Drake Powell had a rough scoring night on Saturday, finishing with four points in a 79-76 California Classic Summer League loss to the Kings after going 0-for-9 from the field.
Powell missed all five of his 3-point attempts and went 2-for-3 at the line, but he still found ways to contribute in other areas. He finished with eight rebounds, two assists, one steal and three turnovers in 24 minutes.
What the outing means
The game was another reminder that Powell's summer league stretch will be watched closely for more than just raw scoring totals. The source frames his performance as part of a larger effort to show he can earn a regular rotation role, and this latest result does not help that case.
Powell was the No. 22 overall pick in 2025, and his first professional season was not a complete setback. In the 2025-26 regular season, he averaged 6.5 points, 1.8 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 0.2 blocks and 0.6 steals across 21.0 minutes in 63 appearances.
That line shows why there is still some reason for patience, but it also explains the pressure attached to every summer league game. The source makes clear that Powell has more work to do if he wants to turn that solid first year into a more routine role heading into 2026-27.
For now, Saturday was a difficult step. The production in the box score was mixed, and the shooting numbers were the biggest issue. If Powell is going to strengthen his outlook this summer, he will need a much cleaner offensive showing than 0-for-9.
