​The NBA Summer League isn’t just about having the chance to see the Association’s star draft picks before they get their first minutes of legitimate NBA action. It’s also an opportunity for overlooked players to make their case to earn NBA deals, be it Exhibit-10 contracts, two-way deals, or standard contracts.One player who already made the most of his opportunity this offseason was Arthur Kaluma, a 24-year-old formerly undrafted player who played so well at Summer League for the Los Angeles Lakers that he already earned a two-way contract with the team.There are other players who performed well in 2026 Summer League, however. Below are six such athletes who we believe earned NBA contracts based on their performances at Summer League this year.John Tonje (Boston)2026 Las Vegas Summer League stats: 14.8 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 1.0 apg, 1.2 spg, 51.0 FG%, 45.2 3P%2025 second-round pick John Tonje was basically on some sort of tryout in 2026 Summer League, hoping to land a deal to return to the Boston Celtics. Tonje spent five years in college before finally breaking out in 2024-25 with Wisconsin, when he averaged over 19 points and five rebounds per game, earning consensus All-American status for his efforts. He was then drafted by Boston in the second round of last year’s draft and saw six appearances for the team in 2025-26, spending most of his time in the G League, where he put up 18.1 points on 44 percent shooting.Tonje had a strong showing in Las Vegas Summer League, averaging 14.8 points and 3.8 rebounds while shooting 45.2 percent from three-point range. Tonje showed off his two-way bulldog athleticism well, displaying a skill set that could translate at the NBA level as long as his outside jumper remains that reliable.Boston has one roster spot left and two two-way spots, and it’s quite likely Tonje played himself into one of those spots with his 2026 Summer League showing.Tyler Nickel (New York)2026 Las Vegas Summer League stats: 12.2 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 1.6 apg, 41.3 3P%Rookie Tyler Nickel may not have as gaudy of numbers as some of the other 2026 Summer League standouts on this list, but he did make a strong case to earn an NBA deal by showing off his high-level shooting ability, a skill that every single team in the modern NBA could use more of. What’s more, for a team like the Knicks, who are going to face some tough roster decisions due to the CBA going forward, finding potential diamonds in the rough like Nickel, who anyone in the NBA can sign for very cheap right now, is going to be hugely important if the team wants to become the first NBA squad to repeat as champs since the ’17 and ’18 Golden State Warriors.Nickel shot 41.3 percent from three in 2026 Summer League, displaying a quick release with his 6-foot-7 frame. After shooting 40.1 percent over his final three years in college at Virginia Tech and Vanderbilt, Nickel continued to show off that sweet shooting stroke in Summer League, so much so that he’s going to get NBA consideration a