Former Longhorns set to play in 2026 NBA Summer League

The 2026 edition of the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas kicked off Thursday, and some familiar faces for Texas men’s basketball fans are expected to take the court over these 10 days. 

Fresh off his first-round selection in the NBA Draft, guard Dailyn Swain is set to open his professional account for the Chicago Bulls. The 2026 Southeastern Conference Newcomer of the Year, who was selected No. 15 overall last month, has seemed to already make an impression on his new head coach, Tiago Splitter. 

“I’m not surprised because I watched a lot of film on him, but he’s a great passer, a great ball-handler for his size and he can create for others. … (He is) a guy we can put at the point (guard spot) if we want,” Splitter said during a media availability on July 6. 

One of Swain’s teammates from this past collegiate season is also in Vegas: NCAA Tournament standout Tramon Mark is rostered with the Phoenix Suns. Mark went undrafted following his six-year college career — the final two of which came with Texas — but will get his NBA chance after a Sweet 16 run that saw him hit a buzzer beater against NC State and score 29 points on 73.3% shooting to challenge Purdue.

Former Longhorn Dillon Mitchell, who spent his first two seasons in burnt orange before transferring to Cincinnati and then to St. Johns, will debut for the Boston Celtics after getting picked by them in the second round last month.

Returning for their second Summer League appearances are two former Texas teammates: Washington Wizards guard Tre Johnson and Arthur Kaluma, a forward for the Los Angeles Lakers. Johnson, the No. 6 overall pick in last year’s draft, started 42 of 60 games played in his NBA rookie season and averaged 12.2 points in 24.1 minutes per game. Kaluma spent the 2025-26 season with the Lakers’ G League affiliate, averaging 14.6 points per game over his regular season to re-earn a Summer League spot.

Forward Jayson Kent, who played alongside Johnson and Kaluma in his final collegiate season, will get a Summer League opportunity with the Portland Trail Blazers after signing a two-way contract with the team in March. He made five appearances for the Blazers as a rookie, alongside the 46 games played for its G League affiliate, after originally joining the organization through an open tryout last October. 

“I’ve always been underlooked,” Kent said during a media availability on July 3. “I’ve always been an underdog. It’s just been me, but I’m very blessed to be in this situation that I am.”

Rounding out the former Longhorns competing is point guard Max Abmas, who is making his third Summer League appearance following back-to-back years with the Salt Lake City Stars, the G League affiliate of the Utah Jazz. After averaging 17.4 points across 36 regular-season games for Salt Lake last season, Abmas was honored with the 2025-26 NBA G League Sportsmanship Award for his leadership on and off the court.

This year’s NBA Summer League, which brings together selected rookie, sophomore and G League affiliate players for an annual offseason competition, runs from July 9 to 19. 

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