Frankie Fidler makes statement in first NBA Summer League performance

Frankie Fidler’s first-ever NBA Summer League performance is in the books.

The former Michigan State forward had been playing overseas in Latvia but decided to take a break to head back to the United States to partake in some Summer League action. He’s trying to make his NBA dreams come true after going undrafted following the 2024-25 season.

His first Summer League performance wasn’t his best, but he still stood out as the Trail Blazers’ second-leading scorer in an 81-79 loss to the Phoenix Suns.

Here’s what Fidler did in his first taste of the Summer League:

Although he was just 3-for-9 from the floor, he finished with 13 points and two steals and was a solid +4 in his 23 minutes. Being on the right side in the plus/minus category is always a sign of a positive impact and he was putting the Trail Blazers in a good position to beat the Suns even though they fell just short.

It’s also impressive that he was the team’s second-leading scorer and had the fourth-best +/- and he was fifth on the team in minutes played. He did, however, start.

Fidler didn’t have the most successful season at Michigan State and he would even tell you that he didn’t live up to his own expectations, but it wasn’t due to a lack of talent. He always had the talent to compete at the highest level, he just needs the confidence.

In his first NBA performance, he looked like he belonged. That’s a great sign.

Frankie Fidler needs to work on his efficiency

I do think confidence is still a little caged right now seeing as he attempted the fewest shots of any starter, but nine is still a good number for his first Summer League game.

Next, he needs to work on that efficiency — and he knows that.

Going 3-for-9 just won’t cut it if he wants to earn a two-way contract or at least make a G-League roster. He’s off to a solid start, though, scoring 13 in his first game and making all four of his free throw attempts. It’s that shaky, inefficient shot that held him back in his lone season at Michigan State after coming in as a sharpshooter from Omaha.

What he was doing in Latvia was impressive so I don’t doubt that he can turn things around. We can just attribute these early shooting struggles to first-game jitters.

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