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13 Kentucky guys set to play in the NBA Summer League

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13 Kentucky guys set to play in the NBA Summer League


At least 13 former Kentucky Wildcats will suit up for a team in this year’s confusingly named 2025 NBA 2K26 Summer League. All five rookies signed from Mark Pope’s inaugural team will make their professional basketball debuts, plus we will see a few names from the past. Also, with the flexible roster structure in this format, you never know who else might join (or leave) a team at any given moment.

The Salt Lake Summer League and California Classic are already underway, with Justin Edwards picking up where he left off in the regular season. You can catch Edwards Tuesday night at 7:00 p.m. against the Grizzlies on YouTube in the Salt Lake finale; however, that is just the warm-up act for the main event in Las Vegas, which kicks off on Thursday, July 10.

Starting with the Kentucky players most recently drafted, here are former ‘Cats to watch this year and when to watch them:

Koby Brea | Phoenix Suns | #14

Koby Brea was the first Wildcat plucked off the board in the 2025 NBA Draft. The Phoenix Suns made a series of trades to acquire the rights to Brea, and those transactions finally became official this week. Second-year player, Oso Ighodaro, wears number 4 for the Suns, so Koby chose 14 instead, the number TyTy Washington wore for Phoenix last year. The Suns are in salary cap limbo, so Brea (a relatively cheap rookie) has a good shot at making the opening-day roster.

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Amari Williams | Boston Celtics | #77

Amari Williams became the second Mark Pope player drafted into the NBA when he came off the board to the Boston Celtics at 46. He subsequently signed a two-way contract with the team, but considering the Celtics have since traded away big men Kristaps Porzingis and Luke Kornet, there are openings at the center position to be filled. Look for Amari to compete for an opening-day roster spot while channeling his inner Kerr Kriisa by wearing number 77.

Jaxson Robinson | Cleveland Cavaliers | #14

It took way too long for a team to sign Jaxson Robinson, but eventually, the Cleveland Cavaliers wised up and brought in Jax on an Exhibit-10 contract. He will have a steep hill to climb to make the roster, but with a healed wrist, injuries will no longer hold him back. He will wear number 14, the same number he wore during his one-year stint at Arkansas.

Andrew Carr | Portland Trail Blazers | #64

Andrew Carr will get a chance to make a mark in the NBA with the Portland Trail Blazers. Carr signed an Exhibit-10 deal with the Blazers after going undrafted. Considering he will be wearing number 64, digits that were likely assigned, not chosen, Carr will likely spend a good chunk of the year in the G-League squad with the Rip City Remix, but a (now healthy) big man who can stretch the floor is always a valuable asset in the NBA. You never know.

Lamont Butler | Atlanta Hawks | #31

Much like Andrew Carr and Jaxson Robinson, Lamont Butler will use the Summer League to showcase what he can do while healthy. The Atlanta Hawks signed Butler to a two-way deal, meaning his chances of seeing the NBA court this year are promising. Big Blue Nation should look forward to seeing Butler play without that gigantic brace on his shoulder, as should Hawks fans.

Reed Sheppard | Houston Rockets | #15

Reed Sheppard lit up the Summer League last year and is coming back for more. A victim of being on an incredibly talented team, Sheppard didn’t see much action during the season, though he showed flashes of brilliance. With Kevin Durant now on the roster, Sheppard could be facing a similar blockade of talented veterans when it comes to his quest for playing time, but another solid Summer League outing will demonstrate that he is ready and capable when given the opportunity.

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Rob Dillingham | Minnesota Timberwolves | #4

Kentucky’s other lottery pick from a year ago, Rob Dillingham, was also never able to fully break into his team’s rotation last year. He, like Sheppard, showed signs of greatness, and he’ll look to showcase that shiftiness in the Summer League before his second season in the NBA. Rob has grown close with Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards, so look for him to get more opportunities this season.

