elijah Harkless	CSUN (2018-20)	Utah Jazz
TY Johnson	UC Davis (2022-25)	Los Angeles Lakers
Justin McKoy	Hawai'i (2023-24)	Portland Trail Blazers
Ajay Mitchell	UC Santa Barbara (2021-24)	Oklahoma City Thunder
Miles Norris	UC Santa Barbara (2020-23)	Boston Celtics
Lachlan Olbrich	UC Riverside (2022-23)	Chicago Bulls
Zyon Pullin	UC Riverside (2019-23)	Memphis Grizzlies
Jackson Rowe	Cal State Fullerton (2016-20)	Golden State Warriors
Kobe Sanders	Cal Poly (2020-24)	Los Angeles Clippers
Aniwaniwa Tait-Jones	UC San Diego (2023-25)	Toronto Raptors