That’s why Thursday night’s 105-92 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves shouldn’t be viewed simply as another mark in the loss column. While New Orleans opened Las Vegas with a defeat, several young players made compelling cases that they deserve to remain part of the organization’s long-term plans.
At the same time, the game also exposed areas that first-year head coach Jamahl Mosley and Summer League coach God Shammgod will undoubtedly emphasize before the Pelicans take the floor again.
The box score revealed one encouraging reality.
It also revealed one glaring problem.
Kobe Bufkin Looked Like an NBA Rotation Player
If there was one player who consistently looked comfortable, confident and under control, it was Kobe Bufkin.
The young guard finished with:
30 points 8-of-16 shooting 5-of-9 from three 6-of-9 from the free-throw line 6 rebounds
More importantly, he looked like someone who belonged.
Bufkin attacked closeouts, confidently knocked down perimeter shots and never appeared intimidated by the moment. He wasn’t hunting statistics. He was simply making basketball plays.
That’s exactly what the Pelicans wanted to see.
If he continues playing with this level of confidence throughout Summer League, New Orleans may have another legitimate backcourt option capable of competing for meaningful NBA minutes.
Film Room
What impressed me most wasn’t just the scoring.
It was Bufkin’s patience.
Instead of forcing difficult shots, he consistently allowed the game to come to him. That’s a sign of maturity, and it’s something coaching staffs value as much as raw production.
Another encouraging development came from Micah Peavy.
Peavy contributed:
16 points 5 assists 2 steals 6-of-11 shooting
Perhaps the most encouraging statistic?
Zero turnovers.
Summer League often becomes chaotic.
Peavy stayed composed.
His decision-making stood out almost as much as his scoring.
Players who consistently make winning basketball plays often find ways to stick around.
So Why Did the Pelicans Lose?
Despite shooting 42% from three-point range, New Orleans couldn’t overcome three major issues.
They Couldn’t Finish Defensive Possessions
This was the biggest story of the night.
Minnesota out rebounded New Orleans 46-38, including an alarming 17 offensive rebounds.
Every extra possession gave the Timberwolves another opportunity to score.
Against NBA-level competition, that becomes difficult to overcome.
Rebounding isn’t always about size.
It’s about positioning, effort and finishing possessions.
The Pelicans simply didn’t do enough in those areas.
Free Throws Left Points on the Floor
Summer League games are often decided by fundamentals.
New Orleans shot just 9-of-14 (64%) from the foul line.
Minnesota?
18-of-24.
That’s a nine-point difference.
In a thirteen-point game, those missed opportunities mattered.
Championship habits begin with making free throws.
Minnesota Controlled the Paint
While the Pelicans knocked down perimeter shots, Minnesota controlled the interior.
Center Joan Beringer dominated with:
18 points 12 rebounds 4 blocks
His presence altered shots, protected the rim and helped limit New Orleans’ second-chance opportunities.
When one player can influence both ends of the floor that dramatically, winning becomes much more difficult.
What the Box Score Doesn’t Tell You
Here’s the encouraging part.
New Orleans actually did several things well.
14 made three-pointers 21 assists 12 steals Active perimeter defense Consistent ball movement
Those are positive building blocks.
The effort was there.
The activity was there.
The execution simply wasn’t consistent enough over forty minutes.
Five Winners ⭐ Kobe Bufkin
Looked like the best player on the floor for New Orleans.
⭐ Markquis Nowell
Excellent leadership, shooting and defensive activity.
⭐ Micah Peavy
Efficient basketball with outstanding decision-making.
⭐ Team Ball Movement
Twenty-one assists show the offense wasn’t stagnant.
⭐ Perimeter Shooting
Forty-two percent from beyond the arc is encouraging.
Three Biggest Concerns
⚠️ Defensive rebounding
⚠️ Free-throw shooting
⚠️ Interior rim protection
Looking Ahead
Summer League isn’t about chasing a championship.
It’s about discovering which young players can contribute once the regular season begins.
Based on Game 1, Kobe Bufkin appears ready to make that conversation much more interesting.
The next challenge for God Shammgod and the coaching staff will be correcting the fundamentals that ultimately decided this game. The Pelicans face the Charlotte Hornets next on Saturday July 11th. The Hornet Summer League Opener is tonight VS the Orlando Magic.
If New Orleans can limit second-chance opportunities and finish possessions, the results should improve quickly.
Big Q’s Take
One Summer League loss doesn’t define a young team.
But habits do.
What stood out to me wasn’t the final score—it was how close this game could have been with better rebounding and free-throw shooting. Those are controllable areas, and they’re exactly the kind of details Jamahl Mosley‘s staff has emphasized since arriving in New Orleans.
The encouraging part is that you can’t teach the confidence Kobe Bufkin showed, the poise Markquis Nowell displayed, or the all-around game Micah Peavy brought to the floor.
Clean up the rebounding.
Make your free throws.
Keep developing the young talent.
If the Pelicans do those three things, this loss will be remembered as a valuable first step rather than a disappointing start.
Gee Bino is a senior writer and columnist for The Who Dat Daily, covering the New Orleans Saints, Pelicans, LSU athletics, and the Gulf South sports landscape. He specializes in roster construction, player development, salary cap strategy, and breaking news coverage. Follow The Who Dat Daily for daily news, analysis, and exclusive team coverage.
