The Orlando Summer League kicked off on Saturday with all ten teams competing on opening day. While this is a good opportunity for fans to see new draft picks and fringe roster players trying make an impression, remember that this is only a small piece to the development and evaluation process. We take a look at some of the top stories and players from the day:

Plumlee Rises Above Competition

In the opening game, Mason Plumlee was absolutely dominant in a win over the Indiana Pacers. The 6-foot-11 big man is an athletic freak for his size with leaping ability and lateral quickness. He had 23 points on a good mixture of hook shots, free throws, and layups. Plumlee was an efficient 8-of-11 from the floor and 7-of-10 from the free throw line. He added seven rebounds and three steals.

“I’ve had a good summer working with [Brooklyn Nets assistant coach] Roy Rogers and we’ve been working on the offense, adding offense to the game,” Plumlee said on NBA TV after the game.

The added work showed on Saturday. Plumlee did a good job facing the basket and attacking his defender off the dribble. He had a pair of running hooks during the game, one with his right hand and another with his left, while he was also effective rolling towards the basket off the pick-and-roll.

After being named to the All-Rookie First Team last season, Plumlee looked the part in a blowout over the Pacers. He added that playing with future Hall of Famers helped his rookie season.

“They’re the best. I can’t really explain how much time Kevin [Garnett] and Paul [Pierce], those guys spent with me outside of just the games,” said Plumlee. “Whether it be talking on the plane, the bus, pregame scouting, whatever it was, those guys went out of their way for me all season and you want to live up to what they gave you. They gave me a lot, they invested a lot in me, and they expect me to improve each year. It was really a blessing to have those guys as my vets in my first year.”

Rookie Point Guards Start Sluggish

With first round picks Shabazz Napier and Marcus Smart facing off in the second game of the day, there were high expectations for the rookie point guards. Unfortunately, they did not have the start most were expecting, as both were without a field goal in the first half, but there’s still plenty of time for them to get adjusted.

Napier turned the ball over on Miami’s first possession of the game and set the tone for his debut. He had 12 points, eight turnovers, four rebounds, and two assists while shooting 3-of-15 from the floor and 2-of-9 from three-point range. Second year point guard Phil Pressey did a good job keeping Napier in check, but the rookie from Connecticut missed the types of shots he usually knocks down with ease. He’ll need to limit the turnovers, but don’t forget that last year’s Rookie of the Year Michael Carter-Williams had nine turnovers in his first summer league game last season.

Smart played primarily off the ball with Pressey running the point for most of the game, but he had his struggles as well. The 6-foot-4 guard from Oklahoma State was scoreless in the first half, missing all four of his shots, but finished the game with 10 points, five rebounds, five steals, three assists, and only one turnover. His struggles came from behind the arc, as Smart was 0-for-5 from three-point range. He still impressed as a defender.

“He’s a great point guard,” teammate Kelly Olynyk said of Smart after the game. “In the pick-and-roll he’s good, he’s a real tough, a real competitor, I think he brings that to the team.”

Following the Napier-Smart matchup, Elfrid Payton took the floor with the Orlando Magic. The tenth overall pick had a quiet outing with only two points on 1-of-4 shooting. He added five assists, four turnovers, and three rebounds as well.

As the point guards get accustomed to the NBA setting, it will be interesting to track their growth this week. They should improve as the week progresses.

Noel Impresses In Debut

There was a much-anticipated debut from Nerlens Noel after missing the past season while recovering from an ACL tear, and the 6-foot-11 center impressed in his first action in 18 months. He finished with 19 points while shooting 6-of-11 from the floor and a perfect 7-of-7 showing from the free throw line.

“It’s been 18 months, it’s been a long, patient wait,” Noel said after the game on NBA TV. “Sitting out last season was tough, I had to be patient and learn. Watching other guys in the league like Joakim Noah, [LaMarcus] Aldridge, and other big men in the league I’ve learned a lot and have worked on my game diligently.”

Noel did a good job finishing near the basket with either hand or drawing contact to get to the free throw line. He attempted a pair of mid-range jumpers and missed both, but looked confident in his shooting stroke. While still skinny, he’s apparently added 15 pounds in the past year.