Justin Edwards | Philadelphia 76ers | #19

Justin Edwards busted into the scene as an undrafted free agent last year for the Philadelphia 76ers and never looked back. He averaged 10.1 points per game and earned a new three-year contract for his efforts. It is hard not to be happy for Edwards, who struggled at Kentucky but is really showing out now in the NBA.

Antonio Reeves | New Orleans Pelicans | #12

The New Orleans Pelicans inexplicably waived Antonio Reeves after the marksman shot lights out for the team last season. The Pels are doing him a solid, though, and letting him hang around to compete on their Summer League team with the hopes of another organization picking him up. Reeves is too good a shooter to remain a free agent for long.

Chris Livingston | Milwaukee Bucks | #7

Similar to Reeves, Chris Livingston was waived by the Milwaukee Bucks but will play for their Summer League squad in an effective tryout for the other 29 NBA teams. Livingston has yet to find his NBA footing after going 58th overall to the Bucks in 2023, but maybe a change in scenery will help.

Jacob Toppin | Atlanta Hawks | #00

Now with his third NBA team, Jacob Toppin will play for the Atlanta Hawks this summer with hopes of playing for them this fall. Toppin’s NBA highlight thus far in his career was competing in the 2024 NBA Slam Dunk Contest, and the Hawks are excited to see that raw athleticism translate on the court.

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Keion Brooks | New Orleans Pelicans | #11

The official roster shows Keion Brooks is from Washington, but Kentucky fans will always claim him. Brooks played great for the Pelicans during their final handful of games last season, and the team must have been equally impressed, as he will join their Summer League team with a legitimate shot at making their opening-day roster.

Lance Ware | New York Knicks | #45

Just when you thought you were all caught up on former Kentucky Wildcats in the 2025 Summer League, the New York Knicks released their official roster featuring Big Blue Nation favorite, Lance Ware. After departing Lexington for Villanova, Ware spent his fifth year of college basketball at UT Arlington. Now he will represent the Big Apple in Las Vegas and vie for a spot in the league. Get it, Lance.

Las Vegas Summer League Schedule

Thursday, July 10

TIME (ET) HOME AWAY TV/STREAMING
3:30 PM New Orleans Pelicans (Antonio Reeves, Keion Brooks) Minnesota Timberwolves (Rob Dillingham) ESPN2, ESPN+
5:00 PM Cleveland Cavaliers (Jaxson Robinson) Indiana Pacers NBATV, ESPN+
9:30 PM Denver Nuggets Milwaukee Bucks (Chris Livingston) NBATV, ESPN+
10:00 PM San Antonio Spurs Philadelphia 76ers (Justin Edwards) ESPN, ESPN+

Friday, July 11

TIME (ET) HOME AWAY TV/STREAMING
4:00 PM Memphis Grizzlies Boston Celtics (Amari Williams) NBATV, ESPN+
4:30 PM Atlanta Hawks (Lamont Butler, Jacob Toppin) Miami Heat ESPN2, ESPN+
6:00 PM Detroit Pistons New York Knicks (Lance Ware) NBA TV, ESPN+
9:00 PM Washington Wizards Phoenix Suns (Koby Brea) ESPN, ESPN+
10:00 PM LA Clippers Houston Rockets (Reed Sheppard) NBATV, ESPN+
11:00 PM Portland Trail Blazers (Andrew Carr) Golden State Warriors ESPN2, ESPN+

Saturday, July 12

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TIME (ET) HOME AWAY TV/STREAMING
3:30 PM Cleveland Cavaliers (Jaxson Robinson) Milwaukee Bucks (Chris Livingston) NBATV, ESPN+
6:30 PM Charlotte Hornets Philadelphia 76ers (Justin Edwards) ESPN2, ESPN+
8:30 PM Los Angeles Lakers New Orleans Pelicans (Antonio Reeves, Keion Brooks) ESPN2, ESPN+
10:00 PM Minnesota Timberwolves (Rob Dillingham) Denver Nuggets NBATV, ESPN+
10:30 PM Memphis Grizzlies Portland Trail Blazers (Andrew Carr) ESPN2, ESPN+

