Although the 2024 NBA Draft was an underwhelming one, the Summer League never fails to disappoint. Catching a glimpse of the top rookie's along with seeing what the sophomore's have added to their game is a treat, especially just weeks after the Draft. It is also a great time to see the highly-touted International players get their first taste of NBA Basketball. Not only is it rookies and sophomores, there are undrafted players that are fighting for two-way contracts. The competition is tough.
Similar to MLB Spring Training, there are multiple "leagues". There is the California Classic Summer League, the Salt Lake City Summer League, and the NBA 2K25 Summer League. Once the first two leagues wrap up in a few weeks, all thirty NBA teams will play in the NBA 2K25 Summer League in Las Vegas. With the NBA Summer League and Olympic Basketball, we have a busy month!
California Classic Summer League
The first league to kick of the NBA Summer is the California Classic taking place in San Francisco and Sacramento. Between July 6 and July 10th the Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat, Sacramento Kings, San Antonio Spurs, Charlotte Hornets, and the Chinese National Team will all face off.
There are some intriguing storylines in this league, starting with Bronny James and the Lakers. Gyms will be packed to see LeBron James' son in his first action with Los Angeles. The Lakers drafted Bronny with the 55th pick in the NBA Draft. Bronny will get the shine but Dalton Knecht will get the buckets. The Spurs obviously won't have their rookie (now sophomore) sensation Victor Wembenyama as he is not worthy of playing in the Summer League due to injury. Spurs fans will have their eyes on his newest teammate, #4 pick Stephon Castle out of UConn.
Some of the top picks such as the Hornets' Tidjane Salaun (#6th), Miami's Kel'el Ware (#15), and Devin Carter of Sacramento (13th pick) are players to watch as well.
Salt Lake City Summer League
For the third straight year, the Salt Lake City Summer League will consist of the Utah Jazz, Oklahoma City Thunder, Memphis Grizzlies, and Philadelphia 76ers.
The Salt Lake league will only last three days and will feature a round robin tournament on the final day. Some of the key names to watch for are the Grizzlies' Zach Edey (9th pick), Philly's Jared McCain (16th), and the new Jazz rookie trio in Cody Williams (10th), Isaiah Collier (29th), and Kyle Filipowski (32nd). Oklahoma City's Nikola Topic (12th) will miss the Summer League and potentially the entire regular season with a torn ACL.
NBA 2K Summer League
For the 20th year, all 30 teams will take part in the NBA Summer League at the UNLV Campus in Las Vegas, NV. Beginning on July 12th and finishing on July 22nd, each lottery pick from the 2024 NBA Draft gets their first test. Atlanta's Zaccharie Risacher (#1 pick) and Washington's Alex Sarr (#2 pick) face off on the first night of action.
Most NBA fans have yet to see the top 2 picks play. Risacher and Sarr have played International basketball their entire career, as where most top picks come from Division 1 colleges in America.
Other names to keep an eye out for throughout the Summer League are Houston's Reed Sheppard (#3rd), Detroit's Ron Holland (5th), Blazers' Donovan Clingan (7th), Rob Dillingham (8th) and Matas Buzelis (11th).
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