The NBA Summer League in Las Vegas will start again in 2022 as usual at the beginning of July. The start is dated July 7th, but the youngsters can already prove themselves before then. SPOX provides an overview of the most important data and facts.
The Summer League is upon us again! From the beginning to mid-July, the rookies can make their first steps at the NBA level, the focus is of course on the tournament in Las Vegas, where all 30 teams will be at the start. This year’s Summer League is sponsored by NBA 2K23.
When and where does the Summer League take place?
Like last year, the Summer League will take place at three different locations. Some teams compete in two tournaments. All 30 teams are back in the Las Vegas Summer League. This year’s California Classic will be held at the Golden State Warriors’ Chase Center in San Francisco. Salt Lake City is also playing again.
| city | Period |
| San Francisco (California Classic) | 2. July – 3. July |
| Salt Lake City | 5. July – 7. July |
| Las Vegas | 7. July – 17. July |
Where to watch NBA Summer League games?
The Summer League will not be broadcast on German television. However, the games are getting over NBA TV shown and can therefore also be seen in the DAZN subscription. This costs either 29.99 euros per month or 274.99 euros per year. Alternatively, you can watch all games with the NBA League Pass.
Which teams participate in the Summer League?
All 30 NBA teams will compete in Las Vegas. In Salt Lake City, the Utah Jazz will compete with just one team, unlike last year, while in San Francisco representatives from Sacramento, Los Angeles, Miami and hosts Golden State will compete.
| Utah | San Francisco |
| Utah Jazz | Golden State Warriors |
| Memphis Grizzlies | Los Angeles Lakers |
| Philadelphia 76ers | Miami Heat |
| Oklahoma City Thunder | Sacramento Kings |
Summer League San Francisco: Schedule and Results
The California Classic will take place again this year in the usual version. It will be played over three days, which means that this time all teams will face each other. It starts on July 2nd.
| Datum | time | Team 1 | Team 2 |
| 2nd July | 23 o’clock | Los Angeles Lakers | Miami Heat |
| 3rd of July | 1:30 | Sacramento Kings | Golden State Warriors |
| 3rd of July | 23 o’clock | Miami Heat | Sacramento Kings |
| July 4th | 1:30 | Los Angeles Lakers | Golden State Warriors |
| 5th July | 21 clock | Golden State Warriors | Miami Heat |
| 5th July | 11.30 p.m | Sacramento Kings | Los Angeles Lakers |
Summer League Utah: Schedule and Results
The mini-tournament will feature Memphis, the winner of 2018 and 2019, and Utah won in 2021. The schedule for this year looks like this:
| Datum | time | Team 1 | Team 2 |
| July 6th | 1 O ‘clock | Memphis Grizzlies | Philadelphia 76ers |
| July 6th | 3 o’clock | Oklahoma City Thunder | Utah Jazz |
| 7th of July | 1 O ‘clock | Memphis Grizzlies | Oklahoma City Thunder |
| 7th of July | 3 o’clock | Philadelphia 76ers | Utah Jazz |
| 8th of July | 12:00 a.m | Oklahoma City Thunder | Philadelphia 76ers |
| 8th of July | 2 O ‘clock | Memphis Grizzlies | Utah Jazz |
Summer League Las Vegas Schedule and Results
The “real” Summer League in Las Vegas starts on July 7 this year, so we can look forward to this year’s top rookies.
Summer League Day 1: Debut of top pick Paolo Banchero?
The Summer League is opened by the Houston Rockets and the Orlando Magic. That could already be the first highlight of the game day. With Paolo Banchero (Magic) and Jabari Smith (Rockets), the first and third picks of the 2022 NBA draft could meet. The possible first use of Jaden Ivey for the Pistons could also be interesting
| Datum | time | Team 1 | Team 2 |
| 8th of July | 4 o’clock | Houston Rockets | Orlando Magic |
| 6 o’clock | Portland Trail Blazers | Detroit Pistons |
Summer League Day 2: Dallas Mavericks intervene
On Day 2 of the Summer League, the Dallas Mavericks will be involved for the first time. After the California Classic, the Lakers have their first game in Las Vegas.