Sunday, July 13

TIME (ET) HOME AWAY TV/STREAMING
3:30 PM Phoenix Suns (Koby Brea) Atlanta Hawks (Lamont Butler, Jacob Toppin) NBATV, ESPN+
4:00 PM Detroit Pistons Houston Rockets (Reed Sheppard) ESPN2, ESPN+
5:30 PM New York Knicks (Lance Ware) Boston Celtics (Amari Williams) NBATV, ESPN+
7:30 PM Miami Heat Cleveland Cavaliers (Jaxson Robinson) NBATV, ESPN+
9:30 PM Milwaukee Bucks (Chris Livingston) LA Clippers NBATV, ESPN+

Monday, July 14

TIME (ET) HOME AWAY TV/STREAMING
4:30 PM Atlanta Hawks (Lamont Butler, Jacob Toppin) Houston Rockets (Reed Sheppard) NBATV, ESPN+
8:00 PM Boston Celtics (Amari Williams) Miami Heat ESPNU, ESPN+
10:00 PM Phoenix Suns (Koby Brea) Sacramento Kings ESPNU, ESPN+

Tuesday, July 15

TIME (ET) HOME AWAY TV/STREAMING
4:30 PM Minnesota Timberwolves (Rob Dillingham) Detroit Pistons ESPN2, ESPN+
6:00 PM New York Knicks (Lance Ware) Brooklyn Nets ESPN2, ESPN+
8:30 PM Philadelphia 76ers (Justin Edwards) Washington Wizards NBATV, ESPN+
10:00 PM Portland Trail Blazers (Andrew Carr) Memphis Grizzlies NBATV, ESPN+

Wednesday, July 16

TIME (ET) HOME AWAY TV/STREAMING
3:30 PM Sacramento Kings Cleveland Cavaliers (Jaxson Robinson) ESPN2, ESPN+
5:00 PM Phoenix Suns (Koby Brea) Minnesota Timberwolves (Rob Dillingham) NBATV, ESPN+
5:30 PM Milwaukee Bucks (Chris Livingston) Chicago Bulls ESPN2, ESPN+
8:00 PM Dallas Mavericks Philadelphia 76ers (Justin Edwards) ESPN, ESPN+
9:30 PM New Orleans Pelicans (Antonio Reeves, Keion Brooks) OKC Thunder NBATV, ESPN+

Thursday, July 17

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TIME (ET) HOME AWAY TV/STREAMING
4:30 PM Indiana Pacers New York Knicks (Lance Ware) ESPN2, ESPN+
6:00 PM Atlanta Hawks (Lamont Butler, Jacob Toppin) Memphis Grizzlies NBATV, ESPN+
8:00 PM Houston Rockets (Reed Sheppard) Portland Trail Blazers (Andrew Carr) NBATV, ESPN+
9:00 PM Boston Celtics (Amari Williams) Los Angeles Lakers ESPN, ESPN+

Kentucky players in the 2025 NBA Summer League

Player Team Number
Amari Williams Boston Celtics 77
Andrew Carr Portland Trailblazers 64
Antonio Reeves New Orleans Pelicans 12
Chris Livingston Philadelphia 76ers 7
Jacob Toppin Atlanta Hawks 00
Jaxson Robinson Cleveland Cavaliers 14
Justin Edwards Phildadelphia 76ers 19
Keion Brooks New Orleans Pelicans 11
Koby Brea Phoenix Suns 14
Lamont Butler Atlanta Hawks 31
Lance Ware New York Knicks 45
Reed Sheppard Houston Rockets 15
Rob Dillingham Minnesota Timberwolves 4



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Several people hurt in Western Kentucky Parkway multi-car accident, officials say

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Several people hurt in Western Kentucky Parkway multi-car accident, officials say


MUHLENBERG, Ky. (WFIE) – Kentucky officials says there are multiple people injured in a three-car accident on Western Kentucky Parkway.

