The NBA Summer League wrapped up its annual stay in Las Vegas, Nevada, earlier this week, featuring three former Mississippi State hoopers trying to make NBA rosters.
Tolu Smith and Cam Matthews both featured heavily in the tournament, starting all five games for their respective teams, the Detroit Pistons and the Houston Rockets. The former Bulldog frontcourt duo are currently on two-way contracts, meaning they are eligible to play for their organization in the NBA on the 12-man roster as well as for the affiliated NBA G League team.
Smith was a Summer League All-Star in 2024 and made an impact again for the Pistons this year, averaging 13 points and 8 rebounds while starting all five games in Las Vegas. He twice scored 16 points in wins against the New York Knicks and Minnesota Timberwolves.
“Just dominating in the paint, making sure everybody knows that’s my paint,” Smith said after a 16-point, 11-rebound performance against the New York Knicks to lead off the 2025 Summer League. Smith was asked about his goals returning to Las Vegas for the summer competition. He made the Summer League All-Star team a year ago and made his NBA debut with the Detroit Pistons at the end of the regular season.
“Just being a great all-around player,” he continued, “whether that’s rebounding, defending, scoring around the rim, passing, making the right reads. Just a little bit of everything.”
Smith was signed by the Pistons as an undrafted free agent in 2024 and spent his rookie season with the Motor City Cruise. He was called up to the Pistons’ 12-man roster for one game at the end of the regular season, posting 14 points and 8 rebounds against the Milwaukee Bucks.
“It makes me even more hungry,” Smith said of making his NBA debut on the Dear Ol’ State podcast this month. “Just seeing what I was able to do out there on an NBA floor, knowing what I’m capable of. And using opportunities like this in the Summer League to showcase my abilities and show that I belong in the NBA.”
Smith played alongside former Bulldog teammate Garrison Brooks with the Pistons. Brooks has played professionally in Lithuania for the BC Wolves since 2023, but was signed by the Pistons for a Summer League roster spot. He had his best game against the Miami Heat last week, recording 10 points, 9 rebounds and 5 assists in a 108-88 win.
Matthews, the third and most recent Bulldog to go pro, went undrafted in the 2025 NBA Draft and signed as a free agent with the Houston Rockets. He was given a two-way contract earlier this month and featured prominently in Vegas. He posted a personal best 9 points against the Timberwolves last weekend, hitting a pair of three-pointers as the Rockets won 104-101.
Matthews wasn’t the sort of big who would normally spread the floor with his shooting at MSU, but was given the green light to shoot from beyond the arc in Vegas as he works on expanding his game for the pros.
Matthews and Smith are both eligible to return to their respective G League teams. Brooks is still contracted with his team in Europe and has yet to sign with the Pistons beyond the summer roster.
Preseason training camp for NBA teams begins in September, and the regular season starts on Oct. 21.
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