1 pick Victor Wembanyama will make his Summer League debut at Spurs on July 7.
With the 2023 NBA Draft in the background and the opening days of free agency underway, it’s time to get back to something on the court with a trio of NBA Summer Leagues running over the next two weeks in Sacramento, Salt Lake City and Las Vegas.
Summer League games offer a glimpse into the future of the NBA as rookies from this year’s Draft class suit up for the first time with their new teams in the competition. It also serves as a stage for second- and third-year players looking to showcase their talents and improve their game, as well as a collection of undrafted players hoping to parlay a stellar summer into a training camp invite and potentially a place on the list or a two-way contract.
We’ll break down the key details for each of the three events, with the action in Sacramento and Utah serving as an appetizer for the hoops fest that takes place in Las Vegas with all 30 teams in action starting July 7.
California Classic Summer League
- Dates: 3 and 5 July
- Location: Sacramento at Golden 1 Center
- Team: Charlotte Hornets, Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat, San Antonio Spurs, Sacramento Kings
The California Classic Summer League returns to Sacramento in its fifth year since its debut back in 2018 with two more teams set to hit the floor, increasing the total number of participating teams from four to six as San Antonio and Charlotte join the established group of Golden State, Los Angeles, Miami and Sacramento.
Time schedule
Monday, July 3
Wednesday 5 July
Format
All six teams will take the field on July 3 and 5 for triple-header action beginning at 6 p.m. ET. Similar to the other summer leagues, the California Classic will feature 10-minute quarters, limited timeouts and changed rules, including increased individual and team foul limits.
That’s how you see
Each day of the California Classic opens with a game on ESPN2, followed by a doubleheader on ESPN beginning at 8 p.m. ET.
Ticket information
Single-day tickets start at $22 and include admission to all three games played on that date. Tickets can be purchased online at nba.com/kings/caclassic.
Key players to watch
The two new teams joining the California Classic — the Spurs and Hornets — had the top two picks in the 2023 NBA Draft, but only one of those players will participate as San Antonio announced that No. 1 overall pick Victor Wembanyama will his overall choice. Summer League debut in Las Vegas over Sacramento. However, No. 2 overall pick Brandon Miller is on the Hornets roster and is expected to play when the Hornets and Spurs meet on Monday.
Other rookies to watch include Nick Smith Jr., Amari Bailey and James Nnaji of the Hornets; Jalen Hood-Schifino and Maxwell Lewis for the Lakers; Brandin Podziemski and Trayce Jackson-Davis for the Warriors; Jaime Jaquez Jr. for Heat; Sidy Cissoko for Spurs; and Colby Jones and Jalen Slawson for the Kings.
As for second-year players, keep an eye on Sacramento’s Keegan Murray – MVP of last year’s NBA 2K23 Summer League in Las Vegas and an All-Rookie Team selection in 2023. Other second-year players to watch include Max Christie and Scotty Pippen Jr. from the Lakers, Blake Wesley from the Spurs, Nikola Jovic for the Heat and Mark Williams, Kai Jones and Bryce McGowens for the Hornets.
Salt Lake City Summer League
After missing the entire 2022-23 season due to injury, OKC’s Chet Holmgren is expected to play in the Salt Lake City Summer League.
- Dates: 3, 5, 6 July
- Location: Salt Lake City at the Delta Center
- Team: Memphis Grizzlies, Oklahoma City Thunder, Philadelphia 76ers, Utah Jazz
Welcome back to the Delta Center! After more than 16 years, the original name of the Utah Jazz home arena is returning after Delta Air Lines secured the naming rights to the arena in a new long-term agreement effective July 1. The 2023 Salt Lake Summer League marks the first event under the new (and old) name.
This marks the eighth consecutive year of the Salt Lake City Summer League, with this year’s event featuring the same four teams that participated last year, with Utah welcoming Memphis, Oklahoma City and Philadelphia.
Time schedule
Monday, July 3
Wednesday 5 July
Thursday 6 July
Format
The Salt Lake City Summer League features a three-day, round-robin showcase with all four teams in action each day throughout.
That’s how you see
All games in the Salt Lake City Summer League will be shown on NBA TV with the exception of Thursday’s matchup between Oklahoma City and Philadelphia, which will be on ESPN2.
Ticket information
Single-day tickets start at $16 and give fans access to both games played on that date. Tickets can be purchased online at SLCSummerLeague.com, on the Utah Jazz mobile app or by calling (801) 355-DUNK (3865).
