The NBA Summer League is a 14-day tournament organized by the NBA, featuring all 30 NBA franchises. It showcases players who have played three years or less in the NBA, in addition to new draft talents.
The tournament will take place between July 3rd and July 17th, in three different cities: Las Vegas, Sacramento, and Salt Lake City.
What is the NBA Summer League?
The NBA Summer League is a summer tournament organized by the National Basketball Association (NBA) that provides an opportunity for young players to showcase their skills and for teams to evaluate emerging talent. It takes place every year in the summer, usually in July or August, after the conclusion of the NBA regular season and playoffs.
All 30 NBA franchises participate, forming teams composed of young players selected in the most recent draft, up-and-coming players, and some players with development contracts from the G League (the NBA’s development league).
The tournament is held in various locations, but the Las Vegas Summer League is generally considered the most prestigious and followed. Other venues include Sacramento and Salt Lake City, as mentioned earlier.
The NBA Summer League also attracts the attention of fans and basketball enthusiasts, as it offers a chance to get a glimpse of future NBA talents and closely follow the development journey of young players.
Summer League Rules
The rules of the NBA Summer League are generally similar to those of the NBA, but there may be some differences. For example, the foul limit may be different (usually 10 fouls instead of 6), and the game duration may vary (usually 40 minutes instead of 48 minutes). These rules may be adjusted to allow young players to get more playing time and experience.
History of the Summer League
The NBA Summer League was established in 2004. The first edition took place in Boston, Massachusetts, with the participation of six teams: Boston Celtics, Cleveland Cavaliers, Orlando Magic, Indiana Pacers, New Jersey Nets, and Philadelphia 76ers.
Over the years, the tournament has grown in popularity and expanded to involve all NBA franchises, adding additional venues such as Las Vegas, Sacramento, and Salt Lake City. Today, the NBA Summer League has become a highly anticipated summer event for both fans and basketball insiders.
Tournaments NBA Summer League 2023
The NBA has created three different schedules and three separate tournaments that take place over this two-week period.
| Tournament | City | Date | Teams |
| California Classic | Sacramento | July 3 & 5 | Lakers, Heat, Kings, Warriors, Spurs e Hornets |
| Salt Lake City Summer League | Salt Lake City | July 3, 5 & 6 | Grizzlies, 76ers, Thunder e Jazz |
| NBA 2k24 Summer League | Las Vegas | July 7-17 | All 30 NBA franchises |
NBA Summer League 2023 Schedule
The schedule for NBA Summer League 2023 is divided into three windows: the California Classic Summer League (Sacramento), the Salt Lake City Summer League (Salt Lake City), and the NBA 2K24 Summer League (Las Vegas).
California Classic Summer League
• July 3 & 5
• All games played in Sacramento
| Game | Day | Date | Away | Home | Local | ET | National TV |
| 1 | Mon | 7/3/23 | Miami | L.A. Lakers | 3:00 PM | 6:00 PM | ESPN2 |
| 2 | Mon | 7/3/23 | San Antonio | Charlotte | 5:00 PM | 8:00 PM | ESPN2 |
| 3 | Mon | 7/3/23 | Golden State | Sacramento | 7:00 PM | 10:00 PM | ESPN2 |
| 4 | Wed | 7/5/23 | Golden State | Charlotte | 3:00 PM | 6:00 PM | ESPN2 |
| 5 | Wed | 7/5/23 | San Antonio | L.A. Lakers | 5:00 PM | 8:00 PM | ESPN2 |
| 6 | Wed | 7/5/23 | Miami | Sacramento | 7:00 PM | 10:00 PM | ESPN |
Salt Lake City Summer League
• July 3, 5 & 6
• All games played in Salt Lake City
| Game | Day | Date | Away | Home | Local | ET | National TV |
| 1 | Mon | 7/3/23 | Memphis | Philadelphia | 5:00 PM | 7:00 PM | NBA TV |
| 2 | Mon | 7/3/23 | Oklahoma City | Utah | 7:00 PM | 9:00 PM | NBA TV |
| 3 | Wed | 7/5/23 | Memphis | Oklahoma City | 5:00 PM | 7:00 PM | NBA TV |
| 4 | Wed | 7/5/23 | Philadelphia | Utah | 7:00 PM | 9:00 PM | NBA TV |
| 5 | Thu | 7/6/23 | Oklahoma City | Philadelphia | 5:00 PM | 7:00 PM | ESPN2 |
| 6 | Thu | 7/6/23 | Memphis | Utah | 7:00 PM | 9:00 PM | NBA TV |
NBA 2K24 Summer League
• July 7-17
• All games played in Las Vegas
| Game | Day | Date | Away | Home | Local | ET | Arena | National TV |
| 1 | Fri | 7/7/23 | New Orleans | Minnesota | 1:30 PM | 4:30 PM | COX | NBA TV |
| 2 | Fri | 7/7/23 | Denver | Milwaukee | 2:00 PM | 5:00 PM | T&M | ESPNU |
| 3 | Fri | 7/7/23 | Chicago | Toronto | 3:30 PM | 6:30 PM | COX | NBA TV |
| 4 | Fri | 7/7/23 | Portland | Houston | 4:00 PM | 7:00 PM | T&M | ESPN |
| 5 | Fri | 7/7/23 | Cleveland | Brooklyn | 5:30 PM | 8:30 PM | COX | NBA TV |
| 6 | Fri | 7/7/23 | Charlotte | San Antonio | 6:00 PM | 9:00 PM | T&M | ESPN |
| 7 | Fri | 7/7/23 | Sacramento | Atlanta | 7:30 PM | 10:30 PM | COX | NBA TV |
| 8 | Fri | 7/7/23 | Golden State | L.A. Lakers | 8:00 PM | 11:00 PM | T&M | ESPN |
Here is the complete schedule.
How NBA Summer League Works
The rules of the NBA Summer League are generally the same as those of the NBA, with a few exceptions regarding foul limits and game duration. In the Summer League, players are allowed 10 fouls per game, compared to the regular NBA limit of 6 fouls. Additionally, games in the Summer League have a duration of 40 minutes, which is 8 minutes shorter than a standard NBA game.
The NBA has also established specific parameters for the tournament:
- Each franchise will play at least 5 games, with 4 of them taking place between July 7th and July 14th, resulting in a total of 76 games overall.
- After the fourth game, the top four teams will participate in the Four-Team Tournament, which will be held on July 16th and 17th.
- The remaining 28 teams will engage in a consolidation game between July 15th and 16th.
Where to Watch NBA Summer League 2023
NBA Summer League games can be watched in their entirety through the official NBA App (League Pass). Additionally, some games will be broadcasted on Sky Sport NBA. Many national and international sports broadcasters also provide live coverage or highlights of the games.
It’s recommended to check the official NBA website or local sports broadcasters for the most up-to-date information on where to watch the NBA Summer League 2023 in your region.
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Author: Team Dunkest
June 28, 2023 | 10:17 am
