Six Former Tigers Suit Up in NBA Summer League Action Today

A big slate of Summer League games kicks off today and several former Tigers are set to make their NBA debuts.

We've got a two-for-one special: Chaney Johnson and Denver Jones will make their Summer League debuts in today’s earliest game.

Johnson, signed via Exhibit 10, is looking to impress in Summer League to earn a two-way contract or make the G-League roster. In this small performance window, he needs to show the same tenacity, versatility, and IQ displayed in his time at Auburn. It's no secret that Johnson is a hard worker, coming all the way from DII to the Final Four. His physicality and defensive effort have already brought him a long way and if he shows the same grit in the paint it can take him even further.

That brings us to the the best on-ball defender in college, Denver Jones. In this next hurdle, Jones is going to have to battle bigger, stronger wings. He just needs to do what he's already an expert at: staying in front of guards and consistently lock down shooters. Cavs fans are excited about his ability to shoot from distance, but his physicality on defense is what put him on their radar to begin with.

Jones and Johnson are on similar missions. They're looking to capitalize on this great opportunity and prove why they were instrumental in Auburn's final four run.

It has been too long without Mr. Auburn himself, one of the best all around defenders in college basketball last year. Dylan Cardwell went undrafted, but the big man signed a two-way deal with the Sacramento Kings.

It'll be interesting to see how he develops at the next level. I'm not expecting major offensive production, but I'm hoping to see him become the same defensive anchor that he was for Auburn when they needed stops.

This summer league matchup is drawing an enormous amount of buzz due to Bronny James and Cooper Flagg but that's not why I'm here. Miles Kelly and Jaylin Williams are our first pair of former Tigers set to compete in Las Vegas this summer.

Kelly, who signed a two-way contract with the Dallas Mavericks in late June, transferred to Auburn from Georgia Tech equipped with plenty of scoring potential and confident range. He torched Kentucky last year with 30 points and went 8 of 16 from beyond the arc in Auburn's NCAA Tournament opening-round win.

Also donning the Mavs uniform is the most respectable Jaylin Williams in the NBA. Williams went undrafted in the 2024 NBA draft and joined the Denver Nuggets on their 2024 Summer League. Following this, he joined the Grand Rapids Gold in the G-League and most recently the Winnipeg Sea Bears in the Canadian Elite Basketball League. Now, he's looking to prove he belongs. All eyes are on Jay Will to polish his playmaking ability - safer decisions and cleaner passes.

Johni Broome has already stepped onto the big stage with the 76ers, and today he’ll go head-to-head with the San Antonio Spurs. He’s looked confident shooting the three and has impressed on both ends of the floor.

That said, I’m still waiting to see his post game fully translate — hoping to watch him dominate down low like he did so often at Auburn last season.

As the Summer League gets its wheels off the ground, these former Tigers have a golden opportunity to showcase their skills on the professional stage. Whether it’s Broome’s versatile scoring, Cardwell’s defensive anchor presence, Kelly and Williams’ sharpshooting and playmaking, or Johnson and Jones’ tenacious defense, Auburn’s legacy continues to shine through. Keep your eyes on these players as they fight to carve out their places in the NBA — because this is just the beginning of what promises to be an exciting journey.

Stay tuned for more Auburn basketball news and to see how our stars progress through the summer league and into the NBA careers.