Key players to watch
It’s been nearly a year since Chet Holmgren — the No. 2 pick in the 2022 NBA draft — suffered a season-ending foot injury while participating in a summer pro-am game. Holmgren is part of a strong contingent of young talent that will participate in Summer League play for the Thunder, including 2022-23 All-Rookie First Team selection Jalen Williams.
The Jazz are the only team in the Salt Lake City Summer League that will have a first-round pick in 2023, with the trio of Taylor Hendricks (No. 9), Keyonte George (No. 16) and Brice Sensabaugh (No. 28) all ready to make their jazz debut.
The Grizzlies will send their two second-round picks — GG Jackson II (No. 45) and Tarik Biberovic (No. 56) — to compete in Utah. As for the 76ers, who had no picks in this year’s Draft, their summer league roster is headlined by 2022-23 NBA G League Finals MVP Jaden Springer.
NBA 2K24 Summer League
Number 1 pick Victor Wembanyama trains with Spurs ahead of Summer League action in Las Vegas.
- Dates: 7.-17. July
- Location: Las Vegas at the Thomas & Mack Center, Cox Pavilion
- Team: All 30 NBA teams
While some teams are getting an early start on summer hoops competition in Sacramento and Salt Lake City, all 30 NBA teams will be in Las Vegas for the NBA 2K24 Summer League, which tips off July 7 and runs through July 17. where a champion will be crowned.
Time schedule
A total of 76 games will be played over 11 days in Las Vegas with games split between the Thomas & Mack Center and Cox Pavilion – both located on the campus of the University of Nevada (UNLV).
- Friday, July 7: 8 games
- Saturday 8 July: 8 games
- Sunday, July 9: 8 games
- Monday, July 10: 6 games
- Tuesday 11 July: 6 games
- Wednesday 12 July: 8 games
- Thursday 13 July: 8 games
- Friday, July 14: 8 games
- Saturday 15 July: 7 games
- Sunday, July 16: 8 games
- Monday, July 17: 1 game
Format
Number of games: A total of 76 matches are played. Each team will play at least five games, with four of those games being played from the 7th-14th. July.
Four-team tournament: After each team plays four matches, the top four advance to the playoffs and participate in a semifinal (July 16). The two semi-final game winners advance to the championship game (July 17). The top four playoff seeds will be determined by winning percentage with tiebreakers, which can be found here.
Consolation game: The 26 teams that do not advance to the Summer League playoffs will play a fifth and final game on either July 15 or 16.
That’s how you see
All 76 games of the 11-day contest will be shown on ESPN networks (ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU and ESPNews) and NBA TV. All games will also be available on the NBA app.
The opening day of NBA 2K24 Summer League 2023 will feature the top four picks from the 2023 NBA Draft. No. 1 overall pick Victor Wembanyama will lead the San Antonio Spurs against No. 2 Brandon Miller and the Charlotte Hornets (9 p.m. ET, ESPN).
Leading up to this matchup will be No. 3 pick Scoot Henderson and the defending NBA Summer League champion Portland Trail Blazers facing No. 4 pick Amen Thompson and the Houston Rockets (7 p.m. ET). Amen and his twin brother, No. 5 pick Ausar Thompson of the Detroit Pistons, will face each other on Sunday, July 9 (6 p.m. ET, ESPN2).
Ticket information
Tickets for NBA 2K24 Summer League 2023 are on sale now. Fans can purchase tickets by visiting NBAEvents.com.
Fans have the option of purchasing single day tickets or season tickets that include all 11 days of action. Each ticket gives access to all games played for date buy-in, up to eight matches per day across the two arenas.
While most tickets are general admission, there is some reserved seating for select games at the Thomas & Mack Center, including courtside seating.
Key players to watch
The obvious headliner for this year’s NBA 2K24 Summer League is No. 1 overall pick Victor Wembanyama, who is set to join the Spurs in Las Vegas after the team began the summer without him in Sacramento.
It seems fitting that Las Vegas is the venue for Wembanyama’s Summer League debut with Spurs. After all, Wembanyama put the entire basketball world on edge last October when his French club, Metropolitans 92, played a pair of exhibition games against the G League Ignite in Las Vegas.
In that showcase, Wembanyama’s unique talents were on full display — combining guard skills with a 7-foot-3 frame — as he posted 37 points with seven 3-pointers and five blocked shots against No. 3 overall pick Scott Henderson ( 28 points) and his Ignite team.
The NBA 2K24 Summer League is a chance to see nearly every first-round pick take the court and begin their NBA journey. Whether it’s lottery picks giving a taste of what’s to come this season or undrafted players looking to earn a roster spot, you never know which players will shine at Summer League- the stage.
NBA.com has you covered with highlights from outstanding players and performances during 11 action-packed days in the desert.