CLEMSON – It is not often that basketball fans have games to watch in July.

College basketball wrapped up on April 17 when the Florida Gators claimed their second National Championship, and the NBA season officially ended on June 22, when the Oklahoma City Thunder captured the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy. 

Now, it’s “dead season” for basketball fans across all leagues.

However, this year, four Clemson basketball alums are defying the offseason norm, lacing up their high-tops for the NBA’s annual Summer League in Las Vegas.

The Summer League serves as a platform for new NBA draftees and rising stars to showcase their skills for professional teams over 10 days. Similar to an AAU tournament, the event includes round-robin games followed by semifinals on July 19, with a champion crowned on Sunday, July 20.

This year, former Tigers Chase Hunter, Hunter Tyson, P.J. Hall, and Viktor Lakhin are representing four different professional teams.

Chase Hunter
Hunter, a six-year veteran at Clemson, is playing for the New Orleans Pelicans. The 2025 first-team All-ACC honoree saw 13 minutes of action in a 98-91 loss to the Timberwolves in his Summer League debut on Thursday. While he shot 0-for-3 from the field, Hunter contributed four rebounds and two assists off the bench. He will look to make a bigger impact on Saturday when the Pelicans face off against the Lakers at the Thomas & Mack Center at 8:30 p.m. Coverage will be available on ESPN2.

Viktor Lakhin
Another member of the 2024 Clemson squad, center Viktor Lakhin, is representing the Oklahoma City Thunder. Lakhin, who averaged 11.4 points and 6.4 rebounds in his time at Clemson, did not play in the Thunder’s 90-81 victory over the Nets on Thursday. He will have another chance to shine in a Finals rematch against the Pacers on Saturday at 5:30 p.m. The game will be broadcast on NBA TV.

P.J. Hall
Representing a team 75 miles from his hometown of Spartanburg, S.C., is former Clemson stretch big man P.J. Hall. After spending a year on a two-way contract with the Denver Nuggets, Hall was waived by Denver and shortly after was added to the Hornets’ Summer League roster. Last season, Hall averaged 19.2 points, 12.5 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks per game with the Gold City Rapids, the Nuggets’ G-League affiliate. He also appeared in 19 games for Denver, shooting 58% from the field while averaging 1.7 points and 1.5 rebounds in 3.5 minutes per game. Hall will make his Summer League debut with the Hornets on Saturday against the 76ers at 6:30 p.m.

Hunter Tyson
Finally, Hunter Tyson, Hall’s former college and NBA teammate, is competing in his third Summer League with the Denver Nuggets. In his first game on Thursday, a narrow 90-89 loss to the Bucks, Tyson played 28 minutes and contributed 12 points, two assists, and 11 rebounds on 4-for-14 shooting. Last season, Tyson appeared in 51 games for the Nuggets, averaging 2.6 points and 1.5 rebounds in 7.8 minutes per game, making two starts on the way to the Nuggets’ Conference Finals appearance. Tyson and the Nuggets will seek their first Summer League victory on Saturday at 10 p.m. against the Timberwolves, with coverage on NBA TV.

Though basketball still seems far on the horizon, Clemson basketball fans have several opportunities to support former Tigers as the journey to take home the Summer League trophy begins.