Nets' Drake Powell Shoots 1-for-28 in NBA Summer League Struggles

Drake Powell, a 20-year-old swingman for the Brooklyn Nets and a 2025 NBA draft pick, is experiencing a notably poor shooting performance in the ongoing NBA Summer League. Powell, who was selected 22nd overall after one collegiate season at North Carolina and is known primarily for his defensive and athletic abilities, has made only 1 of 28 field goal attempts so far. In the most recent game, played overnight between Saturday and Sunday, Powell scored 4 points but went 0-for-4 from the field in the Nets' 83-76 loss to the Atlanta Hawks. His overall Summer League stats now stand at 11 points total, shooting 1-for-28 from the field and 0-for-14 from three-point range.

This stark contrast to his rookie season, where he averaged 6.5 points per game on 40.2% shooting and 28.0% from three in 21 minutes per game, has drawn criticism and disbelief from fans online. Comments questioned how an NBA player could shoot so poorly despite numerous attempts, suggesting Powell's performance has declined since his rookie year and speculating he might spend significant time in the G League this season. The Nets and Powell face pressure to improve as the regular season approaches.