Ducks’ Trio Dives into Vegas Summer Madness
The 2026 NBA Summer League tips off in Las Vegas with three former Oregon Ducks—center Nate Bittle, forward Brandon Angel, and guard TJ Bamba—vying for roster spots. Bittle and Angel will suit up for the Toronto Raptors, while Bamba heads to the Denver Nuggets after a stint playing professionally in Germany. Each Ducks alum brings standout collegiate resumes: Bittle averaged 16.8 points and 6.9 rebounds despite a midseason foot injury, Angel transferred from Stanford and shot 53.6% in his lone Oregon season, and Bamba contributed 10.5 points and 3.0 assists after stops at Washington State and Villanova. Both NBA squads will play four games at the Thomas & Mack Center and Cox Pavilion before the top teams advance to a single-elimination bracket for the championship.
It’s inspiring to see Oregon’s benchwarmer brigade get a shot at big-league glory—because nothing says “pro-ready” like a team that finished 12-20. Toronto and Denver clearly missed out on lottery picks, so they’re sending Bittle, Angel, and Bamba to do the dirty work. Bittle’s foot might still be on strike, but hey, who needs steady lower limbs when you have dreams of dunking over Nevada tourists? Angel, fresh off his year in Israeli gyms, will show defense is just a polite suggestion. Meanwhile, Bamba will attempt to translate his German hustle into American style—good luck explaining the term “schadenfreude” in a timeout huddle. All in all, Vegas should brace itself for the most eloquent display of three former Ducks trying really hard not to duck their opportunity.
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