Clemson basketball announced that former Clemson big man Viktor Lakhin will play with the Sacramento Kings during the 2026 NBA Summer League, giving Lakhin a chance to showcase his game in front of NBA staff after his college career.
Nothing is guaranteed, and everyone in those gyms is fighting just to be a somebody in the basketball sphere, but Lakhin brings a skill set that at least gives him a real argument to go to the league. He has size, touch, experience, and the ability to stretch the floor, which matters for big men trying to find a professional role. He just has to work on his footwork and lack of control.
Clemson fans saw the upsides and the downsides during his time with the Tigers. Lakhin gave Brad Brownell’s team a frontcourt piece who could score inside, step out when needed, and provide a different kind of offensive look. He was not just a body in the paint. He could actually play with some feel when he was.
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For players like Lakhin, the chaos of summer league will feed into his playstyle more. Make easy consistent shots in the paint. Defend well enough. Show you can process the game quickly and you’ll at minimum get a shot at the next level.
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This article originally appeared on Clemson Wire: Fourth Clemson star joins the NBA Summer League, heads to Sacramento
