Clayton's impressive performance was cut short
Walter Clayton Jr.'s Unlucky Ending to Incredible NBA Summer League Performance originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
Walter Clayton Jr. has had a fantastic start to his professional career. After winning a national championship with the Florida Gators and being named a first-team All-American in the 2024-25 collegiate season, Clayton has dazzled fans around the basketball world with his NBA Summer League appearances thus far.
After being selected No. 18 overall in the 2025 NBA Draft by the Utah Jazz, Clayton has impressed in his first four games with Utah.
The guard shined in the Salt Lake City Summer League early in the week, finishing off with a 20-point performance on Tuesday. He one-upped himself on Friday in the opening game of the NBA 2K26 Summer League in Las Vegas, Nevada. However, his jaw-dropping night was cut short.
Clayton played 27 minutes in the Jazz's loss to the Charlotte Hornets, scoring 21 points with six rebounds, three assists and a block. He shot 8-of-17 from the field, including four made threes.
His impressive performance ended on a sour note, though, as he was taken out of the game due to a left hamstring injury. Thankfully for Clayton and his fans from Florida, Utah and all around, the injury does not seem very serious.
After the game, Clayton said his hamstring was "just a little tight." He plans on playing in the remaining Summer League games for the Jazz, he said.
This was Clayton's best performance since being drafted, and he seems to be getting better every time he steps on the floor. With fellow rookie Ace Bailey, the fifth overall pick in this year's draft, being sidelined the past few games with a hip injury, Clayton has stolen the spotlight and the headlines.
The former Gator showed his shooting and facilitating abilities with head coach Todd Golden and Florida en route to a national title in his senior year with the Gators, and has continued to do so at the NBA level with the Jazz.
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 12, 2025, where it first appeared.
Category: Basketball
