LAS VEGAS — Keaton Wagler looked headed for a second straight forgettable Las Vegas Summer League performance.The fifth pick in June’s NBA Draft, Wagler took just seven shots en route to a quiet seven-point performance Thursday against the Sacramento Kings. Three days later, the LA Clippers’ highest draft pick in 17 years missed six of seven first-half shots against the Utah Jazz.But Wagler was “aggressive from the start” on Sunday, and that early aggression was rewarded in the third quarter when he scored as many points (18) as the entire Jazz team. Wagler hit shots after off-ball screens and got to his spots for pull-ups. He and Darryn Peterson, the No. 2 pick in the draft, both finished with game highs of 23 points, but Wagler’s Clippers got a 104-82 win.“It kind of just gives me that thought in the back of my mind of like, you know, I can still do this at this level,” Wagler told The Athletic following his breakout performance Sunday. “Like, I knew. I knew that I could play that way and that it would come. But you know, just being able to do that after the last game … I would say it’s more of a confidence boost than anything.”That could be a boon for the Clippers if maintained properly. Wagler’s skill set suggests he has a high floor as a 6-foot-5 guard capable of playing multiple positions. But his teammate at Illinois, Kylan Boswell, who is signed to a two-way contract with the Charlotte Hornets, thinks there is a notable ceiling for Wagler to reach, as well.“Keaton will be a superstar for that team,” Boswell told The Athletic. “All the GMs and the front office, they know. There’s a reason they (took) him at five. They can see the future and the situation that they’re building.“His style of game reminds me a lot like Shai (Gilgeous-Alexander). It’s kind of crazy to say, but I feel it can pan out to be that type of elevation in his game. He’s just very calm; he’s always balanced with himself. He always gets to spots with shots that he likes. … It’s just gonna take time for him. I feel like hitting the weight room will be huge for him. But overall, you gotta let a superstar grow into a superstar.”How Keaton Wagler came from out of nowhere to become a top NBA prospectSam VecenieWagler is a part of one of the 21st century’s more stacked guard classes. Peterson was taken second in what many considered an above-average draft, with Wagler, Mikel Brown Jr., Darius Acuff Jr., Kingston Flemings and Brayden Burries all selected in the top 10. Brown wound up watching Acuff and Wagler play against each other in the Clippers-Sacramento Kings summer-league game, while Acuff watched part of the Clippers-Jazz game that featured Wagler and Peterson.“I think it’s honestly super cool being a part of this class,” Wagler said before his first game against the Kings. “It is one of the best classes that we’ve seen — all the different guards. I mean, everyone is dynamic in their own ways. It’s cool to see how each person fits in with each team and how they play. It’s really cool to see that.
Clippers’ Keaton Wagler’s confidence isn’t fleeting despite up-and-down start to summer
Wagler is part of a talent group of guards in this year's draft class. But in some ways, he's still an anomaly.













