Summer League action officially started for the Portland Trail Blazers with their first game against the Golden State Warriors. Portland opened with a starting lineup of James Bouknight, Caleb Love, Rayan Rupert, Sidy Cissoko, and Yang Hansen. It quickly became apparent that Portland's starting five was more talented than Golden State's, as the first quarter ended 34-13.
A significant reason behind that was the play of Rupert, who already had 11 points, two rebounds, and one assist at that point.
Rayan Rupert just proved he's outgrown the Summer League
Last season, Rupert finished with 3.0 points, 1.3 rebounds, and 0.5 assists, 41/27/77 shooting splits. That and the fact that he was a second-round pick in 2023 suggested that he could benefit from more reps in the Summer League.
However, it's rare for third-year players to participate as they are oftentimes too developed by that point. The good news for Portland is that it is also the case for Rupert. He averaged just 8.8 minutes per game in 2024-25, but is already proving that he's ready for an increased role next season.
His progression comes at a perfect time as the Blazers need more wing depth behind Deni Avdija and Toumani Camara. Rupert's two-way talent will fit perfectly with the Blazers' newfound identity this season, with Jrue Holiday and Donovan Clingan projected to be starters. And the fact that he's a point-forward hybrid capable of providing secondary playmaking when needed will be a luxury for their depth.
Rupert is a special talent that the Blazers were right to prioritize keeping around. His unique skill set gives Chauncey Billups more rotational options, and he could even serve as a replacement for multiple players, given Portland's unfinished roster.
Portland's front office is already high on Rupert's long-term outlook, and he's firmly on the inside of their rebuilding plans. And from that first quarter alone, you could see why that's the case. Rupert has already proven that he's ready for an increased role when it matters most -- not during the Summer League.
It's great that he's already separating himself from the rest of the Blazers' Summer League roster, as a third-year player should. But if Rupert continues dominating at this level, Portland may be better off giving other players on the roster bubble more opportunities.
There are better summer league players than Rupert, but with only 13 players on the roster, the Blazers should be utilizing this time to get more clarity in terms of the spots after him.