Hungry Jack's NBL
NBA Summer League: What You Need to Know
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By Dan Woods for NBL.com.au
The NBA’s greatest off-season showcase is primed to begin in just a few hours time. With the old season complete and the draft in the books, it’s time for NBA Summer League.
The Summer League is an off-season tournament organised by the NBA to afford clubs the opportunity to assess new and different players, as opposed to their regular season lineups.
While the main tournament will – like last year – take place in Las Vegas, Nevada, two smaller Summer League competitions will open proceedings in Sacramento and Salt Lake City.
The tournament generally features a selection of young talent from recent NBA Draft classes – included undrafted players – and a host of G-League and international players vying for roster spots heading into the regular season.
The California Classic – July 3-5
The opening section of the Summer League tournament will feature six teams – Sacramento, San Antonio, Charlotte, Golden State, the Los Angeles Lakers, and Miami – for six total games across two days of action in the city of Sacramento.
Former NBL MVP Matt Nielsen will be taking charge of the Spurs for the first time in his career, and he will be joined by Cairns head coach Adam Forde and Sydney assistant Fleur McIntyre as guest coaches for the tournament.
Illawarra import guard Justin Robinson has also been included in Charlotte’s squad.
Salt Lake City Summer League – July 3-6
The second of two smaller tournaments ahead of the main event in Las Vegas, the Salt Lake City Summer League runs parallel to the California Classic and will feature The Utah Jazz, Memphis Grizzlies, Oklahoma City Thunder and Philadelphia 76ers.
The tournament will feature six games across three days, with each side playing each other once.
Former Sydney King Makur Maker was recently announced as representing the 76ers in the upcoming Summer League, while former Breaker Ousmane Dieng will take to the court for the Thunder.
View the Salt Lake City schedule
Las Vegas Summer League – July 7-18
The main tournament featuring squads representing all 30 NBA sides, the Las Vegas Summer League is a proper tournament with a crowning champions as opposed to a series of high-quality practice games.
The Portland Trail Blazers were named as champions of last year’s edition, with a squad featuring NBL23 imports Craig Randall II and George King, and former Next Star, Didi Louzada.
76 games are set to be played over the 11-day period, with each side set to play a minimum of four games.
Once each team has played four times the top four seeded teams will advance to the playoffs. The winners of the sudden death semi-final games will move onto a championship game. The remaining 26 sides will each play one further consolation game on either July 15 or 16.
There are currently 18 current and former NBL players set to suit up for 13 different sides.
Reigning NBL MVP Xavier Cooks will take to the floor alongside former Sydney teammate Dejan Vasiljevic for the Washington Wizards, while the Minnesota Timberwolves will feature young stars Sam Waardenburg and Jaylin Galloway alongside former NBL Next Star Brian Bowen II.
Melbourne’s Jo Lual-Acuil Jr was named to play alongside former New Zealand Next Star Rayan Rupert and former Illawarra Hawk Duop Reath for the Portland Trail Blazers, but has withdrawn due to injury.
The opening game of the tournament will feature Waardenburg, Galloway and Bowen II’s Minnesota against Boomers guard Dyson Daniels and the New Orleans Pelicans.
View the full Las Vegas schedule
For a full list of NBL representatives at Summer League click here.
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