| Datum | time | Team 1 | Team 2 |
| 8th of July | 22 O `clock | Dallas Mavericks | Chicago Bulls |
| 23 o’clock | San Antonio Spurs | Cleveland Cavaliers | |
| July 9th | 12:00 a.m | Charlotte Hornets | Indiana Pacers |
| 1 O ‘clock | Brooklyn Nets | Milwaukee Bucks | |
| 2 O ‘clock | Golden State Warriors | New York Knicks | |
| 3 o’clock | Denver Nuggets | The Minnesota Timberwolves | |
| 4 o’clock | Phoenix Suns | Los Angeles Lakers |
Summer League Day 3: Chet Holmgren intervenes
On day 2, the teams from the small tournaments are added. That means Chet Holmgren (OKC) checks Jabari Smith (Rockets).
| Datum | time | Team 1 | Team 2 |
| July 9th | 9:30 p.m | Toronto Raptors | Philadelphia 76ers |
| 22 O `clock | Orlando Magic | Sacramento Kings | |
| 11.30 p.m | Boston Celtics | Miami Heat | |
| 10th of July | 12:00 a.m | Detroit Pistons | Washington Wizards |
| 1:30 | Atlanta Hawks | Utah Jazz | |
| 2 O ‘clock | Oklahoma City Thunder | Houston Rockets | |
| 3.30 a.m | Los Angeles Clippers | Memphis Grizzlies | |
| 4 o’clock | New Orleans Pelicans | Portland Trail Blazers |
Summer League Day 4: Warriors-Trio
What about James Wiseman? The Warriors’ No. 2 pick of 2020 could gain experience in the Summer League. Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody could also intervene for the Warriors. That could bring spectacle.
| Datum | time | Team 1 | Team 2 |
| 10th of July | 21 clock | Indiana Pacers | Sacramento Kings |
| 9:30 p.m | Philadelphia 76ers | Brooklyn Nets | |
| 23 o’clock | Chicago Bulls | New York Knicks | |
| 11.30 p.m | Washington Wizards | Phoenix Suns | |
| July 11th | 1 O ‘clock | Denver Nuggets | Cleveland Cavaliers |
| 1:30 | Golden State Warriors | San Antonio Spurs | |
| 3 o’clock | The Minnesota Timberwolves | Memphis Grizzlies | |
| 3.30 a.m | Charlotte Hornets | Los Angeles Lakers |
Summer League Day 5: The duel of the top picks
There are only six games on Day 4, but with Banchero and Holmgren the top picks play against each other. What is particularly explosive is that both can hold the same position. Do we see the direct duel? Can Banchero confirm his surprise pick as number one?
| Datum | time | Team 1 | Team 2 |
| July 12 | 12:00 a.m | New Orleans Pelicans | Atlanta Hawks |
| 1 O ‘clock | Houston Rockets | San Antonio Spurs | |
| 2 O ‘clock | Milwaukee Bucks | Boston Celtics | |
| 3 o’clock | Orlando Magic | Oklahoma City Thunder | |
| 4 o’clock | Dallas Mavericks | Utah Jazz | |
| 5 o’clock | New York Knicks | Portland Trail Blazers |
Summer League Day 6: The Battle for LA
It’s almost a tradition for the Lakers and Clippers to meet in the Summer League, and this year is no different. However, not much can be reported about exciting rookies. Both teams only picked in the second round. Instead, we see the sons of former top stars, Shareef O’Neal and Scotty Pippen Jr.
| Datum | time | Team 1 | Team 2 |
| July 12 | 23 o’clock | Chicago Bulls | Toronto Raptors |
| July 13th | 12:00 a.m | Memphis Grizzlies | Brooklyn Nets |
| 1 O ‘clock | Atlanta Hawks | Miami Heat | |
| 2 O ‘clock | Boston Celtics | Golden State Warriors | |
| 3 o’clock | Detroit Pistons | Indiana Pacers | |
| 4 o’clock | Phoenix Suns | Dallas Mavericks | |
| 5 o’clock | Los Angeles Lakers | Los Angeles Clippers |
Summer League Day 7: Was kann der Kings-Rookie?