According to a post made by the Central City Fire Department, three vehicles were involved in a crash between the 64 and 65 mile markers eastbound of the parkway.

They say both the eastbound and westbound lanes are closed at this time. The closure should last around 3 hours.

Two people were extricated from a vehicle. Four adults and three juveniles are being taken to the hospital. No update has been given on their conditions.

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They say a mass casualty incident was declared, and Ohio County Fire and EMS were called to the scene due to the number of patients.

We will update you when we learn more.

Several people hurt in Western Kentucky Parkway multi-car accident, officials say(Central City Fire Department)



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2027 top in-state prospect talks about his Kentucky unofficial visit on Tuesday

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2027 top in-state prospect talks about his Kentucky unofficial visit on Tuesday


Kentucky’s recruiting efforts in the 2026 class have hit a current rough patch, but things are looking promising in the 2027 class, as the staff has already casted a very wide net in the class, with a number of top targets in the fold. As they’re continuing to pursue mostly national targets, a local star is now on the staff’s radar.

2027 in-state guard Braxton Keathley, one of the state’s top prospects even regardless of class, took an unofficial visit to Kentucky on Tuesday for the game against NC Central. Keathley is native of Martin County, KY, and has took the state by storm as he has really stuffed the stat sheet. Just recently, he dropped a triple-double of 34 points, 12 assists, and 10 rebounds last weekend.

The Kentucky staff has certainly seemed to take notice really quickly. He’s also getting plenty of other interest, too, including having frequent contact with Louisville, LSU, Purdue, South Carolina, and Florida State, plus offers from Eastern Kentucky, UT Martin, Ohio, and Bowling Green, among others. Keathley sat down with Kentucky Wildcats on SI to talk about his recent visit to Kentucky. What were his impressions of the staff? He shared a conversation he had with them before Tuesday’s game. He also had some interactions with others, too.

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“They really talked about how well I scored it and how they’ve been hearing about me for a long time,” Keathley said of his conversation with the Kentucky staff. “One of the (Kentucky) assistants mentioned he had a coaching friend tell them that they better jump on me quick cause I was really good. I had several fans come up to me and take pictures. Jack Givens welcomed me and talked to me for a little bit and said he’s highly impressed with my game and plans on coming to a game soon. A couple of other UK players came up, they were really nice and said they been keeping up with me.”

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Braxton Keathley | Photo via Jessica Adkins

As a Kentucky kid, Keathley says he been a fan of the Wildcats since he was little, even getting to train with Tyrese Maxey this summer, and he also had some great things to say about what he saw from fellow Kentucky natives and current Wildcats Trent Noah, Jasper Johnson, and Malachi Moreno. “I looked up to players like Tyler Herro, SGA, Tyrese Maxey, Devin Booker, Malik Monk and Reed Sheppard. I got lucky that I got to train with Maxey for a week in August,” Keathley said. “I saw Trent Noah last night having great energy and keeping a smile on his face during warmups. You could tell he loved every minute wearing that Kentucky uniform. He cares and it shows. I saw Jasper and Moreno warming up hard. The one thing about it, and my dad always told me, it’s a different place. You got to be special to play there and be willing to accept everything that comes with wearing that jersey.”

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Interestingly enough, Keathley’s dad coached former Kentucky greats Anthony Epps and Wayne Turner after their time at Kentucky, so Keathley has a family history of being around all that comes with the passion of Kentucky basketball. What did Keathley’s dad learn about the two former Wildcats he got the privilege to coach? “He said they carried a chip on their shoulder and were great leaders always humble but tough. and I have to do the same.” Now, for Keathley, it’s about climbing the ranks nationally. “A couple (recruiting services) don’t have me ranked yet and that’s ok. I’m going to walk in the gym every night and know I outworked you and I’m going to outplay you,” he said. “I’m going to compete like every game is a championship. I’m going to to play with the same passion that the fans have. I’m always all in there’s no going back or in-between.”

