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Here are eight notable performances from the Sacramento Kings' 77-68 win over the Houston Rockets in the championship game on Day 11 at the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas: Ray McCallum, Sacramento Kings | Grade: A-plus-plus-plus
Anytime you can actually pull off the Jordan shrug in summer league, something is going right for you. McCallum did exactly that, reining in MVP of the summer league championship game by scoring 29 points on just 15 shots. He made his open jumpers. He dribbled around screens like a legitimate NBA, offense-controlling point guard -- a rarity at summer league. By the end, the Kings point guard was so hot, he was pulling up from 30 feet. Controlled willpower with the ability to capitalize when you got for it all; that's not exactly common to find in Vegas. Nik Stauskas, Sacramento Kings | Grade: B-minus
With only seconds remaining in the second quarter, Isaiah Canaan barreled down the court, heading straight to the hoop. Figuring he could get by a flat-footed and backpedaling Stauskas, he dribbled right and tried to turn the corner. But Stauskas bodied him up, used his help-defender and forced a wild shot from Canaan. That’s a learned play from the offensive-minded Kings rookie, who failed to score in the second half against the Rockets. Discovering defense is the next step, and slowly but surely he’s starting to do that. Ben McLemore, Sacramento Kings | Grade: C-minus
Summer league hasn’t been kind to McLemore. Another game, another day without any assists. Three turnovers in the LVSL championship game gave the former first-rounder a 9-to-26 assist-to-turnover ratio in his second summer league. For a kid who is supposed to be working on his facilitating, that’s not necessarily the most encouraging performance, especially considering how many open shots he missed Monday. MarShon Brooks, Sacramento Kings | Grade: C
If Brooks’ best shot to make a roster -- and then earn playing time next season -- has to do with his decision-making, he should hope NBA teams weren’t tuned in to Monday’s championship game. He always seems to be looking for his shot, which is a fine attribute, but not when it yields indiscriminate irresponsibility. He’s shooting no matter what, like on a third-quarter play when two defenders came in his area and he attempted a step-back jumper with time left on the shot clock instead of kicking to a wide-open, red-hot McCallum in the corner. If you’re going to try to play like Jamal Crawford, you'd better hope you can actually play like Jamal Crawford. Quincy Acy, Sacramento Kings | Grade: B-plus
No one pulls off the intimidation walk quite like the Baylor alum: chest out, thighs fighting through the air like they're in a workout pool, and eyes glaring enough to make anyone dive out of the way of their sight line. "Squints" Acy matched Monday's game style with that walk. He might have totaled just six points, but his defense was fierce and physical. He bullied anyone with a pulse on the way to eight boards. The beard is scraggly. So is his game. But it works. Isaiah Canaan, Houston Rockets | Grade: B-plus
It’s incredibly possible that Canaan has never passed up a shot when his defender fails to fight through a screen. Go under a pick when you’re guarding him, and the ball is going up every time. Every single time -- and he makes his shots, too. Canaan finished summer league averaging just fewer than six 3-point attempts per 36 minutes. Isaiah’s not even a gunner. He’s something bigger. He’s a Canaan. Donatas Motiejunas, Houston Rockets | Grade: B
Motiejunas is potentially going to provide an interesting case study for the Rockets this season. If he plays anything like he did in summer league, we’ll see a decent amount of midrange jumpers and post-ups. That’s not Houston’s style, but in Vegas those moves worked, and he finished with 16 points in the championship game. Nick Johnson, Houston Rockets | Grade: B
Johnson’s reputation pegs him as shooter, but he’s shown off many more skills at both the Las Vegas and Orlando summer leagues. He can handle and has the athleticism to attack the rim; now all he needs to do is finish in the paint consistently. Johnson missed a couple of layups that could’ve put his grade over the top, but his activity on the boards and on the defensive end still completes a solid final game for him.
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