Somewhat surprisingly, the Sacramento Kings picked Keegan Murray for fourth place. Maybe he can surprise the No.2 pick and the Oklahoma City Thunder too?
| Datum | time | Team 1 | Team 2 |
| July 13th | 22 O `clock | The Minnesota Timberwolves | Milwaukee Bucks |
| 23 o’clock | Cleveland Cavaliers | Charlotte Hornets | |
| July 14th | 12:00 a.m | Washington Wizards | New Orleans Pelicans |
| 1 O ‘clock | Toronto Raptors | Utah Jazz | |
| 2 O ‘clock | Sacramento Kings | Oklahoma City Thunder | |
| 3 o’clock | Miami Heat | Philadelphia 76ers | |
| 4 o’clock | Denver Nuggets | Los Angeles Clippers |
Summer League Day 8: Shaedon Sharpe fordert Nr.3-Pick
In Shaedon Sharpe, the Portland Trail Blazers picked a player who hasn’t played a single college game. Can the guard convince and earn a place alongside Damian Lillard? He’ll be watched very closely in the Summer League.
| Datum | time | Team 1 | Team 2 |
| July 14th | 21 clock | Atlanta Hawks | San Antonio Spurs |
| 9:30 p.m | Memphis Grizzlies | Boston Celtics | |
| 23 o’clock | Chicago Bulls | Charlotte Hornets | |
| 11.30 p.m | Cleveland Cavaliers | Detroit Pistons | |
| 15th of July | 1 O ‘clock | Dallas Mavericks | Milwaukee Bucks |
| 1:30 | New York Knicks | Orlando Magic | |
| 3 o’clock | Brooklyn Nets | The Minnesota Timberwolves | |
| 3.30 a.m | Portland Trail Blazers | Houston Rockets |
Summer League Day 9: Wish pick versus emergency solution
The exciting two-way guard Johnny Davis (#10) from the Washington Wizards will definitely want to prove himself. His opponent today is Ben Mathurin (#6) from the Indiana Pacers, who probably wanted Keegan Murray more. Can the Wing still prove itself in Hoosier State?
| Datum | time | Team 1 | Team 2 |
| 15th of July | 23 o’clock | Los Angeles Clippers | Utah Jazz |
| 16th of July | 12:00 a.m | Philadelphia 76ers | Denver Nuggets |
| 1 O ‘clock | Oklahoma City Thunder | Golden State Warriors | |
| 2 O ‘clock | Sacramento Kings | Phoenix Suns | |
| 3 o’clock | Indiana Pacers | Washington Wizards | |
| 4 o’clock | Miami Heat | Toronto Raptors | |
| 5 o’clock | Los Angeles Lakers | Toronto Raptors |
Summer League mode
A total of 75 games are played, with each team playing exactly five games. The two best teams after the first four games will play the Championship Game on the night of July 18th. All other 28 teams also get another game, but here the balance no longer plays a role.
Instead, the organizers will schedule the games at short notice, taking the interests of the TV partners into account and setting up matchups based on rivalries or the like.
Should two teams end up with the same record in the fight for the Championship Game, tiebreaker criteria have already been set. First, the direct comparison is used, then the difference in points decides. If this is also the same, a coin is tossed. The same procedure applies to a tiebreaker between more than two teams.
The rules of the Summer League
In contrast to the “real” NBA games, a game in the Summer League lasts only 40 minutes, so a quarter only lasts ten minutes. At the same time, the half-time break is just eight minutes, significantly shorter than in the NBA. The rules for fouls are also different. Each team is allowed ten fouls per quarter, a player is only disqualified after the tenth and not after the sixth foul.
There are also adjusted rules for overtime. The first overtime lasts two minutes, a second overtime is decided by sudden death, which means whoever scores a point first wins the game. However, this only applies to the group phase, in the tournament games overtimes of two minutes are played until a winner is determined.
The winners and MVPs of the Summer League in Las Vegas
Sacramento is the defending champion of the Summer League in Las Vegas. The Kings prevailed last year with Louis King as Championship MVP. Davion Mitchell and Nets guard Cam Thomas shared the tournament MVP crown.
| Year | winner | Finalist | Tournament MVP | Final-MVP |
| 2013 | Golden State | Phoenix | Jonas Valančiūnas | Ian Clark |
| 2014 | Sacramento | Houston | Glen Rice Jr. | Ray McCallum |
| 2015 | Saint Anthony | Phoenix | Kyle Anderson | Jonathon Simmons |
| 2016 | Chicago | Minnesota | Tyus Jones | Jerian Grant |
| 2017 | LA Lakers | Portland | Lonzo Ball | Kyle Kuzma |
| 2018 | Portland | LA Lakers | Josh Hart | K.J. McDaniels |
| 2019 | Memphis | Minnesota | Brandon Clarke | Brandon Clarke |
| 2021 | Sacramento Kings | Boston Celtics | Davion Mitchell/Cam Thomas | Louis King |