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Keathley has so much passion for his community in the mountains of Eastern Kentucky, and he has plans of doing big things at Martin County. He also shared a message Trent Noah’s dad had for him during their interaction at Tuesday’s Kentucky game. “Something he said that really stuck out. ‘Us mountain people have got to stick together.’ He’s right, Eastern Kentucky has great people and basketball players. Kentucky basketball as whole, we got to stick together through the highs and lows. That’s what we do.”

That’s a great message from a parent of a current Wildcat who was in his shoes before, being a fellow native of that part of the state. The Kentucky staff is certainly going to keep an eye on him as he continues the impressive run he is on so far this season, because he just continues to catch more and more people’s attention with his play.



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Kentucky Republican Rep. Thomas Massie introduces legislation for U.S. to leave NATO – UPI.com

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Kentucky Republican Rep. Thomas Massie introduces legislation for U.S. to leave NATO – UPI.com


Dec. 10 (UPI) — U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie, a Republican serving a House district in Kentucky, introduced legislation for the United States to pull out of NATO.

Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, a Republican from Florida, posted on X that she would be a co-sponsor of the Not a Trusted Organization Act, or NATO Act. Utah Republican Mike Lee introduced the same legislation in the Senate earlier this year.

“NATO is a Cold War relic,” Massie said in a statement Tuesday. “We should withdraw from NATO and use that money to defend our own country, not socialist countries.

“NATO was created to counter the Soviet Union, which collapsed over 30 years ago. Since then, U.S. participation has cost taxpayers trillions of dollars and continues to risk U.S. involvement in foreign wars.”

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He added: “Our Constitution did not authorize permanent foreign entanglements, something our Founding Fathers explicitly warned us against. America should not be the world’s security blanket – especially when wealthy countries refuse to pay for their own defense.”

NATO was founded in 1949 by 12 members as a military alliance involving European nations, as well as the U.S. and Canada in North America. There are now 32 members, with Finland joining in 2023 and Sweden in 2024.

The NATO Act would prevent the use of U.S. taxpayer funds for NATO’s common budgets, including its civil budget, military budget and the Security Investment Program.

Article 13 of the North Atlantic Treaty allows nations to opt out.

“After the Treaty has been in force for 20 years, any Party may cease to be a Party one year after its notice of denunciation has been given to the Government of the United States of America, which will inform the Governments of the other Parties of the deposit of each notice of denunciation,” the treaty reads.

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During the last NATO summit in The Hague, the Netherlands, President Donald Trump told reporters he agrees with NATO’s Article 5 mutual defense treaty.

“I stand with it. That’s why I’m here,” Trump said. “If I didn’t stand with it, I wouldn’t be here.”

Article 5 was invoked for the first time after the 9/11 attacks in the United States, leading to NATO’s involvement in Afghanistan.

The Kentucky Republican, who calls himself a “fiscal hawk” and a “constitutional conservative,” has been at odds with Trump on several issues, including fiscal spending, foreign policy/war powers, government surveillance and transparency.

Trump has also been critical of NATO.

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During his 2016 election campaign, Trump called the alliance “obsolete.”

He urged nations to spend at least 3.5% of gross domestic product on core defense needs by 2035.

In June, NATO allies agreed to a new defense spending guideline to invest 5% of GDP annually in defense and security by 2035.

Five nations were above 3% in 2024: Poland at 4.12%, Estonia at 3.43%, U.S. at 3.38%, Latvia at 3.15% and Greece at 3.08%. In last is Spain with 1.28% though Iceland has no armed forces and Sweden wasn’t listed.

Some Republican senators want stronger involvement in the alliance, including Joni Ernst of Iowa and Sen. Roger Wicker of Mississippi. Wicker is chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee.

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For passage, a House majority is needed, but 60 of 100 votes in the Senate to break the filibuster and then a majority vote. Trump could also veto the bill.



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