“I definitely feel a lot stronger,” Noel added. “It’s definitely wiry, I’m going to continue to put on weight and work on my body and as that comes along I feel my game will continue to evolve.”

Noel’s progress will definitely be followed over the course of the week. He’ll need to improve his rebounding as he only had two boards on Saturday. Noel looked healthy and skilled but admits he’ll need to work on getting back into basketball shape.

“It was fun,” Noel said of his first game. “I just got to work on my stamina a little bit so I can continue to play at that high level I was playing at, but that will come through two more games.”

Pierre Jackson Goes Down

The most unfortunate event from Saturday’s action was the injury of Pierre Jackson. The D-League sensation was looking to become the backup point guard in Philadelphia, but injured his right Achilles late in the first quarter after already scoring eight points. While the extent has not officially been determined, it’s likely a ruptured Achilles that will cause him to miss the majority of next season. It’s an unfortunate injury for Jackson who was more than deserving of an NBA opportunity.

MVP Tracker

1. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Detroit Pistons
Saturday’s Line: 26 points, 6 steals

Caldwell-Pope used a variety of scoring moves to score a day-high 26 points on 8-of-19 shooting. He attacked the basket, pulled-up from mid-range, and was 2-of-5 from three-point range. The shooting guard entering his second season takes the initial lead in the MVP rankings.

2. Mason Plumlee, Brooklyn Nets
Saturday’s Line: 23 points, 7 rebounds, 3 steals

Plumlee’s performance was discussed above, but he was an effective post presence for Brooklyn. He’s a mobile big who attacked off the bounce.

3. Jordan Adams, Memphis Grizzlies
Saturday’s Line: 22 points, 4 steals, 3 rebounds, 3 assists

The rookie shooting guard didn’t start the game for Memphis, but finished 5-of-12 from the field and 4-of-6 from three-point range for a game-high 22 points. It was an impressive debut for the UCLA product.

4. Kelly Olynyck, Boston Celtics
Saturday’s Line: 20 points, 8 rebounds, 4 steals

An inside-out power forward, Olynyk was 8-of-17 from the floor and 1-of-3 from deep on Saturday. He’s a mismatch problem and led Boston to an opening win.

5. Victor Oladipo, Orlando Magic
Saturday’s Line: 18 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists

Locked in a battle with Philadelphia point guard Casper Ware, Oladipo had a team-high 18 points as Orlando won its opening game. He was 6-of-11 from the floor and 2-of-4 from behind the arc.

Rookie Tracker

1. Jordan Adams, Memphis Grizzlies
Saturday’s Line: 22 points, 4 steals, 3 rebounds, 3 assists

Adams was the most impressive rookie on Saturday. He came off the bench to score 22 points on 5-of-12 shooting and a 4-of-6 display from deep.

2. Nick Johnson, Houston Rockets
Saturday’s Line: 18 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists

Johnson had the highlight of the day with an emphatic left-handed dunk over a defender. He was 7-of-14 from the floor and 2-of-6 from three-point range and also contributed in other areas. The Pac-12 Player of the Year did a good job on the defensive end, giving him the slight edge over Crawford.

3. Chris Crawford, Houston Rockets
Saturday’s Line: 20 points, 2 rebounds

A pleasant surprise, the undrafted rookie from Memphis scored 20 points while shooting 8-of-13 from the field and 3-of-7 from behind the arc. He certainly raised some eyebrows, but will look to impact the game in other areas moving forward.

4. Mike Moser, Boston Celtics
Saturday’s Line: 17 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals

Another undrafted rookie, Moser had 17 points on 6-of-11 shooting and a 3-of-6 showing from three-point range. The Oregon alum is a stretch four who has a chance to find an NBA roster.

5. Roy Devyn Marble, Orlando Magic
Saturday’s Line: 13 points, 5 rebounds, 3 steals

Marble was extremely active on Saturday, always seeming to be in the right spot. He scored 13 points on 5-of-7 shooting while knocking down 2-of-3 three-point attempts. Marble was strong in transition and effective with his jumper against Philadelphia.